May 2018 - Vol.53 No.5

SERVING THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

South Texas

Catholic Blessed by faith and Catholic Schools W W W. S O U T H T E X A S C AT H O L I C .CO M • M AY 2018

Bishop’s

2018

Say

STEWARDSHIP APPEAL ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

yes

to

bringing Christ’s love to the incarcerated.!

The Diocese of Corpus Christi serves the spiritual and physical needs of our parishes and community through more than 30 ministries. We appreciate your generosity in sharing your blessings, so we are committed to you to be a good steward of the gifts you entrust to us.

By participating in the Bishop’s Stewardship Appeal you are saying – to bringing Christ’s love to the incarcerated in our diocese.

Diocese of Corpus Christi

Office of Parish Stewardship & Development P.O. Box 2620, Corpus Christi, TX 78403 • (361) 882-6191 www.diocesecc.org or email emartinez@diocesecc.org

2 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

yes

ON THE

VOL. 53 NO. 5

COVER

13

PUBLISHER Bishop Michael Mulvey, STL DD

Samantha Esquivel and her daughter are pictured together before an event at St. John Paul II High School where her daughter, Shania Esquivel is a cheerleader. Life as a single mom has not always been easy, working full time and rushing around to get her daughter to practice and games has always been challenging. Sometimes faith is all she had.

Contributed photo

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Cottingham MCottingham@diocesecc.org THEOLOGICAL CONSULTANT Ben Nguyen, JD/JCL. BNguyen@diocesecc.org OFFICE MANAGER Adel Rivera ARivera@diocesecc.org CORRESPONDENTS Luisa Buttler, Rebecca Esparza, Jessica Morrison, Dayna Mazzei Worchel, Gloria Romero (and translator)

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of the Focolare Movement attend a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael 17 Members Mulvey at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on March 10. At the Mass he introduced six members who will be working in the diocese and his Focolare friends in Texas. Hortensia Lopez (pictured above) stands as Bishop Mulvey introduces her as the person who inspired him to join the Focolare Movement 41 years ago.

INSIDE

5 Bishop meets with youth and young Q&A WITH THE BISHOP

adults to discuss the Pre-Synod survey

VOCATIONS 9 Our Mother loves us

Alfredo E. Cardenas for South Texas Catholic

CATÓLICA 22 ElVIDA espiritu de unidad obra en la diócesis

28NATIONAL Hundreds of high school, college

students participated in pro-life walkout

NEWS BRIEFS VATICAN 15 Our 30 Lady of Assumption Parish celeAt UN meeting, Holy See calls for brates St. Patrick’s Day

‘human-centered approach to migration’

OUR FAITH NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE 31 20 Future homeowners come to The Holy Spirit moves us out of our Catholic Charities Housing Fair

upper room

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 3

†† Q&A WITH BISHOP

Bishop meets with youth and young adults to discuss the Pre-Synod survey Mary Cottingham South Texas Catholic

B

ishop Michael Mulvey and Jaime Reyna, Director of Youth Ministry, met with students and campus ministers from three Newman Centers in the Diocese of Corpus Christi to discuss the results of the 2017 Pre-Synod survey that would help address their pastoral needs.

The 2018 Synod, “Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment” will be occurring in Rome sometime in October. It will be a result of Pope Francis’ requests to bishops from all over the world who conducted similar surveys.

Father Eric Chapa and campus minister Amy Barragree joined in the discussion at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi on April 5; campus minister Santos Jones at Coastal Bend College in Beeville on April 9; and Father Joseph Lopez and campus minister Nina Joiner from Texas A&M University-Kingsville on April 11.

“The results are in and we are doing these sessions based on that survey,” Reyna said. “We are collecting more information so that we can have a clear plan of action–to see how the Church can work with young people, immediately–and work together.”

“Bishop Mulvey wants people to know he is listening,” Reyna said.

The Office of Youth Ministry will take the results of the survey, merge those with the high school age results and combine both into one assessment. Their goal is to share it with the Presbyteral Council and integrate it into the diocesan pastoral plan.

“One thing young people want to see church leaders like priests, deacons and others be more active in events and ministry–be more visible. They also want to see the bishop, priests and other lay leaders on social media, because that’s where young people get information,” Reyna said.

The first meeting with high school youth was on April 22 at Most Precious Blood Parish. The other meetings will be determined at a later date. For more information visit diocesecc.org/youth.

Students engage in discussion with Bishop Mulvey at the Newman Centers, from top to bottom, Texas A&M University UniversityCorpus Christi, Coastal Bend College in Beeville and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Photos by campus ministers Amy Barragree, Santos Jones and Nina Joiner.

4 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

Q

You have been meeting with college students throughout the diocese. What was the purpose of your visits?

A

We discussed the results of the survey that was taken throughout the diocese in preparation for the Synod on youth and young adults in October 2018. The visits were done at the three new campuses, we were able to build through the generosity of the donors from Legacy of Faith, Future of Hope.

I do want to say how grateful the students in each of these places were for these new “homes” for their spiritual life. They were incredibly happy and have found new life in their vocation, because of these centers at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas A&M Kingsville, and Coastal Bend College in Beeville.

Q A

Were you well-received at all three colleges?

They were extremely grateful that Jaime Reyna, the director of our youth office and I were there with them. Some of the priests of the area also joined us in the discussion.

Q A

Were the students engaged, hopeful and open?

The students were very engaged with our questions and asked their own questions as well. They were very open and honest and direct in their answers, but also their hopes and desires for the future. I would characterize them as very dedicated as Catholic young adults who desire to live their faith and to share it with others.

Q A

Were you there just to listen or ask them questions about the survey?

Jaime began reading a few questions of the surveys and also the results of the surveys. The students responded in a manner that was honest and open and in many cases agreed with the results of the survey.

Q A

Were you surprise by their candor?

I was not that surprised at their candor. I was grateful that we were able to carry on a dialogue as a bishop and young members of our wonderful Church. I felt very linked to them and very close to them and I hope in many ways they were to me as well.

Q

Your response to college students at Coastal Bend College in Beeville was to post a video thanking them on Facebook. Is social media the best way to communicate with youth today?

A

One question that I was interested in– how can I as bishop reach out to you? They mentioned what I figured they would and that was social media. To try to send something to them regularly–a thought or a video, or audio. Something that they could hold onto and know that their diocese and their bishop especially was reaching out to them.

As you may be aware not only did I make the video after visiting Beeville, but I also placed another on Facebook at the requests of the students both in Beeville and Kingsville–as far as how do you just live a normal life? And some of the questions were: do you cook? Do you make breakfast? etc. So I did post a breakfast video on social media for them.

Q A

What is your hope for future dialogue with the youth?

I hope to do much more of this, both spiritual thoughts and just the personal everyday things that hopefully can connect with them.

One of the things we hope for and was brought up during the meetings was perhaps we could put on a one-day congress or meeting for them and cover some relevant topics to them as young adults. This is something I hope in the future in coordination with the three campuses and the young adult ministry in the diocese, we can do.

Q A

How can we as a church community help you accomplish these goals?

One thing I would say to all the parishioners in the diocese is to engage yourself with them. The young people are not as estranged from us simply because of age or a generational gap. They want to share their faith and they want to be embedded in the faith of the generations that precede them.

The Church is about the communion of minds and hearts and activities.

If parishes and people could get involved in just simple activities: inviting students over for a dinner, for a barbecue, or go to the centers, sit down with them–I think they would very much appreciate that. I know that they are very open to that.

The students expressed especially when they leave their homes and high school they’re a bit disconnected.

After they realize they are out of touch with what is so important to them– that is family and community–they begin looking for it.

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 5

†† Q&A WITH BISHOP

Q & A with Bishop Mulvey:

6  South Texas Catholic | May 2018

SECOND COLLECTION REPORTING Amounts recieved through March 31, 2018

BLACK & INDIAN MISSIONS Taken up February 25, 2018

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES Taken up March 11, 2018

ALICE DEANERY 204 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH (ALICE) 206 SANTA ROSA DE LIMA PARISH (BENAVIDES) 200 SANTO NIÑO DE ATOCHA MISSION (ALICE) 201 ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY PARISH (ALICE) 424 ST. FRANCES OF ROME PARISH ( AGUA DULCE) 228 ST. FRANCIS DE PAULA PARISH (SAN DIEGO) 202 ST. JOSEPH PARISH (ALICE) 230 ST JOSEPH MISSION (PALITO BLANCO) 211 ST. MARY PARISH (FREER) 425 ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH (BANQUETE) 205 ST. PETER MISSION (BEN BOLT) TOTAL ALICE DEANERY:

0.00 111.00 0.00 487.00 124.00 250.00 854.00 0.00 1,361.08 168.55 0.00 3,355.63

66.00 157.00 0.00 0.00 172.00 200.00 453.00 50.00 175.25 216.37 0.00 1,489.62

BEEVILLE DEANERY 322 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH (SKIDMORE) 314 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE MISSION (EDROY) 233 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE MISSION (PAWNEE) 302 OUR LADY OF VICTORY PARISH (BEEVILLE) 220 SACRED HEART PARISH (MATHIS) 313 SACRED HEART OF JESUS PARISH (ODEM) 232 SACRED HEART PARISH (THREE RIVERS) 305 SACRED HEART MISSION (PETTUS) 237 ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI MISSION (LAGARTO) 323 ST. FRANCIS XAVIER MISSION (TYNAN) 212 ST. GEORGE PARISH (GEORGE WEST) 303 ST. JAMES PARISH (BEEVILLE) 222 ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS PARISH (ORANGE GROVE) 304 ST. JOSEPH PARISH (BEEVILLE) 221 ST. PATRICK MISSION (SAN PATRICIO) 223 ST. PIUS X MISSION (SANDIA) TOTAL BEEVILLE DEANERY:

0.00 81.00 34.00 0.00 312.68 461.00 142.25 0.00 0.00 0.00 945.50 260.09 946.00 224.00 31.00 107.00 3,544.52

0.00 101.00 20.00 0.00 0.00 337.00 176.52 0.00 0.00 0.00 537.00 0.00 682.46 0.00 56.56 0.00 1,910.54

CORPUS CHRISTI 5 POINTS 423 OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL MISSION (CLARKWOOD) 422 OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PARISH (CC) 432 SANTA MARIA MISSION (ROBSTOWN) 449 ST. ANSELM OF CANTERBURY ANGLICAN COMMUNITY 431 ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA PARISH (ROBSTOWN) 433 ST. ANTHONY PARISH (VIOLET) 430 ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE PARISH (ROBSTOWN) 419 ST. MARY MISSION (CALALLEN) 418 ST. PETER, PRINCE OF THE APOSTLES PARISH (CC) 421 ST. THERESA PARISH (CC) 437 ST. THOMAS APOSTLE PARISH (ROBSTOWN) 434 ST. VIVIAN MISSION (PETRONILA) TOTAL CORPUS CHRISTI 5 POINTS:

29.00 75.70 147.00 0.00 387.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,783.00 346.09 2,260.00 12.00 5,039.79

16.05 41.00 198.00 0.00 375.00 191.00 0.00 0.00 3,519.00 140.00 1,528.00 46.13 6,054.18

CORPUS CHRISTI CENTRAL 401 CORPUS CHRISTI CATHEDRAL (CC) 404 HOLY CROSS PARISH (CC) 428 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH (GREGORY) 429 OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH (PORTLAND) 402 OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA PARISH (CC) 413 SACRED HEART PARISH (CC) 416 ST. PATRICK PARISH (CC) 440 ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH (CC) TOTAL CORPUS CHRISTI CENTRAL:

1,500.00 58.90 205.00 1,881.61 275.00 166.50 1,650.96 0.00 5,737.97

0.00 0.00 198.00 1,672.80 0.00 128.00 77.00 0.00 2,075.80

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 7

SECOND COLLECTION REPORTING Amounts recieved through March 31, 2018

BLACK & INDIAN MISSIONS

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

CORPUS CHRISTI SOUTHSIDE 407 MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD PARISH (CC) 411 OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH (CC) 435 ST. ANDREW BY THE SEA PARISH (CC) 443 ST. HELENA OF THE TRUE CROSS OF JESUS PARISH (CC) 442 ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH (CC) 312 ST JOSEPH PARISH (PORT ARANSAS) 417 ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE PARISH (CC) 438 ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE PARISH (CC) 420 ST. PIUS X PARISH (CC) TOTAL CORPUS CHRISTI SOUTHSIDE:

1,000.00 360.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 225.00 4,563.70 1,097.40 7,246.10

500.00 35.00 1,030.65 0.00 0.00 222.22 225.00 0.00 60.03 2,072.90

CORPUS CHRISTI WESTSIDE 403 CHRIST THE KING PARISH (CC) 405 HOLY FAMILY PARISH (CC) 406 NUESTRA SENORA DE SAN JUAN DE LOS LAGOS, MADRE DE LA IGLESIA 410 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH (CC) 412 OUR LADY OF PILAR PARISH (CC) 414 SS. CYRIL & METHODIUS PARISH (CC) 415 ST. JOSEPH PARISH (CORPUS CHRISTI) TOTAL CORPUS CHRISTI WESTSIDE:

413.00 412.75 1,054.00 358.00 394.50 941.80 1,145.32 4,719.37

435.00 297.00 0.00 13.00 417.50 803.45 481.95 2,447.90

KINGSVILLE - DEANERY 225 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MISSION (CONCEPTION) 234 OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION PARISH (VATTMAN) 219 OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL PARISH (KINGSVILLE) 231 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH (SARITA) 227 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE MISSION (RAMIREZ) 208 SACRED HEART PARISH (FALFURRIAS) 209 ST. ANNE MISSION (ENCINO) 226 ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI MISSION (RIOS) 214 ST. GERTRUDE PARISH (KINGSVILLE) 427 ST. JAMES MISSION (DRISCOLL) 426 ST. JAMES PARISH (BISHOP) 218 ST JOSEPH PARISH (KINGSVILLE) 217 ST. MARTIN PARISH (KINGSVILLE) 224 ST. THERESA OF THE INFANT JESUS PARISH (PREMONT) 236 ST. TOMAS AQUINAS-UNIVERSITY CATHOLIC CENTER TOTAL KINGSVILLE DEANERY:

5.00 448.00 0.00 167.00 0.00 1,803.30 954.24 0.00 1,448.29 0.00 0.00 325.00 255.00 102.00 0.00 5,507.83

15.00 478.00 378.10 113.00 0.00 1,349.00 438.12 0.00 685.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 94.00 0.00 3,550.22

REFUGIO DEANERY 325 HOLY FAMILY PARISH (TAFT) 324 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH (TAFT) 311 OUR LADY OF ASSUMPTION PARISH (INGLESIDE) 319 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH (SINTON) 326 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH (TIVOLI) 315 OUR LADY OF REFUGE PARISH (REFUGIO) 318 SACRED HEART PARISH (ROCKPORT) 321 SACRED HEART PARISH (SINTON) 328 ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA MISSION (AUSTWELL) 316 ST. CATHERINE MISSION (BLANCONIA) 327 ST. DENNIS MISSION (O'CONNOR RANCH) 317 ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE PARISH (REFUGIO) 330 ST. MARY MISSION (BAYSIDE) 301 ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA PARISH (ARANSAS PASS) 320 ST. PAUL MISSION (ST. PAUL) 331 ST. PETER PARISH (FULTON) 329 ST. THERESE, THE LITTLE FLOWER PARISH (WOODSBORO) 310 STELLA MARIS CHAPEL (LAMAR) TOTAL REFUGIO DEANERY:

0.00 774.93 550.15 624.56 93.00 0.00 550.00 648.00 25.00 0.00 0.00 479.60 0.00 0.00 224.00 141.00 163.00 147.00 4,420.24

0.00 0.00 0.00 555.60 72.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 176.22 0.00 944.87 0.00 0.00 172.00 0.00 1,920.69

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

39,571.45

21,521.85

OTHERS MISCELLANEOUS TOTAL FOR DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

8  South Texas Catholic | May 2018

TOTAL OTHERS:

Father Romeo Salinas

I

Contributor

Father Romeo Salinas is Vocations Director for the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

n his Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus Christ Through Mary, St. Louis de Montfort states quite eloquently that "the spirit of the world is self-centered, self-seeking, self-serving, self-aggrandizing…. it is selfish, self-absorbed, and self-interested.

He teaches, "Self-denial is a powerful and necessary means of combating the self-absorption and self-interest of the worldly spirit. Acts of self-denial begin to turn us away from worldly self-assertion and prepare us to make a genuine surrender of ourselves to Jesus through Mary" (pp. 16-17).

St. de Montfort holds that we must place our strengths against the spirit of the world under the protective care of Our Lady, because "knowledge of Mary is a gift so great that it is nothing less than a privileged grace that one receives from the hand of the Almighty Himself" (p.69).

We must open our hearts to her and acknowledge our need for grace to the generosity of Our Lady. We must strive to understand that her intentions and her love are pure. We must experience Mary as a mother and a queen directly and lovingly involved in our lives.

Our Lady is grace, beyond our ability to fathom. "Divine love so penetrated and filled the soul of Mary that no part of her was left untouched, so that she loved with her whole heart, with her whole soul, and her whole strength, and was full of grace" (St. Bernard of Clairvaux).

All graces come from Mary to us. God made her the sole keeper of His graces and the sole dispenser of them. She can lead us along the narrow path to heaven. Through our prayers to her, we learn to know and love God. St. Faustina said of the Blessed Mother, " I have experienced an increasing devotion to the Mother of God. She has taught me how to love God interiorly and also how to carry out His holy will in all things. Oh, Mary, you are my joy, because through you God descended to earth [and] into my heart" (Diary #21).

Mary is also our greatest Protectress. She is the most fearful enemy that God has set up against the devil. He gave His Mother such tremendous power to defeat this mortal enemy of man that Satan fears her above all. "Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell

fear the name and protection of Mary" (St. Bonaventure).

The Immaculate alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will become in her hand's forceful instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spread of God's kingdom" (St. Maximillian Kolbe).

At the mention of this name (Mary), the angels rejoice and the devils tremble; through this invocation, sinners obtain grace and pardon." (St. Peter Canisius).

Mary is the most perfect and most holy of all beings. When our Lord chose this humble virgin as His Mother, He exalted her above all. Through Mary, we draw closer to God without fear of rejection. She is a perfect spiritual vessel; a vessel of honor and devotion. She loves us, guides and protects us and intercedes for us. She is the Mediatrix of all graces that we receive from God. Mary is the perfect disciple; the light of God; and an excellent instructress for us. She teaches us to prepare for Jesus with pure and loving hearts filled with deep devotion; filled with a spirit of acceptance and obedience, simplicity and self-sacrifice. Not only must we surrender ourselves totally to God, but we must also totally surrender ourselves to Mary.

The more dedicated we are to do God's will, the greater the portion of holiness we will possess to share with her. We must remember to pray our rosaries daily, for the 15 promises of the rosary she gave to us are incredibly powerful.

Mary, free us from danger; console us when we are troubled; bring us relief when we are ill or filled with anxiety; strengthen us in time of need; help us always to thank God for our blessings and bring us ever closer to Jesus.

Help us promote prayer in our homes and families, for this establishes a sanctuary where we are better able to hear the call of God for vocations.

Help us remember we all have a common vocation whether called to the priesthood, the consecrated life, the single life, or married life. Our common vocation is to be holy; to do God’s will; to promote the ordained life and religious life by encouraging and nurturing those discerning the call of God; and to promote love of God always.

Holiness is everyone’s vocation, as is knowledge that God is the source of all goodness and truth.

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 9

†† VOCATIONS

Our Mother loves us

†† VOCATIONS

Sisters celebrate 60 years o

By Sister Michelle Marie Kuntscher, IWBS

S Contributor

isters Denise Cassidy and Brenda Thompson, both Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Corpus Christi are celebrating their sixtieth anniversary of religious profession this year.

Sister Denise, baptized Anne Brigid, was born on Dec. 30, 1937, to Patrick Cassidy and Agnes McMahon Cassidy in Dublin, Ireland. She began her early school education with the Holy Faith Sisters at Corpus Christi Elementary and at the Dominic Street School in Dublin. She graduated from the Holy Faith Secondary School on Dominic Street, Dublin.

After graduating, Anne (Sister Denise) met Sisters Claude McManus and Noreen Begley who gave vocation talks to students in Dublin, while on a home visit from Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi. She said that the beautiful simplicity and gentleness of the sisters impressed her so much that she wanted to follow them to Texas.

Her religious vocation plans began to develop and in November 1956, she traveled to Corpus Christi to enter the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.

Mother Patricia Gunning, Superior General at the time, felt it would be a good experience for her to have an American education experience, so she attended and graduated from Incarnate Word Academy in 1957 and told the students stories of her life as an Incarnate Word Sister in Texas. After completing the formation program of postulant and novice, she

made her first profession of vows in 1959.

Sister Denise earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from St. Edward’s University in Austin and a Master’s Degree in Administration from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. She began her teaching career at Incarnate Word Academy Kindergarten in Corpus Christi, followed by over fifty years of teaching and administration in Catholic schools throughout South Texas. She has taught or served as principal at Corpus Christi Cathedral School, Sacred Heart School in Sinton, Incarnate Word Academy Elementary in Corpus Christi and in Brownsville, St. Patrick School, St. Theresa School and Central Catholic Elementary in Corpus Christi.

Sister Denise has shared her gifts, talents and time in many various ways, including ministry in CCD programs and missionary work to families in Arteaga, Mexico. Within the congregation, she has participated as a delegate to the General Chapter, as a member of the local administration team at the Motherhouse, as well as membership on numerous commissions and committees of the congregation.

For many years after retiring from acting principal and full-time teaching, Sister Denise continued to tutor students at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary Level, stopping when health issues forced her to retire. She has been receiving cancer treatment and making visits to M.D. Anderson in Houston for the past several years.

Sister Denise enjoys nature walks, listening to music and books on tape,

knitting, crocheting, playing Canasta with the Sisters, and communicating with her family in Ireland via e-mail, texting and Skype.

In reviewing her life as a teacher, Sister Denise said, ”It is a great source of joy to work with young children, teaching them the fundamentals of reading and math and letting them know in the process how much God loves them. I like to tell the children that they have the power to be and to do anything they want if they only put their minds and hearts to it.”

Sister Brenda Thompson, baptized Philomena, was born July 7, 1938, to George

It is a great source of joy to work with young children, teaching them “ the fundamentals of reading and math and letting them know in the process how much God loves them.”

–Sister Denise Cassidy 10 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

†† VOCATIONS

f Profession of Vows

Thompson and Catherine Dillon Thompson in Dublin, Ireland. At the age of four Philomena tragically lost both her parents and was raised by her aunts and uncles.

She began her early school education at the Holy Faith Convent School in Dublin. Like Sister Denise, she was inspired

by Sister Claude McManus who told the students stories of her life as an Incarnate Word Sister in Texas.

One year later she entered Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Convent in Corpus Christi. She graduated from Incarnate Word Academy and made her first profession of vows in 1959.

Sister Brenda earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from St. Edward’s University in Austin, and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling with certification in Career and College Counseling from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. She was then licensed as a professional counselor for the State of Texas. She served for eight years on the Board of the Coastal Bend Mental Health Committee and the Board of the Coastal Bend Childhood Mental Health Commission. On the Corpus Christi Drug Abuse Council, she headed training workshops for educators of the Coastal Bend.

In her years of ministry, Sister Brenda was the administrator of the Incarnate Word Academy Kindergarten, which began with two pre-kinder and three kindergarten classes when the Academy opened on Alameda Street. She opened a new grade each year to reach a fully accredited Elementary level.

In Brownsville, she taught at Incarnate Word Elementary School for three years.

While serving as College and Career Counselor at IWA, Corpus Christi, Sister Brenda helped public school administrators by giving workshops on preparing students for college to teachers, counselors and parents. She was honored as an “Outstanding Educator” in 1990 by the President’s Commission on Education in Washington and received her award from the President and First Lady Barbara Bush in a ceremony at the White House.

From 1985 to 2009, Sister Brenda served as the Director of Incarnate Word Academy Alumni, developing a

stewardship program of financial support and regular class reunions for graduating classes. A scholarship in her name was opened by the Alumni Advisory Council in 2009, and in 2013, she was presented with the Distinguished Alumna Award.

In her years of service within the congregation, Sister Brenda began working with Sister Dorothy Anhaiser as Archivist and was assigned Director of Heritage when the Motherhouse relocated to Lipes Boulevard. She continues to digitize documents and provide data upon request.

She also assists the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity and members of the First Methodist Church in Beeville in setting up their heritage libraries and artifacts departments. She continues giving tours of the Heritage Room in its new and brightly lit location to student and adult groups.

Sister Brenda served on the Diocesan Memories Committee for the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

She has served on the IWA Board of Directors for several terms, and on the Advisory Council for Central Catholic Elementary.

In April 2016, she began ministry in the volunteer program at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital–South, where she serves on the information desk. She also volunteers with the new Alpha Program for the laity at St. Phillip the Apostle Parish.

“I love being with animals and nature,” Sister Brenda said, “as much as I treasure having time to grow spiritually while answering the call of Pope Francis to go out and work beside the laity as a joyful, prophetic witness to God’s goodness.”

I love being with animals and nature, as much as I treasure having time “ to grow spiritually while answering the call of Pope Francis to go out and work beside the laity as a joyful, prophetic witness to God’s goodness.”

–Sister Brenda Thompson May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 11

†† VOCATIONS

Sisters’ Corner

Missionary daughters are witnesses of love Sister Celia Campoy, MDPVM

F

Contributor

ather Alberto Cusco Mir, SJ and the Venerable Mother Julia Navarrete Guerrero founded the religious congregation, Missionary Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary in 1903.

We have 42 communities of sisters, who are witnesses of the Gospel and are trying to be love and consolation for the ones who most suffer in Mexico, the United States of America, Peru and Africa.

Our protector is the Immaculate Virgin Mary, having as a referent, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in his deepest sorrows, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Our main apostolic work includes the Christian education of youth and pastoral activities directed toward the religious education of the people of God. We teach at 27 private schools in Mexico; two parochial schools in the U.S. and one school on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. We also do ministry at a boarding school, Fe y Alegria in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, to prepare native girls, who have been abandoned or are in danger.

We have five mission communities: two in the Huasteca Potosina, Mexico; one in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur; one in San Yeualtepec, Oaxaca; and another in Nigeria, Africa plus three communities in the U.S. who collaborate on projects in favor of our migrant brethren. The

community in Nigeria is witness to the nearness of God for our brethren, who are the poorest of the poor and do not count in the society in which they live, some who have even been rejected by their own families.

We have two communities of sisters who are sick and elderly, one in Kingsville, TX and the other in Aguascalientes, Mexico. These places are privileged places to take care of their health and prayer places, from where prayers are elevated for the needs of the world, the Church and so many others that request the sacrificial prayers of our sisters.

Our founders taught us to center our lives in the heart of our Lord Jesus, to let us guide by the action of the Holy Spirit and to live in purity with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They formed us in a strong feeling with the Church and the Venerable Mother Julia Navarrete taught us with her life to live the will of God. Her motto was: “What God wants, I want it too.”

Our congregation wants to continue to be a testimony of love and consolation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by ministering to our brethren who are suffering. By following Church teaching, we want to be taken by the Holy Spirit to answer the humble cries of our brethren– take the Gospel where Christ is not known.

“What God wants, I want it too.”

–Venerable Mother Julia Navarrete

12 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

†† CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Shania and Samantha Esquivel take a selfie of themselves before a game in the St. John Paul II High School parking lot.

Contributed photo

Mother and daughter blessed by Catholic schools Mary Cottingham

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South Texas Catholic

amantha Esquivel hadn’t planned on raising a daughter alone. She was given little choice when her husband, John Patrick Esquivel, suddenly died of an aortic aneurysm just one month after their daughter, Shania was born.

Those first six months after he died were the hardest. Esquivel was reeling from the loss of her husband and at the same time experiencing the joy and wonder of her

newborn baby. During that time Esquivel’s mother, Maria Perez and a friend, Cynthia Fernandez (who later became Shania’s Godmother) never left her side and helped her care for her daughter.

Esquivel had been attending Mass regularly all her life and had been a parishioner at Ss. Cyril & Methodius for years. Her loss did not change that. She continued going to Mass and praying, knowing in her heart that her family would one day be blessed. “He has blessed us. He has

never left me or deserted me,” she said.

To make a decent living, Esquivel chose to go into the medical field and began attending school after being accepted into the nursing program at Del Mar College.

“I just got loans. I didn’t get any grants for school,” she said. Eventually, she became a registered nurse.

Esquivel was determined her daughter would attend Catholic School because it cultivates a moral foundation in young minds. “It’s solid and the classes are small.”

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 13

†† CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Teachers can give her daughter more attention and she would also receive preparation for her sacraments. With the help of tuition assistance during the years she needed it, Esquivel was able to put Shania through Catholic schools from pre-K through 12th grade.

Nannette Quintanilla-Hatch, now Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools, was principal at Ss. Cyril & Methodius School when Esquivel enrolled Shania in pre-K3 and asked for tuition assistance. “Samantha was a hard worker and would sometimes work two jobs if she had to, all the while going to school. She had such a rough time, but stayed faithful,” Quintanilla-Hatch remembers. When she asked for tuition assistance, “she always worked extra to make up for that–always volunteering to help. She was one of those moms, who was there for whatever event, activity or fundraiser we had.”

“She is amazing,” Quintanilla-Hatch said. “When I got sick with breast cancer, she was one of the first persons who came to see me. She also started up this thing at the school making pink ribbons, with hearts in them and passed them out for people to wear until I was better.”

Shania attended Ss. Cyril & Methodius Elementary School for all but her fourth-grade year, which was spent at St. Elizabeth in Alice, where her mom was employed as the school nurse. She also attended Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School and St. John Paul II High School.

In addition to laying a solid foundation, Catholic Schools helped both mother and daughter form a unique bond of friends and families over the years. Many of Shania’s classmates have attended the same schools and their parents have cheered for them all at various games or events.

Besides sharing a bond with families and friends, their parish priests, Father Peter Martinez and Father David Bayardo, have been a constant in their lives. Both priests had served at Ss. Cyril & Methodius and now serve as president of St. John Paul II (Father Martinez) where she attended High School and Most Precious Blood (Father Bayardo), where they are now parishioners.

When Shania was growing up, Esquivel never remarried. She always put her daughter’s needs first. “I guess that’s why we are so close,” Esquivel said. “I’m always at her school. Anybody who knows Shy [Shania] knows me.”

Her daughter can attest to her mother’s devotion. Shania has been excelling at sports since the fourth grade. At St. John Paul II High School, she was head cheerleader, volleyball captain, basketball captain and won sixth place in the discus throw for a TAPPS State competition in her junior year. She can count on one hand the number of sports events her mother has missed in all those years. “I’ve always felt that if I can’t go to one of her games or events, who is going to go. I am blessed. With all the jobs I’ve had–it’s never been an issue even to this day.”

“We go to church together as a family and we eat dinner as a family. When Shania was younger, I never left her home alone,” Esquivel said. If one of them would be late for dinner, they would wait for each other, “sometimes we won’t eat until 10 p.m., because she is waiting for me or I for her.”

14 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

Shania excelled academically as well. She was student body president, a member of the National English and Spanish Honor Society, a Legati ambassador for St. John Paul II and the only person in Corpus Christi to receive the prestigious Semper-Fidelis award. She was in the top 6% in her class and she was awarded the Presidential Scholarship. She will be attending Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and wants to become nurse practitioner.

“Mom has really inspired me–being a single mom. I want to go help people the same way my mom helps me. I always push for greatness, I don’t settle for mediocrity,” Shania said. “I want to keep going and I want to help somebody while doing that.”

One way Shania has helped people has been by serving persons with disabilities at the Special Hearts Prom and Special Olympics hosted by St. John Paul II High School students and Catholic Charities Ministry & Life Enrichment for Persons with Disabilities.

Life as a single mom has not always been easy for Esquivel– working full time and rushing around to get Shania to practice and games has always been challenging. “Sometimes faith is all I had,” Esquivel said. “Her faith is so strong,” she said of Shania, “and that makes me stronger in my own faith. Her faith is amazing. She says she get’s it from me, but I don’t think so. I believe her dad is with her all the time.”

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area. Students enjoyed the history lessons of the churches on this April 6 field trip.

Incarnate Word Academy’s High School Level TAPPS Academic and Speech teams placed third at this year’s State Academic Competition which was held from April 10-11 in Waco.

St. Pius X Cheer Squad performs at Ice Rays game

St. Pius X students visit historic churches Fifth and sixth graders from St. Pius X School traveled to Schulenburg, Texas to visit the historic painted churches. Pastor, Father Paul Hesse, teachers and parents accompanied the students to this historic

The St. Pius X Cheer Squad were guests of the Corpus Christi Ice Rays and performed during intermission at their April 6 game. The girls enjoy being positive and enthusiastic ambassadors for the school community.

St. Pius X student to compete in Maryland Sixth-grader Edmund Thomas will represent St. Pius X as a finalist in the

Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

STREAM Fair at OLPH Academy inspires and amazes Students from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Academy participated in a STREAM Fair on April 3 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Academy.

High School musicians awarded first place at State Incarnate Word Academy’s High School Level band, choir, and piano students competed at this year’s TAPPS State Music Championships on Wednesday, March 28 at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

Our Lady of Assumption Parish celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

Our Lady of Assumption Parish celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 18. The pastor at Our Lady of Assumption, Father Patrick Higgins, invited Irish dancers from the Gildea Irish Dance School and an Irish band, Old Dogs, who livened up the celebration. The purpose of the event was to raise funds for the 22 youth that will be heading to Steubenville from June 22-24. Pictured with the Irish dancers, in the middle of the back row are Bishop Edmond Carmody and Msgr. Seamus McGowen. In the middle of the front row are Father Ray Yrlas and Father Patrick Higgins. The youth served the meal, which included potato soup, Irish soda bread, corn beef and cabbage and Baileys Cheesecake and Irish coffee unique to Ireland.

Contributed photo May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 15

†† NEWS BRIEFS

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†† NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

Bishop Mulvey welcomed Focolare members at a Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on March 10. Concelebrating Mass with Bishop Mulvey are Father Darryl D’Souza, Father James Stembler and Father René Meier.

Alfredo E. Cardenas for South Texas Catholic

The spirit of unity is at work in the diocese Mary Cottingham

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South Texas Catholic

ix members of the Focolare Movement will be relocating to Corpus Christi on July 16 to assist with the spiritual and ministerial needs in parishes and campus ministry in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Bishop Michael Mulvey welcomed them and other members of the movement scattered throughout Texas at a Mass celebrated at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on March 10.

Bishop Mulvey was introduced to the Focolare Movement 41 years ago in San Antonio being inspired by a lay consecrated woman, Hortensia Lopez, he has tried to live the spirituality of unity ever since–all the while thinking–this would be wonderful

in a parish and a diocese.

All the members of the community coming to Corpus Christi are consecrated single lay people, with the exception of Father René Meier and Father Darryl D’Souza.They have all have taken vows of chastity, obedience and poverty. The women will live in one house and the men in another.

“Things have matured again according to God’s time–not our time. I can say without any pride that we are the first diocese in the world where this is happening, so the spotlight is on us,” Bishop Mulvey said. “We will all do our best and all work together.”

He explained that the Focolare Movement is a spirituality May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 17

that can be defined simply as unity. It is a unity that is a grace from God, achieved through love of one another.

“Love is not always easy,” he said. “The central aspect of that love is Jesus on the cross, who we worship, adore and look to for inspiration. Jesus cried out one day, ‘my God, my God why have you forsaken me’ and at that moment, you could say, he became one of us–in all of our pains, in all of our disappointments, aspirations–everything.

“Jesus helps whenever we think love is difficult. We think we can we love Him [Jesus], because he helps us to go beyond and be in unity with another person who is also struggling, so that in a nutshell is the heart of the spirituality.”

Cautioning patience and discernment, Bishop Mulvey said that it is God’s plan that is important and will bear fruit–not ours.

“We have the vision, we have the energy, we have all those gifts that God gives us to do good, but they are God’s gifts, not ours.

To be in unity with God is to allow God to unleash the power that he wants in us is what’s important, not for ourselves, but for our brothers and sisters who are waiting to hear the name of Jesus, who are waiting to hear the truth that only God can give them.”

Members of the Focolare Movement who have consented to work for the Diocese of Corpus Christi are Father René Meier from Switzerland who is moving from the Focolare Center in Rome; Father Darryl D’Souza who has already been working in the diocese; Bea Romo from Spain from the Focolare community in Ohio; Birgit Oberhofer from Germany and Eduardo Alonso from Spain from the Focolare community in Los Angeles, CA; Cecilia Fuentes Montero from Costa Rica who has moved from the Focolare community in Bronx, New York coming from the Focolare community of Los Angeles, California; and Bob Cummings from New York from the Focolare Community of Chicago.

Bishop Michael Mulvey (center) introduces members of the Focolare Movement who have consented to work for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Pictured, from left, Bob Cummings from New York, Eduardo Alonso from Spain, Father René Meier from Switzerland, Father Darryl D’Souza, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Cecilia Fuentes Montero from Costa Rica; Bea Romo from Spain; and Birgit Oberhofer from Germany.

Alfredo E. Cardenas for South Texas Catholic 18 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

✝ NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

†† NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

Origin of the Focolare Movement The Focolare Movement is an ecclesial movement officially approved by the Catholic Church in 1968. Pope Paul VI spoke of Focolare as a “flourishing tree, luxuriant and most fruitful.”

Beginning in 1943 in bomb shelters throughout war-torn Trent, Italy, The Focolare Movement’s founder Chiara Lubich, a 19-yearold woman, and her friends watched as their hopes and dreams were being torn apart like the city they grew up in. They looked around and wondered, “Is there anything that does not pass away? Any reality that no bombs can destroy?” And the answer came from within them, “Yes, there is such a reality: it is God. God endures forever.”

Bringing a Bible with them into the bomb shelters they began reading the Gospel by candlelight. One by one, the words began to speak to their hearts–they were no longer just words they read, but words to put into practice. They started living the Gospel and after about six months there were some 500 people in their group.

In Chiara the words emanating from the Gospel of John, “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, so may they be in us.” (Jn 17:21), were words to live by.

Today the Movement is widespread. There are approximately two million members in 182 countries in all the continents–the majority being Roman Catholic.

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 19

✝ NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

Sergio and Gloria Canales want to buy their first home after renting for eight years. They have a three year-old girl and want a yard.

A ONE-STOP SHOP:

Dayna Worchel for South Texas Catholic

Future homeowners come to Catholic Charities Housing Fair Dayna Worchel

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Correspondent

bel Garcia and Juanita Villarreal have been renting an apartment for years now, but they would love to purchase their first home.

“An apartment is never really yours. We also want more privacy. We are lost about what we need to do and we need to get some information about getting into a home,” Garcia said.

20 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

They were among the many like-minded families who came to the Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi’s third annual “Dare to Own the Dream and Housing Fair” on April 14 at the Catholic Charities office on Oliver Court.

The primary goal of the fair is to educate future and existing homeowners and to help eliminate predatory lending, says Doreya “Yiyi” Dean, who serves as Grant Writer/Administrator and Director of

Housing Counseling for Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi. The organization has been offering Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved housing counseling since 2002 to provide education and to promote home ownership.

“We lack affordable housing here.

Apartments are sometimes more expensive than houses. All of us work together including the banks, mortgage companies, and the City of Corpus Christi’s housing

†† NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

programs to bring awareness to the community,” Dean says.

The Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi organization receives grants through Catholic Charities USA to offer many types of HUD approved counseling services and education programs for first time home-buyers. These services include one-on-one housing counseling; pre and post purchase counseling; credit repair; financial literacy, and a host of other services. The training and counseling is available in English and Spanish.

“Every year, Bishop Mulvey writes a letter to Catholic Charities USA and to HUD to support our efforts,” Dean said.

Other families there talked about the advantages of home ownership. David and Melissa Martinez also say they want to have property they can call their own.

They have been renting and have two small children.

“We live in Robstown, but want to move to Corpus Christi because we both work in

the North Beach area and we have a very long commute,” says Melissa Martinez.

Mark and Michelle Brown are raising a growing family in a 600 square foot apartment and really want to purchase a home.

“It’s time for an upgrade,” Mark Brown said with a laugh.

Mike McLellan, Interim Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, says home ownership is one of the foundational pieces of life and is a source of pride in a community.

“Events like these provide opportunities to buy a home and to have realtors, the federal government and Texas Windstorm Insurance Association all in one place where no one is pressuring them,” he says of the event.

Home ownership helps create jobs throughout the community in the home building and construction industries also, McLellan says.

Representatives from the banks and mortgage companies at the housing fair

also wanted to help the community achieve home ownership. Monique Espinosa is a mortgage loan officer from American Bank.

“We want to educate people in the process and we make sure the program suits their needs,” she says.

Sometimes the loan process is quick and takes only a couple of months. The credit-to-income ratio must be right and the bank can look at the customer’s credit report with the customer, Espinosa says.

“The longest amount of time was when it took someone three years to qualify. It took that long to make sure their credit and income was right,” she says.

But they still became homeowners in the end.

For more information about the HUD Approved Housing Counseling Program, contact Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, Inc., 615 Oliver Ct., Corpus Christi, TX 78408. Phone: (361) 8840651, or go to catholiccharities-cc.org.

From left, Ray Galvan and Juan Ramirez of the City of Corpus Christi tell fair goers about housing programs offered through the City on April 14.

Dayna Worchel for South Texas Catholic

†† VIDA CATÓLICA

Los miembros del Movimiento Focolare cantan durante la misa del 10 de marzo.

El espíritu de unidad obra en la diócesis Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic Gloria Romero, Traductor

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eis miembros del Movimiento Focolare, serán instalados en la Diócesis de Corpus Christi el 16 de Julio, con el fin de asistir en las necesidades espirituales y ministeriales de parroquias y ministerios de campo.

El Obispo Michael Mulvey les dió la bienvenida a ellos y a otros miembros del movimiento que obran a traves de Texas, durante una Misa celebrada el pasado 10 de Marzo, en la parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro.

El Obispo Mulvey conoció el Movimiento Focolare desde hace 41 años en San Antonio, fue inspirado por una mujer seglar, pero consagrada, llamada Hortensia Lopez, y desde entonces ha tratado de vivir la espiritualidad de unidad que genera el Movimiento, y pensó que sería maravilloso practicarlo en las parroquias y en general en la Diócesis.

Todos los miembros de la comunidad Focolare que vienen a Corpus Christi son personas seglares, 22 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

solteras consagradas, con la ecepción del Padre René Meier y Padre Darryl Joseph D’Souza.

Todas ellas han tomado votos de castidad obediencia y pobreza. Las damas vivirán en una casa y los caballeros en otra.

“Las cosas han madurado nuevamente, de acuerdo a los tiempos de Dios, no a los nuestros”. “Puedo decir sin vanidad, que somos la primera Diócesis en el mundo, en donde ésto esta sucediendo, por lo tanto el foco de atención esta puesto sobre nosotros” dijo el Obispo Mulvey. “Todos haremos lo mejor que podamos y lo haremos juntos”.

El explicó que el Movimiento Focolare encierra una espiritúalidad que puede definirse simplemente, como -Unidad-. Es esa unidad que viene de la gracia de Dios, lograda mediante el amor de los unos para con los otros.

“El amor no es siempre fácil”, dijo él. “El aspecto central de ése amor es Jesús en la cruz, a quien le rendimos culto y adoramos, de quien buscamos

El Movimiento Focolare, es un movimiento eclesiástico, aprobado oficialmente por la Iglesia Católica desde 1968 bajo el mandato del Papa Pablo VI, quien hablo del movimiento Focolare como algo semejante a “un árbol cuajado de flores y frutos.”

A principios del año 1943, en refugios de bombardeos y clamores de guerra, en la ciudad de Trent, Italia, nace el Movimiento Focolare. Su fundadora es una joven de 19 años llamada Chiara Lubich, ella y un grupo de amigas veían desaparecer sus sueños y esperanzas, como desaparecía la ciudad que les vió nacer, miraban tal destrucción alrrededor de ellas que se preguntaban; “habrá algo que no desaparezca?, ¿alguna realidad que las bombas no destruyan?”Y la respuesta vino de su interior; “si, existe esa realidad: es Dios, Dios lo puede todo, permanece para siempre.”

inspiración.

Jesús clamó en la cruz: “Dios mío, Dios mío, por qué me has abandonado”, y en ese momento se apartó de si mismo, podría decirse que se separó de Dios, y se hizo uno con nosotros, con todas nuestras penas y decepciones , con todas esas cosas que aquejan al ser humano, y también con todas nuestras aspiraciones.

“Jesús nos ayuda cuando amar se hace dificil, creemos que podemos amar, pero en realidad es El quien nos lleva un paso mas allá, para poder estar en unidad con otra persona, quien a la vez esta teniendo la misma lucha, así es como tocamos el cascarón que cubre el corazón de la espiritualidad.”

“Cautelosa paciencia y discernimiento” dice el Obispo Mulvey, es Dios quien tiene el verdadero plan, el que producirá los frutos, no nosotros. “Tenemos la vision, tenemos la energía, contamos con todos esos dones que Dios nos da para hacerlo bién, pero son regalos que vienen de Dios, no de nosotros mismos.

Estar en unidad con Dios, es permitirle, despertar en nosotros, el poder que El quiere que tengamos, no para nosotros mismos sino para nuestros hermanos y hermanas, que estan a la espera de escuchar el nombre de Jesús, de oir la verdad que solo Dios nos puede dar.”

Los miembros del Movimiento Focolare que han consentido trabajar para la Diócesis de Corpus Christi son: el Padre René Meier de Suiza, quien viene del Centro Focolare de Roma; Padre Darryl Joseph D’Souza, quien ya ha estado trabajando en la Diócesis; Bea Romo de España, quien proviene de la comunidad Focolare de Ohio; Birgit Oberhofer de Alemania y Eduardo Alonso de España, quienes vienen de la comunidad Focolare de Los Angeles, California; Cecilia Fuentes Montero de Costa Rica, quien se ha mudado de la comunidad Focolare del Bronx, Nueva York, y ahora proviene de la comunidad Focolare de Los Angeles, CA. y Bob Cummings de Nueva York que proviene de la comunidad Focolare de Chicago.

Ayudenos a Prevenir el Abuso Financiero

Obispo Michael Mulvey y el personal de la Oficina de un Ambiente Seguro y de Servicios para Niños y Familia se comprometen a ayudar en el proceso de curación de las víctimas y sobrevivientes de abuso.

Si usted o alguien que usted conoce está en necesidad de estos servicios, llame a Stephanie Bonilla, Director de la Oficina de un Ambiente Seguro y de Servicios para Niños y Familia: (361) 882-6191 para asistencia inmediata.

Trayendo una Biblia consigo a los refugios, Chiara y sus amigas empezaron a leer el Evangelio a la luz de una vela. Una a una, las palabras empezaron a ser escuchadas en sus corazones, y dejaron de ser sólo palabras, para hacerse vida que ponían en practica. Así empezaron a vivir el Evangelio, pasaron cerca de sies meses y ya eran 500 las personas que se unieron a su grupo.

En Chiara las palabras que emanaban del Evangelio de San Juan eran: “Para que todos sean uno, como tu Padre estas en mi y yo en ti, para que también ellos sean en nosotros.” (San Juan,17:21) Eran palabras de un modo de vida.

Hoy en dìa el Movimiento se ha esparcido por el mundo, y cuenta con alrrededor de 2 millones de miembros, distribuidos en 182 paises y en todos los continents, -la mayoría son Católicos Romanos.

La Diócesis de Corpus Christi por medio de la recomendación del Concilio Diocesano de Finanzas y el Concilio Presbiteral han llevado su dedicación mas allá para la buena administración y responsabilidad nanciera en nombre de donantes generosos al instituir un “hotline” para reportar el abuso nanciero.

Oficina de un Ambiente Seguro y de Servicios para Niños y Familia

La Diócesis de Corpus Christi ha seleccionado un tercer partido independiente, La Red, para proporcionarle a usted con una manera para reportar anónima y condencialmente el abuso nanciero e fraude. Los empleados, los parroquianos, los voluntarios, los vendedores, y otros partidos interesados estan impulsados para reportar las preocupaciones que tengan respeto a la conducta de påca ética nanciera dentro de la Diócese de Corpus Christi.

Todas las investigaciones serán tradas inmediatamente y discretamente.

Personas que llamen tienen el derecho de mantenerse anónimas.

Llamada 1-877-571-9748 May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 23

†† VIDA CATÓLICA

Origenes del Movimiento Focolare:

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24 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

†† VIDA CATÓLICA

Futuros Propietarios de Casa, Acuden a la Feria Annual de Viviendas de Caridades Católicas.

Dayna Worchel, Corresponsal Gloria Romero, Traductora

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bel Garcia y Anita Villarreal, han rentado un departamento por años y ahora les encantaría comprar su primera casa.

“Un departamento, núnca es realmente tuyo.

También queremos mas privacidad, pero no sabemos por dónde empezar, ni qué necesitamos, por eso buscamos información, sobre cómo comprar una casa,” dijo Garcia.

Como ellos, hay muchas familias que desean lo mismo y llegaron a la feria annual de Caridades Católicas de Corpus Christi llamada: “Dare to Own the Dream and Housing Fair” (Atrevete a hacer realidad tu sueño en la Feria de Viviendas).

Que se llevó a cabo el 14 de Abril.

La meta principal que la feria tiene como objetivo, es educar a futuros y actuales propietarios de casas, y ayudarles a eliminar prestamos abusivos, dijo Doreya “Yiyi” Dean, directora y administradora del –Consejo de Viviendas-, quien también esta a cargo de las solicitudes de donaciones para este departamento de Caridades Católicas en Corpus Christi. La organización ha estado ofreciendo viviendas y desarrollo urvano desde el año 2002 para proveer educación y promover la propiedad de casas.

“Nos hacen falta casas asequibles economicamente. Los departamentos son muchas veces mas caros que las casas. Es un trabajo en conjunto de bancos, compañías financieras y el programa de viviendas de la Ciudad de Corpus Christi, con la intención de crear consciencia en la comunidad,” dijo Dean.

Yiyi Dean y Betty Berry de Caridades Católicas, prestan ayuda a una joven en su puesto de servicio HUD (Viviendas y Desarrollo Urbano) durante la tecera feria anual titulada: “Dare to Own the Dream and Housing Fair” o Atrevete a Realizar tu Sueño, Feria de Vivienda.

Foto complementaria

La organización de Caridades Católicas, recibe donaciones de Caridades Católicas USA para ofrecer varios tipos de programas de la Agencia de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano, (HUD) para orientar a compradores de casa por primera vez, nos dijo ella.

Estos servicios se ofrecen de persona a persona individualmente e incluyen consejos y orientacion no solo antes de la compra, sino también después de ella, se ofrece educación a cerca de la literatura financiera, reparación de crédito y otros servicios.

El entrenamiento y consejo se ofrece en inglés o en español.

“Cada año, el Obispo Michael Mulvey escribe cartas a Caridades Católicas USA y a HUD, la Agencia Gubernamental de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano, para apoyar nuestros esfuerzos,” dijo Dean.

Algunas familias hablaron de las ventajas que tiene tener su propia casa. David y Melissa Martinez, dijeron que ellos quisieran tener algo a lo que ellos pudieran decir que es suyo. Durante largo tiempo han estado rentando y tienen dos hijos pequeños.

“Vivimos en Robstown, pero nos queremos mudar a Corpus Christi, porque ambos trabajamos en el area de North Beach y la distancia es muncha por recorrer,” dijo Melissa Martinez.

Mark y Michelle Brown dijeron que ellos estan criando una familia grande y viven en un apartamento de 600 pies cuadrados, ellos quieren verdaderamente comprar una casa. “Es tiempo de mejorar,” dijo Mark Brown, mientras reía.

Mike McLellan, Director Ejecutivo Interino, de Caridades Católicas en Corpus Christi, dijo que tener una casa propia es parte fundamental de la vida y es fuente de orgullo en una comunidad.

“Eventos como éste, proveen oportunidades para comprar una casa y tener bienes raices. El Gobierno Federal y la Asociación de Seguros contra Tormentas de Texas, ambos en un solo lugar, donde nadie te está presionando,” dijo McLellan a cerca del evento.

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 25

†† VIDA CATÓLICA

La propiedad de una casa, ayuda a crear trabajos en la comunidad y en las industrias de la construcción, añadió McLellan.

Representantes de bancos, compañías financieras, y la feria de viviendas, quieren ayudar a la comunidad a obtener su casa propia. Monique Espinosa es oficial de bienes raices de American Bank y dijo: “ Queremos educar a la gente en el proceso de adquisición y asegurarnos que eligieron el programa que mas se ajusta a sus necesidades.”

Algunas veces el proceso es rápido y se lleva un par de meses. El crédito tiene que ir de acuerdo con el ingrerso y debe ser correcto. El banco puede examinar el reporte del crédito con el cliente dijo Espinosa.

“El tiempo mas largo que le tomó a una familia fué tres años para poder calificar. Tomó tanto tiempo porque queríamos asegurarnos de que su crédito y sus ingresos eran correctos,” dijo ella.

Al final de cuentas la familia obtuvo su casa.

Para mas información a cerca de H.U.D. Gabriel Rivas y su esposa Maria Ledesma asistieron a la tercera feria anual de vivienda Programa de Orientación de Viviendas, comuDare to Own the Dream de Caridades Católicas de Corpus Christi el 14 de abril. Esperan ser niquese con Caridades Católicas de Corpus preaprobados para un préstamo.

Christi, TX 78408. Telefono: (361) 884-0651 Dayna Worchel para el South Texas Catholic o visite catholiccharities-cc.org.

†† CALENDARIO DE MAYO

12

La consagración de la Virgen de la Gracia

El 12 de mayo de 10 a.m. a 3 p.m. en el Centro de Cursillos (1200 Lantana). Los cursillistas se consagran a la Virgen de la Gracia. Para acercarse más a Jesucristo Nuestro Redentor.

Invitamos a todos nuestros hermanos a que nos acompañen en esta celebración de union y amor a nuestra santa madre. Para obtener más información, llame al (361) 249-4435 o envíe un correo electrónico a Leeorlando1971@gmail.com.

20

Pentecostal Sunday

El 20 de mayo de 1: 30-5: 30 p.m. en la iglesia del Sagrado Corazón (1322 Comanche St.).

Recepción a seguir en la cafetería central católica. Venga y únase a nosotros para una tarde de oración, alabanza, canciones y oradores invitados. Para más información, llame a Juan Lopez, Coordinador del Grupo de Oración al (361) 461-5465 o (361) 883-6082.

26 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

“Con Permiso”

Programa de Radio en Español en KLUX 89.5 HD-1 y “Listen Live” en KLUX.org Domingos a las 7:30 a.m. con el P. Julian Cabrera y Gloria Romero

†† VIDA CATÓLICA

Las misioneras hijas de la purísima Virgen Maria dan testimonio de amor Sister Celia Campoy, MDPVM, Contribuyente Gloria Romero, Traductor

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a Congregación Misioneras Hijas de la Purísima Virgen María, fue fundada por el Padre Alberto Cuscó Mir, SJ y la Venerable Madre Julia Navarrete Guerrero, a principios del siglo XX. Cuenta con 42 comunidades de hermanas que tienen como proposito dar testimonio del Evangelio, intentando ser amor y consuelo para los que más sufren en México, Estados Unidos, Perú y África.

Esta Congregación, se inspira en la pureza de la Inmaculada Virgen María y en los dolores internos del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, bajo la guía del Espíritu Santo.

Su principal apostolado es la pastoral educativa, formar a los niños, adolescentes y jóvenes ha sido una prioridad desde su fundación en el año 1903, actualmente atienden: 27 colegios particulares en México, dos escuelas parroquiales en Estados Unidos, una escuela en las periferias de Lima, Perú en conjunto con las escuelas -Fe y Alegría- de los Jesuitas, un internado para que se preparen las chicas nativas en Puerto Maldonado, Perú. También se han comprometido con la formación de las niñas huérfanas, abandonadas o en situación de riesgo atendiendo dos Orfanatorios.

En Estados Unidos, tres comunidades colaboran en proyectos en favor de los hermanos migrantes y también cuentan con cinco comunidades misioneras: dos en la Huasteca Potosina, Mexico, una en Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, otra en San Ihualtepec, Oax., Mexico y otra en Nigeria Africa. “Tres de ellas, con nuestros hermanos indígenas, compartiendo la alegría del Evangelio

y colaborando en la promoción humana”. “La comunidad de Nigeria da testimonio de la cercanía de Dios entre nuestros hermanos, quienes son los mas pobres de los pobres, aquellos que no cuentan para la sociedad en que viven, como son las mujeres, o los que tienen algún defecto y son rechazados por la comunidad y a veces hasta por su propia familia.”

Cuentan con dos comunidades de hermanas enfermas y ancianitas; una en Kingsville, Texas y otra en Aguascalientes, México.

Estos son lugares privilegiados para atender y cuidar de su salud y tambièn son espacios de oración, desde donde se elevan oraciones por las necesidades del mundo, de la Iglesia y de tantas otras personas que solicitan la oración sacrificada de las hermanas.

“Nuestros Fundadores” dicen ellas, “nos enseñaron a centrar nuestras vidas en el Corazón de Nuestro Señor Jesús, a dejarnos guiar por la acción del Espíritu Santo y a vivir en pureza con la ayuda de la Virgen María, nos formaron en un fuerte sentir con la Iglesia y la Vble. Madre Julia Navarrete nos enseñó con su vida, a vivir la voluntad de Dios, su lema fue: “Lo que Dios quiere , lo quiero yo tambien” “Nuestra Congregación desea seguir dando testimonio de Amor y Consuelo al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, ayudando a nuestros hermanos en sufrimiento, anhela dejarse llevar por el Espíritu hacia donde los signos de los tiempos le señalen y estar en sintonía con la Iglesia y con los clamores de nuestros hermanos. Deseamos llevar el Evangelio a donde Cristo no sea conocido.”

“Lo quiere Dios, lo quiero yo.”

–Venerable Madre Julia Navarrete

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 27

†† NATIONAL NEWS

Pro-life walkout at Penn State.

Courtesy of Students for Life, Catholic News Agency

Hundreds of high school, college students participated in pro-life walkout

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Catholic News Agency

nspired by recent student walkouts over gun control, hundreds of high school and college students across the US took part in a pro-life walkout on Wednesday.

According to pro-life group Students for Life of America (SFLA), more than 400 students and student organizations told SFLA that they planned on participating in the April 11 walkout,

28 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

though the actual number is likely higher, as students did not have to register with the group to participate.

“Across the country, pro-life students and groups stood up for the 321,384 babies killed by Planned Parenthood every year, against the violence of abortion, and in support of pregnant and parenting students,” SFLA president Kristan Hawkins said in a statement.

“In pictures worth millions of words, we saw students walking out, praying, and chalking pro-life messages to bring attention to the fact that one-fourth of our generation has been snuffed out of existence because of legalized abortion,” she added.

Participants were encouraged to use #Life and #ProLifeWalkout to document their participation on social media. Like

and colleges that registered with SFLA for the walkout, which included public and private schools from throughout the United States. “...it’s time for the #ProLifeGen to stand up and say ‘Enough is Enough!’ We will no longer tolerate legal abortion in our nation, which has killed more than a fourth of our generation,” the walkout website stated.

“We will no longer watch as our leaders in Washington continue to fund our nation’s largest abortion vendor, Planned Parenthood, with more than $500 million of our taxpayer dollars.

We will no longer permit Planned Parenthood and their allies in the abortion industry to target our peers for their predatory business cycle.”

Hawkins added that SFLA was notified of several students who reported that they faced discrimination for participating in a pro-life walkout, while the gun control walkout was given special accommodations by many schools.

Life Legal Defense Foundation, a non-profit that defends pro-life clients, sent a letter to Gillespie’s high school, notifying the administration that they could face legal ramifications if they interfered with the pro-life walkout and treated participating students differently than those who participated in the gun control walkout.

SFLA and Life Legal have offered to provide legal assistance to any students who faced discrimination for their participation in the pro-life walkout.

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 29

†† NATIONAL NEWS

the March for Our Lives walkout, the pro-life walkout lasted 17 minutes, during which time students mourned the 10 babies who would be killed by abortion within that time frame.

The idea for the pro-life walkout came from Brandon Gillespie, a student at Rocklin High School in Rocklin, Calif., a suburb of Sacramento.

Gillespie said in March that the idea for the pro-life walkout came to him after his history teacher, Julianne Benzel, discussed the national gun control walkouts in her classroom. Benzel asked her students whether the same privileges would be afforded to students if they wanted to walk out over issues like abortion or if a double standard existed. She was then placed on paid administrative leave following complaints about her discussion of the issue.

“If you’re going to allow students to get up and walk out without penalty, then you’re going to have to allow any group of students that wants to protest,” Benzel told Fox & Friends.

After hearing of Gillespie’s plan to hold a pro-life walkout, Students for Life created a website promoting the idea to schools throughout the nation.

“I also want to thank Brandon Gillespie at Rocklin High School for inspiring this national walkout and for not letting his school intimidate him out of hosting his walkout. The tremendous, truly grassroots interest we have seen in the walkout is further proof that the Pro-Life Generation is the majority and is strong and growing,” Hawkins said.

The website for the walkout included a list of high schools

†† VATICAN

At UN meeting, Holy See calls for ‘human-centered approach to migration’

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Catholic News Agency

he Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations encouraged global leaders to take a “human-centered approach to migration,” rather than reacting with “unsustainable short-term solutions.”

The Vatican’s chief diplomat at the UN, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, urged countries to consider “not only the sovereign right of States to manage and control their borders, but also their responsibility to promote and protect the dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of all those on the move, regardless of their migratory status.”

Speaking April 11 at the UN’s Commission on Population and Development annual meeting, Auza warned against reactionary policies, such as population control or a narrow view of “national interest.”

“Unsustainable short-term solutions that prey on fear and use demography to justify closed borders or promote population control only lead to more unmanageable crises in the future,” said the archbishop.

He argued that “any country that wants to manage its borders effectively must also take responsibility for the common good of its neighbors.” He said that increasing globalization means that a country’s actions in its national interest directly impact other countries.

The 51st session of the UN Commission on Population and Development this week focused on discussion of “Sustainable Cities, Human Mobility and International Migration.”

The Holy See representative proposed that the key to making global migration more sustainable in the future is to combat human rights violations and poverty through education, health care, and policies that ensure access to social protection and decent work. Auza said that all countries share this responsibility for the “prosperity, peace and security of all.”

The nuncio also warned of the negative consequences when countries fail to allow regular pathways for migrants fleeing conflicts, economic crisis, and national disasters. He said that this can force individuals to “seek irregular and often dangerous migratory routes, 30 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

falling victim to smuggling, human trafficking, modern slavery and other forms of exploitation.”

The archbishop concluded by asking the United Nations to recommit “to what Pope Francis has called a ‘culture of encounter,’ which involves the humble recognition that the problems faced by people on the move cannot be addressed in isolation and therefore demand greater solidarity and commitment to the common good both at home and abroad.”

Archbishop Auza, originally from the Philippines, has served at the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations since his appointment by Pope Francis in 2014. Auza’s past diplomatic services included representing the Church in Madagascar, Bulgaria and Albania.

†† OUR FAITH

Father James Stembler is Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

The Holy Spirit moves us out of our upper room Father James Stembler

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Contributor

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ow, when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter [said] to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day." Acts 2: 37-41 The name "Pentecost," taken from the Greek word "Pentecoste" means the fiftieth day. This Jewish feast, originally known as the Festival of Weeks, was a harvest festival, celebrated seven weeks after the beginning of the harvest or seven weeks after the Sabbath. Many people were in Jerusalem to celebrate this feast. However, one group had encased themselves into an upper room, namely, the disciples and other followers of Jesus the Christ, among who was his mother, Mary. Jesus had ascended into heaven.

Now that they were all alone, they enveloped themselves in their loneliness and went into a dark, safe, room. Even a religious feast could not bring them out of this "safe" environment.

However, God had something for them to celebrate, and it came as tongues of fire upon their heads. Being filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit, being given courage, they recalled that Jesus had promised a Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, to enliven them and help them to break out of their fears, anxieties, and their constant staring at what once was. The Holy Spirit imparted on them the ability to turn around and see possibilities, opportunities, and that which Jesus had

given them – something that always will be.

They came out of their cocoon, their protected world, and walked forward into a world with no game plan but the message of Jesus Christ, a way of life that he had called them to live. No longer were they to view God's law as a series of do's and don'ts, but as a way of life that they were being called to live at all times. This life begins at baptism and so Scripture recalls that a great many people were baptized and brought into this way of life that day, a way of life that they began to live immediately.

St. Paul challenges us to understand that Jesus did not come to change behavior but to change a mindset. The Law had altered behavior. People tend to follow the law. But it is true, although behavior may vary, one's heart does not have to be involved. Following the law is merely something one "does." Changing mindset, understanding that what God gave us is a way of life, asks that our hearts be in it. It is a way of life I choose to live. Because I choose to live it, I will change what needs to be changed within me because I want to change.

One of the great lessons of the Easter Season is that we do a disservice to religion when we turn it into a series of do's and don'ts. We rob it of its significance. God created us out of love, and He wants us to live this life of love that He gave us. The life of the Church began to live that Pentecost Day a long time ago. We are still, hopefully, living that life that God has given us.

If we witness to it as a way of life and live that life at all times, we may start something positive within our world. Like the earliest Christians, if we all do this together as the community that God calls us to be, we will change many hearts out there.

May God help us to present ourselves to Him as a new offering, a Church ready to live the life God is calling us to live.

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 31

May Liturgical Calendar 1 | Tue | Easter Weekday | white/ white [Saint Joseph the Worker] Acts 14:19-28/Jn 14:27-31a (286) or, for the Memorial, Gn 1:26—2:3 or Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24/Mt 13:54-58 (559)

10 | Thu | Easter Weekday | white/ white [USA: Saint Damien de Veuster, Priest] Acts 18:1-8/Jn 16:16-20 (294)

2 | Wed | Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church | white | Memorial | Acts 15:1-6/Jn 15:1-8 (287)

12 | Sat | Easter Weekday | white/ red/red [Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs; Saint Pancras, Martyr] Acts 18:23-28/Jn 16:23b-28 (296)

3 | Thu | Saints Philip and James, Apostles | red | Feast | 1 Cor 15:1-8/ Jn 14:6-14 (561) Pss Prop 4 | Fri | Easter Weekday | white | Acts 15:22-31/Jn 15:12-17 (289) 5 | Sat | Easter Weekday | white | Acts 16:1-10/Jn 15:18-21 (290) 6 | SUN | SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER | white Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48/1 Jn 4:7-10/Jn 15:9-17 (56) Pss II

11 | Fri | Easter Weekday | white | Acts 18:9-18/Jn 16:20-23 (295)

13 | SUN | THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD | white | Solemnity | Acts 1:1-11/ Eph 1:17-23 or Eph 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 1113/Mk 16:15-20 (58) Pss Prop 14 | Mon | Saint Matthias, Apostle | red | Feast | Acts 1:15-17, 20-26/Jn 15:9-17 (564) Pss Prop 15 | Tue | Easter Weekday | white/ white [USA: Saint Isidore] Acts 20:1727/Jn 17:1-11a (298)

7 | Mon | Easter Weekday | white | Acts 16:11-15/Jn 15:26—16:4a (291)

16 | Wed | Easter Weekday | white | Acts 20:28-38/Jn 17:11b-19 (299)

8 | Tue | Easter Weekday | white | Acts 16:22-34/Jn 16:5-11 (292)

17 | Thu | Easter Weekday | white | Acts 22:30; 23:6-11/Jn 17:20-26 (300)

9 | Wed | Easter Weekday | white | Acts 17:15, 22—18:1/Jn 16:12-15 (293)

18 | Fri | Easter Weekday | white/red [Saint John I, Pope and Martyr] Acts

25:13b-21/Jn 21:15-19 (301)

6/Mk 9:41-50 (344)

19 | Sat | Easter Weekday | white | Morning: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31/Jn 21:20-25 (302)

25 | Fri | Weekday | green/white/ white/white [Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest and Doctor of the Church; Saint Gregory VII, Pope; Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, Virgin] Jas 5:9-12/Mk 10:1-12 (345)

20 | SUN | PENTECOST SUNDAY | red | Solemnity | Vigil: Gn 11:1-9 or Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b or Ez 37:1-14 or Jl 3:1-5/Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39 (62); or, for the Extended Vigil, Gn 11:1-9/Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b/Ez 37:1-14/Jl 3:1-5/ Rom 8:22-27/ Jn 7:37-39 (Lectionary for Mass Supplement, 62) Day: Acts 2:1-11/1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Gal 5:16-25/Jn 20:19-23 or Jn 15:26-27; 16:12-15 (63) Pss Prop 21 | Mon | Weekday (Seventh Week in Ordinary Time) green/red [Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs] Jas 3:13-18/Mk 9:14-29 (341) Pss III

26 | Sat | Saint Philip Neri, Priest | white | Memorial | Jas 5:13-20/Mk 10:13-16 (346) 27 | SUN | THE MOST HOLY TRINITY | white | Solemnity | Dt 4:32-34, 3940/Rom 8:14-17/Mt 28:16-20 (165) Pss Prop 28 | Mon | Weekday (Eighth Week in Ordinary Time) green 1 Pt 1:3-9/Mk 10:17-27 (347) | Pss IV 29 | Tue | Weekday | green | 1 Pt 1:1016/Mk 10:28-31 (348) 30 | Wed | Weekday | green | 1 Pt 1:18-25/Mk 10:32-45 (349)

22 | Tue | Weekday | green/white [Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious] Jas 4:1-10/Mk 9:30-37 (342) 23 | Wed | Weekday | green | Jas 4:1317/Mk 9:38-40 (343) 24 | Thu | Weekday | green | Jas 5:1-

31 | Thu | The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary | white | Feast | Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16/Lk 1:3956 (572) Pss Prop

Help Us Prevent Financial Abuse The Diocese of Corpus Christi at the recommendation of the Diocesan Finance Council and Presbyteral Council has furthered their commitment to good stewardship and financial accountability on behalf of generous donors by instituting a financial abuse hotline.

The Diocese of Corpus Christi has selected an independent third party, The Network, to provide you with a new way to anonymously and confidentially report financial abuse and fraud. Employees, parishioners, volunteers, vendors and other interested parties are encouraged to report concerns they have regarding financial misconduct within the Diocese of Corpus Christi. All inquiries will be treated promptly and discreetly. Callers will have the right to remain anonymous.

Call 1-877-571-9748

✞ Serving The Coastal Bend Since 1908 ✞ Dignified Personal Service ✞ Complete Pre-Need Funeral Service Plans Ron & Margo Alonzo

1222 Morgan at 10th

Corpus Christi, TX 78404

5921 Yorktown Blvd.

Corpus Christi, TX 78414

(361) 884-2411 (361) 994-6551 32 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

Ss. Cyril & Methodius

AGAPE Religious Gift Shop at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Church

All New Merchandise • A.C.T.S. • Silver Jewelry NEW HOURS: Sunday: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. & 3-7 p.m.

Monday and Wednesday: 8-11 a.m. & 3-8 p.m.

Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday: 8-11 a.m. & 3-7 p.m.

3210 S.P.I.D.

•

(361) 854-1853

Bishop Michael Mulvey and the staff of the Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources are committed to assisting in the healing process for victims and survivors of abuse.

If you or someone you know is in need of such services, call Stephanie Bonilla, Director of the Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources at: (361) 882-6191 for immediate assistance.

Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources

• May 1 and every first Tuesday of the month at Y.W.C.A (4601 Corona Drive) in Corpus Christi.

For more information call (361) 883-3935.

• May 2 and every first Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at SCC River Ridge Nursing Rehab Center located at 3922 West River Dr. (off FM 624) in Corpus Christi. For more information call (361) 767-2000.

• May 8 and every second Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Woodridge Nursing & Rehab Center located at 600 So. Hillside Dr. in Beeville. For more information call (361) 358-8880.

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• May 9 and every second Wednesday of the month at 12 p.m. at Lindale Center/Caregiver SOS located on 3133 Swantner St. in Corpus Christi. For more in Corpus Christi. For more information call (361) 826-2343.

• May 10 and every second Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. at Mirador Plaza (back side of facility) located at 5857 Timbergate Drive in Corpus Christi. For more information call (361) 883-3935.

• May 15 and every third Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. at Brookdale (formerly Homewood Residence) located at 6410 Meadow Vista in Corpus Christi.

For more information call (361) 980-0208. Facilitator is Anita Valle.

• May 17 and every third Thursday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library Central Library, located on 110 N. Lamont Street in Aransas Pass.

For more information call (361) 883-3935.

• May 22 and every fourth Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. at Alice Public Library (401 E. Third Street) in Alice. For more information call (361) 883-3935.

• May 24 and every fourth Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at Kleberg County Nursing & Rehab located on 316 General Cavazos Blvd. in Kingsville. For more information call (361) 883-3935.

May 1-29 every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at St. Patrick Church, Our Lady of Knock Hall (the corner of S. Alameda and Rossiter Street.)

For more information call the parish office at (361) 855-7391.

Holy Hour followed by a healing Mass

May 3 and every first Thursday of the month from 5-6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Chapel Jesus Nazareno in Corpus Christi.

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5

de Mayo with delicious food, children's games, a cake walk, silent auction and a ticket raffle.

There will be fun for the whole family with children's inflatable jumps and Loteria bingo be played throughout the day.

Live music by Mariachi Mathis, Bezzo, Los Arias, Trono and Conjunto Madrigal.

Bible Study at St. Patrick Church

Retrouvaille

May 4-6. Place to be determined.

Retrouvaille is a peer ministry of volunteer couples that can help you learn the tools of healthy communication, build intimacy and heal, just as they have done in their own marriages.

Retrouvaille is Christian-based, and Catholic in origin, but welcomes couples of all faiths as well as non-religious couples.

Retrouvaille can help get your relationship back on track. For more information call 1-800-4702230 or visit retrouvaille.org.

Secular Franciscan Gathering

May 5 and every first Saturday of each month from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at Corpus Christi Cathedral Room 4. Come and see if you are being called to a vocation as a Secular Franciscan. If you are already professed, are you looking for a local fraternity?

For more information contact Liz at (936) 344-1353 or email: ofscctx@gmail.com.

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Blue Army Mass

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Cinco de Mayo Festival

May 5 and every first Saturday of the month in the Jesus Nazareno Chapel at Sacred Heart in Corpus Christi. For more information call the church at (361) 883-6082 or email sacredheartchurch001@stx.rr.com.

May 6 from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Festival Grounds (310 W. San Patricio) in Mathis.

Join us as we celebrate Cinco

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St Elizabeth School Open House K3-6th

May 7 from 6-7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth School (615 E. Fifth St.) in Alice.

Three enrolling families will have a chance to win $250 in tuition.

is our 11 "What Blessed Mothers' role in my Life?

May 11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Schoenstatt Movement Center (4343 Gaines) in Corpus Christi.

Talk by Schoenstatt Father Gerold Langsch. Refreshment at 6:30 p.m. Talk at 7 p.m. For childcare call (361) 991-7653. Love offering accepted for Schoenstatt religious traveling from Austin and Rockport. For more information call (361) 992-9841 or email schcc@mygrande.net.

Living 15 Global Rosary at OLCC

May 15 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Perpetual Adoration Chapel (1200 Lantana).

All are welcome. Join 60 children who will be forming the beads of a Living Rosary. Come and bring your family.

Family 19 Natural Planning (NFP)

May 19 from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Natural Family Planning at 1426 Baldwin Blvd in Corpus Christi. Learn to recognize the natural cycles of fertility and infertility that occur naturally in every woman. NFP allows couples to plan pregnancies while following the teachings of the Church and respecting the gift of their married love.

For more information visit Diocesecc.org/nfp.

May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 33

†† MAY CALENDAR

124

Alzheimer's & General Support Group

†† MAY CALENDAR

in 19 Grounded Truth at OLCC

May 19 and every third Saturday of the month. An hour of Adoration with Praise and Worship in the OLCC Perpetual Adoration Chapel 7-8 p.m., followed by music and fellowship in Cafe Veritas (attached to Our Lady of Corpus Christi's Bookstore) from 8-9:30 p.m.

All music led by talented local musicians. Call (361) 289-0807 for more information.

20 Pentecost Sunday

May 20 from 1:30-5:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church (1322 Comanche St.). Reception to follow at Central Catholic Cafeteria. Come join us for an afternoon of prayer, praise, songs and guest speakers.

For more information call Juan Lopez, prayer group coordinator at (361) 461-5465 or (361) 883-6082.

24

Women’s Spiritual Exercises Retreat

May 24-27 begins Thursday 5:30 p.m. Sunday 1:30 p.m. A weekend to go deeper in our relationship with Jesus through the power of prayer and quiet time with the Lord. Take a quiet vacation with Jesus and let your spirit be renewed! Register at deepprayer. org or call (361) 289-9095, ext. 321.

and 29 Grandparents Other Relatives Raising & Children Support Group 31

• May 29 and every last Tuesday of each month from 10-11 a.m. at Greenwood Senior Center (4040 Greenwood Drive). For more information call (361) 826-1368.

(900 South Shoreline Blvd.) in Corpus Christi (2nd floor–Rm #216 / parking and entrance behind church). Facilitated and presented by MCH Family Outreach. Please call if you bring your grandchild(ren). Classes for all ages. For more information call (361) 334-2255.

▼ To see more calendar events go to: SouthTexasCatholic.com/events To submit calendar events go to: SouthTexasCatholic.com/ send-calendar-items

• May 31 and every last Thursday of each month from 6-7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church

Families love Driscoll for our special brand of care.

Why do our families love us?

We offer compassionate care for children, children with special needs and pregnant moms at no cost to you. Plus, we offer many free added services and gifts.

CHIP, STAR and STAR Kids Free Value-Added Services* $20 gift card after completing required checkup Baby items and gift cards for pregnant moms Extra vision - $150 towards frames and glasses

STAR Kids Free Value-Added Services* Community-based specialty therapies Pest control Respite care *Not a complete list. Restrictions and/or limits apply. Valid through August 2018. Visit our website for an updated list.

DHP MKTG-002-A 3/2017

34 South Texas Catholic | May 2018

1 (877) DCHP-KIDS • 1 (800) 735-2989 TTY Learn more: DriscollHealthPlan.com

2018 Dare to Own the Dream Beat the Odds...

Thank You!

We would like to thank all of our Sponsors, Vendors, and Participants for making this year’s event a huge success!

We could not do it without you!

Sponsored by

Catholic Charities - HUD Approved Housing Counseling Department

Vendors A to Z Insurance BG Consulting LLC City of Brownsville, Community Development Corporation City of Corpus Christi, Human Relations Office Corpus Christi Association of Realtors Elite Realty Solutions Farmers Insurance/Ruben Bonilla Habitat for Humanity Inshore Living Real Estate Team Keller Williams/Belinda Garcia Keller Williams/Maricela Mock State Farm Insurance/Mark Silva Texas Department of Insurance Western & Southern Life Witmyer Coastal Bend Properties

Save the Date - April 2019!

4th Annual Dare to Own the Dream May 2018 | South Texas Catholic 35

May 2018 Issue SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 555 N CARANCAHUA ST, STE 750 Corpus Christi, TX 78401-0824 (361) 882-6191

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MAY 12-13 Copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photo: © CNS/Cindy Wooden.