South Texas Catholic - May 2013 by South Texas Catholic

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

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VOL. 48 NO. 5 Publisher Most Rev. Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL DD Editor Alfredo E. Cรกrdenas ACardenas@diocesecc.org Theological Consultant Msgr. Louis Kihneman III LKihneman@diocesecc.org

Father Benito Retortillo, OP is pastor of St. Francis de Paula in San Diego, which has served as headquarters for the Order of Preachers since 1931. The Dominican priests will return to Spain in July after 82 years of service to the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Photo by Rebecca Esparza for the South Texas Catholic.

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Associate Editor Mary E. Cottingham MCottingham@diocesecc.org Administrative Assistant Adel Rivera ARivera@diocesecc.org Correspondents Rebecca Esparza, Julissa Hernandez, Timothy Hatch, Luisa Scolari If you or someone you know would like to receive the South Texas Catholic call us at (361) 882-6191 Office Address: 620 Lipan Corpus Christi TX 78401-2434 E-MAIL: stc@diocesecc.org www.southtexascatholic.com FAX: (361) 693-6701

Calendar Items Submit your announcements by using our online form, e-mail, fax, mail, or drop it off at the Chancery office. Only announcements for the month of publication will be included in the print edition, if space permits. All other calendar items will appear on the magazine or diocese Web sites. The South Texas Catholic is not liable or in any way responsible for the content of any advertisement appearing within these pages. All claims, offers guarantees, statements, etc. made by advertisers are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Deceptive or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be made directly to the advertiser or to the Better Business Bureau. (USPSN 540-860) Published monthly by the Diocese of Corpus Christi for $25 per year. Periodical postage paid in Corpus Christi Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to South Texas Catholic 620 Lipan, Corpus Christi TX 78401-2434.

Keeping up with the Faith...

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Boys, Girls Scouts honored at Cathedral

Bishop celebrates Prayer Service

Catholic Educators meet in Houston Technology highlights meet

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Catholics have work to do on Vatican II Pope says follow Holy Spirit

Dominicans came, saw, built up Church Leaving diocese a better place

Easter season continues

Joy of being a mother

Padre Juliรกn Cabrera es director

Pope Francis creates advisory group

God from God ...

Chrism Mass attracts faithful to Cathedral Large crowd joins celebration

23 SouthTexasCatholic.com

Catholics rally in Austin Advocacy Day provided opportunity to talk with legislators about issues important to the Church in Texas

Obispo estableciรณ Ministerio Hispano

Includes diverse group of Cardinals

Tragedy in Boston shows us meaning of Paschal Mystery

Mothers should be honored everyday of our lives A continuing examination of the Nicene Creed

MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Help Us Prevent Financial Abuse The Diocese of Corpus Christi at the recommendation of the Diocesan Financial Council and Presbyteral Council have furthered their commitment to good stewardship and Âżnancial accountability on behalf of generous donors by instituting a Âżnancial 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 conÂżdently report Âżnancial abuse and fraud. Employees, parishioners, volunteers, vendors and other interested parties will be encouraged to report concerns they have regarding Âżnancial 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

Outreach to victims and survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and/or church personnel

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A large contingent of students from Blessed John Paul II High School attended Advocacy Day in Austin. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

Catholics

rally at state Capitol

Mary Cottingham South Texas Catholic

early 2000 Catholics from all over the state of Texas surprised politicians in Austin on April 9, Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day. The highlight of the day was a rally on the south steps of the capitol, where Daniel Cardinal

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DiNardo, Archbishop of the Diocese of GalvestonHouston, and 10 other Texas bishops addressed a sea of blue shirts, while Catholics roared and clapped their approval.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston

“We want your presence,” Cardinal DiNardo told the crowd at the rally. “For all of them [lawmakers] it’s impressive; for some of them it evokes such pride and perhaps in a couple even some fear. Let it be. But what MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

we want is your presence.” More than 200 people, including Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey, attended the rally from the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Many of these were students from Blessed John Paul II and Incarnate Word Academy high schools. The purpose of Faith in Action Advocacy Day is for Catholics to meet with state politicians and emphasize their stance on important issues regarding human life, immigrants, children, families, the poor and the vulnerable. The Texas Catholic Conference (TCC), the public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Texas, organized the day. TCC is monitoring more than 500 bills moving through the 83rd Texas Legislature, bills ranging from life issues concerning the unborn and their mothers, to end-of-life care, to preying on the poor to school choice. Other than Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Mulvey, the bishops in attendance were Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Bishop Daniel Flores from the Diocese of Brownsville, High school students from Incarnate Word Academy also made their presence felt. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

Bishop Curtis John Guillory from the Diocese of Beaumont, Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer from the Diocese of San Angelo, Bishop Plácido Rodríguez from the Diocese of Lubbock, Bishop Mark Seitz from the Diocese of Dallas, Auxiliary Bishop George Arthur Sheltz from the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Bishop Joe Vásquez from the Diocese of Austin and Bishop Patrick J. Zurek from the Diocese of Amarillo. “In addition to a rally on the south lawn of the Capitol at noon, the bishops testified before various committees regarding several issues as well as made visits to the Speaker of the House, the Lt. Governor’s staﬀ (he was out of town) and with Gov. Rick Perry,” Bishop Mulvey said. “We were able to present the position of the Church on certain key areas.” After the rally, Corpus Christi attendees met with area representatives Abel Herrero, J. M. Lozano and Todd Hunter. Deacon Stephen Nolte, Director of the Oﬃce of Life, Justice View more photos of this event and Human Dignity for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and students from Blessed John Paul II High School spoke to Herrero about the school choice and the tuition tax credit bill, which SouthTexasCath if passed would enable corporations to

SouthTexasCa

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receive a tax credit from the state if they contribute to private schools who award scholarships to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. If passed the bill would help working class families who want to send their child to a private or charter school. “This legislature is looking to fully fund public education. It was important to make sure that Representative Herrero knew the bill doesn’t affect funding for public schools,” Nolte said. “If anything, the bill allows corporations to contribute a portion of their business income toward non-profit educational organizations and receive a tax credit for their contribution.” Representatives Hunter and Lozano met with several students from Incarnate Word Academy and Blessed John Paul II in the Reagan Building and their offices in the Capitol. They explained how the legislative process works and reaffirmed their stance with Catholic teaching. The Advocacy Day began the night before at a Mass with all the bishops present at St. Mary’s Cathedral. “Please continue to pray for our legislators and keep in your prayers the several priorities that the Texas Cathoholic.com/TCC lic Conference is working on,” Bishop

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Mulvey said. To learn more about the issues being advocated by Texas bishops, visit www.txcatholic.org.

Above, Corpus Christi state representative Todd Hunter speaks with students about his job as a lawmaker. Below, Cardinal DiNardo (with hat in hand) was joined by 10 other Texas bishops at the steps of the Capitol building in Austin. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

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Scouts receive religious emblems Timothy Hatch Correspondent

early 90 Boy and Girl Scouts and adult volunteers gathered with their families at Corpus Christi Cathedral on April 14 to receive their religious emblems and scouting awards for the past year. These emblems are awarded to those who demonstrated outstanding moral example in their units and in the community as well as in leadership. These individuals have contributed to the spiritual development of others in the Boy Scouts of America program in communities of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Bishop Michael Mulvey began the ceremony with the Liturgy of the Word. In his homily, the bishop reflected on the development of conscience and how the role of scouting plays in reinforcing the formation of conscience that parents first provide at home for their children. He elaborated on the First Reading where Peter and the Apostles resist when they are asked to stop preaching about Jesus by the Sanhedrin. “What this says to us is that Peter used his conscience. It’s better to be truthful to God than to lie. I say that today on this day where you receive these awards which Scouts and their families gathered in Corpus Christi Cathedral to receive religious emblems on April 14. Timothy Hatch for South Texas Catholic www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

you have been working toward because it’s very important for all of us in the Church, but in a special way, the scouts, as you try to live a life of service and honor, as you live the life of a good citizen,” Bishop Mulvey said. Bishop Mulvey spoke on the two-part identity of Catholic scouting, first encountering the person of Jesus Christ and second, recognizing that the Church teaches the true teachings of Jesus today and guides us like a mother and father in forming our consciences. Bishop Mulvey encouraged each scout to take some quiet time out and pray so that they can recognize Jesus like Peter, who first recognized Him from afar on shore in the Gospel reading. Then, like Peter who told Jesus that he loved Him three times, answer that same question which Jesus asks each and every person by continuing to live by the values that earned them the awards they were receiving. “When we answer to God and mean it, and if our hearts and minds are directed to Jesus Christ, we can say in front of the crowds on this earth that it is better to obey God than man,” Bishop Mulvey said. Much can be learned about what the scouts stand for by simply reading the Scout Slogan, the Scout Oath, the Scout Motto and the 12 Points of Scout Law. The Scout Slogan, “Do a good turn daily,” speaks on a relationship with others and doing good for them daily. The Scout Oath and the 12 Points of Scout Law spell out how to live as good citizens. The Scout Motto, “Be prepared,” means to be prepared for whatever comes in life by learning all you can to prepare yourself – Keeping yourself, healthy, strong and ready to meet the challenges of life. “Not everyone, unfortunately very few I think, is aware of, understands or realizes the worth of the traditional moral values of the BSA (Boys Scouts of America). Many people think that BSA is mostly camping, tying knots and outdoor activities. They don’t appreciate the formation given to leadership, training, citizenship, respect for creation and our fellow man,” Art Kaler, former chairperson MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

and current committee member of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, said. Scouting has been a part of south Texas tradition for the past 94 years. In 1919 a charter was granted to the Boy Scouts of America council for South Texas, headquartered in Corpus Christi. The South Texas Council covers 17 counties stretching from as far north and east as Port Lavaca and as far south and west as Laredo and Hebbronville. “I have fond memories of participating in Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting,” Kaler said. “Scouting was always considered a ‘good activity.’ This was before Little League and many other programs that vie for attention of the younger children and youth. Scouting was a good influence and many boys participated. Today there is a lot of participation in sports…Unfortunately older boys are ridiculed if they belong to Boy Scouts, but not when I was growing up.” Despite the general trend downward in scout involvement, scouting continues to have a stronghold in the diocese and the surrounding areas. Catholic influence has been strong in many local parishes, with Catholic schools and Knights of Columbus Councils sponsoring scouting units. “We have such a strong Catholic group of scouts in

this diocese to help lead, to help the pastor and all of us in our parishes to help form good, healthy and wholesome consciences,” Bishop Mulvey said. Among those receiving awards was Bishop Mulvey who received the Bronze Pelican Emblem for his guidance of the diocese over the past three years and his support of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting. Kaler presented the bishop with his award, which recognized Bishop Mulvey’s work in revitalizing parish life during the 100th anniversary year of the diocese, his active push to promote priestly and religious vocations and his work in prison ministry.

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CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Dominican Sisters from Our Lady of the Rosary School in Flour Bluff had the opportunity to meet Cardinal Daniel DiNardo at the National Catholic Educational Association convention held at the George Brown Convention Center in Houston on April 2-4. Cardinal DiNardo celebrated the opening Mass. Pictured with Cardinal DiNardo are, from left, Sister Flaviana Macasling, O.P., Sister Amor Vigare, O.P., Sister Adela Sereno, O.P., Sister Eva Gamotin, O.P. and Sister Paz Aribon, O.P. Pearl Arias, Our Lady of the Rosary School

Catholic educators focus on technology at annual convention in Houston Catholic News Service

ore than 8,000 Catholic educators at the annual National Catholic Educational Association convention April 2-4 in Houston included catechists, teachers and administrators who teach preschoolers to high www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

school students in cities and rural areas across the country and around the world. One thing the entire group seemed to have in common was the realization that technology is a major part -- or should be -- of their daily work. The convention included more than 60 workshops on technology and about 30 exhibits in the exhibition hall that MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

promoted technology for classrooms and schools. This year, the participants for the first time also could make use of an app for smartphones to search for sessions, speakers and exhibitors or find their way around the George R. Brown Convention Center. “Technology is in the forefront for our members,” said Karen Ristau, NCEA president. “Catholic educators are eager to bring the latest technological advances into our schools, parishes, colleges and seminaries. This convention provides a great resource for learning about new innovations from all these companies and networking with colleagues to hear what they’re using as well.” Some of the technology workshops at the convention included: • “30 Apps in 60 Minutes.” • “Catholic Classrooms Without Walls: Interactive Projects Connecting Catholic Schools Around the Globe.” • “Beyond Google: Helping Kids Find Good Health Information on the Internet.” • “Cyberculture: Social Media Troubles and Tribulations.” • “It’s an iPad World, So How Do I Live (and Teach) in It?” • “How to Start or Grow an Online Program at Your School.” Father Robert Barron, a Chicago archdiocesan priest who is rector of University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, and founder of a global media ministry called Word on Fire, gave the opening address at the convention, urging educators to reawaken their sense of mission and to use modern technology to do so. The priest is also the host of “Catholicism,” a 10-part documentary series and study program about the Catholic faith -- and he is a daily blogger. Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, a member of the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart and associate professor at the University of Dayton, a Marianist university in Ohio, urged the educators in an April 3 general session address not just to embrace new technology but to help today’s young people find balance in the midst of it. In an April 4 interview with Catholic News Service from Houston, Sister Zukowski, who is also the director of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives at the University of Dayton in Ohio, said catechists and Catholic schoolteachers “need to be aware of how comprehensive the digital civilization is” and need to use it in their teaching but also contribute to it. “We need to think outside the box, especially with faith formation,” she said. She said teachers should use Facebook, Twitter and blogs to explain elements of faith and “stimulate the reli-

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

gious imagination” but they also need to focus on how to “enhance the spirit of contemplation and silence” so young people will develop a “sense of deep communion with God and one another.” She noted that people today are on their phones “24/7 and always waiting for them to vibrate” and they even think that they vibrate when they haven’t in “a fear of missing something.” She warned that this constant communication or waiting for communication can block contemplation and the chance to “hear the voice of God.” (Contributing to this story was Carol Zimmermann in Washington.)

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Nearly every priest in the Diocese of Corpus Christi joined Bishop Mulvey to celebrate the Chrism Mass on March 26. Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic

Cathedral jam packed for Chrism Mass Alfredo E. Cardenas South Texas Catholic

he Corpus Christi Cathedral was filled with priests, religious and lay faithful during the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, March 26. The Cathedral resonated with liturgical music from the Cathedral Choir as a procession of Knights of Columbus, Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre, representatives of various ministries, deacons, priests and Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey made its approach to the altar.

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Nearly every priest in the Diocese of Corpus Christi was present and concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Mulvey. Traditionally, priests renew their commitment to priestly service at the Mass. After the bishop’s homily, the priests resolved to “renew, in the presence of the bishop and God’s holy people, the promises” they made at their ordinations; to be “more united with the Lord Jesus;” and to be “faithful stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist and other liturgical rites.” The lay faithful present, meanwhile, promised to pray for the priests and the bishop that they may be faithful to the trust placed on them. In his homily, Bishop Mulvey said to the priests that they should serve “everybody, the baptized and the unbaptized, the church going and the non-church going.” “Take a special look at the those that are not close to the Church,” Bishop Mulvey said, reminding the priests of Jesus’ parable about the one lost sheep. (Lk 15:3-7) MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

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See video and more photos of this event “The Word of God guides us He told the laity that the priests through our journey of faith,” were there to serve them. The “minBishop Mulvey said. He said Jesus isterial priests” are charged with adis present as much in the Word as ministering the sacraments. He is in the Eucharist. “You are in the front lines in our Bishop Mulvey reminded the society that is undergoing so much SouthTexasCatholic.com/chrism faithful that Pope Francis has called change, you are the face of Christ us to obey Jesus’ commandment in in the workplace, in the schools, in the Gospel of John; “I give you a new factories and in hospitals,” Bishop commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, Mulvey said, explaining to the laity that they were part so you also should love one another. This is how all will of the “royal priesthood.” know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one He said, every member of the Church is in on a jouranother.” (Jn 13:34-35) ney, a pilgrimage together. Like in any journey, they will The Holy Father challenges us, the bishop said, not to encounter good days and bad days. “Days when we are full be in opposition to each other; certainly to oppose posiof life in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and days we forget, tions and ideologies that are counter to Catholic teaching, and yet we are still pilgrims together. It is not us and you,” but never to oppose the persons holding those positions. he said to the laity, “it is all of us together.” “We must build bridges to others,” Bishop Mulvey said. Bishop Mulvey said the greatest challenge the Church This commandment from Jesus is endangered by the faces is to be people of the Gospel. “We must live the “spiritual poverty” that has infected many sectors of socigospel,” he said, “taking what we can from the Gospel ety. This infestation of spiritual poverty is prevalent even and living it in our daily lives.” in rich nations, such as ours, the bishop said. At left, Bishop Mulvey breathes over the vessel of Chrism oil, “We must exist together as a people of God,” Bishop symbolizing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the oil to be Mulvey said. “My brothers and sisters, we have a task consecrated. Below, Knights of Columbus stand guard as Knights in front of us, to be the voice and hands of Jesus Christ and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre process into Cathedral. today.” After the homily, deacons brought in the sacred oils Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic

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We are linked to Alfredo E. Cardenas

South Texas Catholic

Cathedral Choir provided Liturgical music to Chrism Mass and rest of Holy week services. Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic

one at a time. First came the oil of the sick. The bishop blessed the oil asking the Lord to strengthen all who are ill, to free them from pain and heal them and that those anointed share in the suﬀering of Christ for the good of the Church. Then came the oil of catechumens. This oil is used as a blessing and strengthening oil for those preparing for Baptism. Finally the Sacred Chrism was brought forward. The bishop mixed the balsam and olive oil before consecrating it as Chrism. This fragranced oil is used for anointing during the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination. Chrism is also used in the rites of anointing pertaining to the dedication of new churches and altars. Before consecrating the Chrism, the bishop breathed over the vessel of oil, symbolizing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the oil to be consecrated. In a gesture of concelebration, all of the priests held their right hands extended toward the Chrism as the bishop prayed. At the conclusion of the Mass, Msgr. Michael Heras, Vicar of the Centennial Jubilee, commented on the official close of the yearlong celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of the diocese. “Tonight we close a season of grace and opportunity for spiritual growth in this Year of Faith,” Msgr. Heras said. “A Century of Tradition, A lifetime of Faith has been our inspiration as we remembered, rejoiced and renewed our pastoral life in light of the New Evangelization.” Msgr. Heras extended his appreciation to everyone for helping make the Centennial Jubilee a great success.

esus’ last night on earth taught us a new spirit, a new covenant of sacrifice for each other, Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey said in his Holy Thursday Homily on March 28 at the Corpus Christi Cathedral. Holy Thursday opened the Paschal Triduum, which was followed by Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Saturday. Bishop Mulvey said, “We live in a society where you can buy yourself a place in the front of the line. Who has more goes first.” He said, however, that as Christians we must reject that mentality. Referencing Pope Francis homily at his Chrism Mass,

Above, Bishop Mulvey transfers Holy Eucharist to adoration chapel at the end of Mass. At right, Bishop Mulvey kisses foot of deacon candidate Armando Leal after having washed it on Holy Thursday, March 28, the start of the Triduum that culminated with Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. Assisting the bishop are Deacons Michael Mantz (left) and Jesse Hinojosa. Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

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each other by our service to Jesus everyone, as Christ served everyone. Bishop Mulvey said, that “our misery, View more photos of this event After the homily, Bishop Mulvey gave our discouragement is due to the fact up his cathedra–his chair at the altar–to the that we don’t want to give, we want to vicar general, two religious sisters, a deacon, live in the privileged class.” the lector, a member of the choir and a But, said Bishop Mulvey, we cannot number of people from the congregation divorce the washing of the feet, an SouthTexasCatholic.com/HolyThursday and washed and kissed their feet. example of serving others, from the At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Eucharist, Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for Mulvey processed around the cathedral and transferred the us. “Jesus asks us to make the same sacrifice He made for Holy Eucharist from the altar to the side chapel. After which, us,” the bishop said. the altar was stripped and a night watch was initiated at the In coming to Mass, to the Eucharist, the faithful come to adoration chapel. be oriented to Christ, to go and serve, to wash feet; to serve

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DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI NEWS BRIEFS

Former Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice was the keynote speaker at the 25th annual CHRISTUS Spohn Lyceum on April 17. CHRSITUS Spohn Health System

CHRISTUS Spohn Lyceum nets more than $1 million to further education of nurses CHRISTUS Spohn Health System raised more than $1 million on Wednesday, April 17, during the 2013 CHRISTUS Spohn Lyceum, which was a sold-out. Participants gathered at the American Bank Center to listen to former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The annual event raises money for a variety of programs. Now in its 25th year, this year’s funds will benefit the Nursing Excellence Endowment, which provides CHRISTUS Spohn nurses with advanced education and leadership development opportunities. The money raised means now almost 1,800 nurses will have an easier opportunity to press forward through school and in their careers. For more than two decades the Lyceum, organized by the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System Foundation, has brought influential oﬃcials and world leaders to South Texas audiences. Hundreds listened Wednesday at the American Bank Center as Rice touched on a range of topics including the recent tragedy at the Boston Marathon, global perspectives on American policies and the future of healthcare. Rice praised those who had gathered in a “communitarian spirit” crediting the United States as the most philanthropic nation in the world. www.SouthTexasCatholic.com www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey has made the following appointments for the good of the people of God in the Diocese of Corpus Christi eﬀective July 1, 2013. Father John Xaviour Amepparambil, Administrator, St. Philip the Apostle, Corpus Christi; Father Krzysztof Bauta, Administrator, St. Joseph Parish, Port Aransas; Father Chris Becerra, Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, Mathis; Father Pedro T. Elizardo, Jr., Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Alice; Father Varghese K. Ethappiri, Administrator, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Corpus Christi; Msgr. Michael Heras, Pastor, St. Peter, Prince of the Apostle Parish, Corpus Christi; Msgr. Michael A. Howell, Pastor, St. Andrew by the Sea Parish, Corpus Christi; Father Richard Libby, Pastor, St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Parish, Corpus Christi; Father William J. Marquis, Pastor, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Robstown; Father Angel Montana, J.C.L., Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Corpus Christi; Father Jairo Motta, Pastor, St. Francis de Paula Parish, San Diego; Father Glen F. Mullan, Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Corpus Christi; Father Hanh Van Pham, Rector, Corpus Christi Cathedral; Father Chacko Puthenparambil, Administrator, Immaculate Conception Parish, Gregory; Father P. George Thomas, Pastor, Santa Rosa de Lima Parish, Benavides; Father Raju D. Thottankara, Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Mathis; Father James Vasquez, Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Corpus Christi; Father John M. Vega, Parochial Vicar, Corpus Christi Cathedral; Father Ponnuswamy R. Victor, Administrator, St. Peter Mission, Ben Bolt, SOLT priests, Christ the King Parish, Corpus Christi; and SOLT priests, St. Joseph Parish, Corpus Christi. Also eﬀective July 1, the following priests will be retiring: Msgr. Thomas Mc Gettrick, Father Sebastian Pasupalety, Father Benito Retortillo, Father Epifanio Rodriguez and Msgr. Morgan Rowsome. On July 1, the following priests will be returning home or beginning ministry in another diocese: Father Varghese Antony, Father Cyriac John, Father Johnson Machado and Father Kuriakose Ouseph. MAY 2013 | SOUTH CATHOLIC1919 MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEXTEX AS AS CATHOLIC

El Padre Julián Cabrera, párroco de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Alice, también es director de la Oficina para el Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis. Luisa Scolari, para el South Texas Catholic

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

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VIDA CATÓLICA

Por Luisa Scolari Corresponsal

ecientemente, el Obispo Wm. Michael Mulvey ha encargado la labor de dirigir los Ministerios Hispanos de la Diócesis al Padre Julián Cabrera, quien funge como Párroco de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Alice, Texas.

La propuesta de Padre Julián para la oficina del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Corpus Christi tiene como su objetivo “el principio de trabajar juntos para construir el reino de Dios, siendo fiel a los principios, valores y enseñanzas de la Iglesia Católica.” “Nuestra oficina observa, escucha y discierne las necesidades de la comunidad hispana y responde en colaboración con varias oficinas Diocesanas, parroquias y algunas otras organizaciones seculares,” el Padre Julián dijo. El Padre Julián nos invita a que juntos encontremos a Cristo y que nuestras diferencias culturales las veamos como oportunidades, que en el mundo nos dividen pero que nos unen a la luz del Evangelio. Comento el Padre Julián que El Papa Francisco nos llama a la unidad en la Iglesia, unidad entre todos los feligreses como un solo cuerpo unido y disfrutar la unidad que sólo se encuentra en Cristo Jesús, quien con su ejemplo nos llama a buscar a los marginados. “El Papa Francisco ha tocado una parte dormida en mí, despertó la necesidad de salir al encuentro de nuestros hermanos, ofreciéndoles un encuentro con Jesús para que se enamoren de El, y buscar nuevas maneras de evangelización, tomando en cuenta lo más importante que es el llegar a las personas aceptándolas tal y como son. El Papa Francisco nos invita a todos los sacerdotes y laicos a que salgamos de nuestra zona de www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

confort,” el Padre Julián dijo. El Padre Julián, quien estudió el Bachillerato en Español, preparó su maestría en Divinidad. Es nativo de Falfurrias, Texas, donde creció en el ambiente de un hogar sumamente Católico, con dos hermanos y tres hermanas. De los mejores recuerdos que tiene de su niñez es que él “Siempre era el encargado de cargar a la Virgencita de Guadalupe en las procesiones y festejos de las mañanitas a la morenita del Tepeyac.” Comentó el Padre Julián de que de joven, en un viaje a México con su patrocinador, fué a visitar una capilla de la Virgen de Guadalupe y “Sentí que me dijo ‘híncate ante mí,’ e inmediatamente pensé que eso era para las personas más simples y que mi fe era superior. Cuando vuelvo a sentir que la Virgencita me vuelve a pedir lo mismo y entonces volteo a ver si nadie me veía y me arrodillé, y este simple acto cambió mi vida.” Como consecuencia de este evento, le pidió al Señor Obispo Edmond Carmody que lo ordenara sacerdote, lo que ocurrió el mes de Agosto de 2008 en la Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús en su pueblo natal de Falfurrias. “Al estar por empezar la ceremonia de mi ordenación, el Obispo Carmody me pregunta ‘ya estás listo?’ Y dije ‘no, tengo que ir primero por la bendición de mi mamá,’ después de que me la dió, dije ‘ahora si’.” Se quedó en la Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Falfurrias por nueve meses, después, por un año y medio en la Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón en Rockport, y sus últimos dos años los tiene como Párroco de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Alice. Recientemente, el Padre Julián asistió a una reunión en Beaumont, Texas, con la finalidad de elegir un nuevo coordinador de la Región Episcopal No. 10, que comprende los estados de Texas, Oklahoma y Arkansas. Región No. 10 es dirigida por el Dr. Arturo Chávez, presidente del Colegio Católico Mexicoamericano (MACC) y por el Padre Héctor Madrigal, anterior Presidente Nacional de la Asociación Católica de Directores Diocesanos de Ministerios Hispanos (NCADDHM). El MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

nuevo coordinador es JesĂşs Abrego. Con respecto a esta reuniĂłn, el Padre JuliĂĄn comentĂł que aparte de elegir al nuevo coordinador, se analizĂł la diversidad cultural para poder responder a sus necesidades. Por final, el Padre JuliĂĄn tambiĂŠn aĂąadiĂł que como DiĂłcesis nos debemos de esforzar para responder a las necesidades de nuestros hermanos de todas las culturas y lenguas; buscando nuevos mĂŠtodos de evangelizaciĂłn para acercar a los que estĂĄn alejados de la Iglesia CatĂłlica. Pongamos toda la fĂŠ y el apoyo en su nuevo ministerio y veremos florecer la nueva lab.

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Ayudenos a Prevenir el Abuso Financiero La DiĂłcesis de Corpus Christi por medio de la recomendaciĂłn del Concilio Diocesano de Finanzas y el Concilio Presbiteral han llevado su dedicaciĂłn mas allĂĄ para la buena administraciĂłn y responsabilidad Âżnanciera en nombre de donantes generosos al instituir un â&#x20AC;&#x153;hotlineâ&#x20AC;? para reportar el abuso Âżnanciero. La DiĂłcesis de Corpus Christi ha seleccionado un tercer partido independiente, La Red, para proporcionarle a usted con una manera para reportar anĂłnima y conÂżdencialmente el abuso Âżnanciero 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 pĂĽca ĂŠtica Âżnanciera dentro de la DiĂłcese de Corpus Christi. Todas las investigaciones serĂĄn tradas inmediatamente y discretamente. Personas que llamen tienen el derecho de mantenerse anĂłnimas.

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Pope names international panel of cardinals to advise him on reform Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service

mid rising con-

olic Church, Pope Francis

cerns about cor-

named an international

ruption and mis-

panel of cardinals to advise

management in the central

him on the latest reform of

administration of the Cath-

the Vatican bureaucracy.

The Vatican Secretariat of State announced April 13 that the pope had established the group -- which includes Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley and Sydney Cardinal George Pell -- to “advise him in the government of the universal church and to study a plan

Eight cardinals named to advise Pope Francis on reform of Roman Curia

Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga

Giuseppe Bertoello

Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa

Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya

Archbishop Emeritus of Santiago, Chile

Archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo

President, Vatican City State commission

Sean Patrick O’Malley

Reinhard Marx

Oswald Gracias

George Pell

Archbishop of Boston

Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Germany

Archbishop of Mumbai, India

Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras

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Archbishop of Sydney

MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

The panel’s membership represents five continents, with the largest number -- three members -- coming from the Americas. for revising the apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia, ‘Pastor Bonus.’” “Pastor Bonus,” published in 1988, was the last major set of changes in the Roman Curia, the church’s central administration at the Vatican. It was largely an effort at streamlining by reassigning responsibilities among various offices, rather than an extensive reform. Complaints about the shortcomings of Vatican governance increased markedly during 2012 following the “VatiLeaks” of confidential correspondence providing evidence of corruption and mismanagement in various offices of the Holy See and Vatican City State. That affair prompted a detailed internal report, which Pope Benedict XVI designated exclusively for the eyes of his successor. The College of Cardinals extensively discussed the problems in meetings preceding the conclave that elected Pope Francis last month. According to the April 13 Vatican statement, the suggestion for an advisory panel on reform arose during those meetings. Only one member of the new panel is a full-time Vatican official: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the commission governing Vatican City State. All of the others currently serve as diocesan bishops. The group’s coordinator is Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who is also president of Caritas Internationalis, a Vatican-based umbrella organization for national Catholic charities around the globe. The other members are Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, retired archbishop of Santiago, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, India; Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany; and Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Congo. They will meet for the first time Oct. 1-3, 2013, the Vatican statement said, but are “currently in contact” with Pope Francis. The panel’s membership represents five continents, with the largest number -- three members -- coming from the Americas. Three members, more than any other linguistic group, hail from English-speaking countries (counting India). Two members are native speakers of Spanish. Only one member shares the Italian nationality of the majority of Vatican employees. Both Pope Paul VI and Blessed John Paul II also named international panels of cardinals to advise them on curial reform. A 1986 commission of six cardinals, whose recommendations contributed to “Pastor Bonus,” included two Italians, an

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

Austrian, a Canadian, a Venezuelan and a Nigerian. All were serving as Vatican oﬃcials at the time. The 15-member Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, established in 1981, also contributed to the process that produced “Pastor Bonus.” It has continued to meet twice a year, among other reasons to review the consolidated financial statements of the Holy See and Vatican City State. The council’s members hail from five continents, where they all serve as diocesan bishops. The Holy See -- whose major organs consist of the Secretariat of State, nine congregations, 12 councils and three tribunals -- employed 2,832 employees as of the end of 2011. Its financial statements for 2011 showed a deficit equivalent to about $19.4 million at current exchange rates. The commission governing Vatican City State, which is not part of the curia, employed another 1,887 people at the end of 2011 and reported a surplus of the equivalent of $28.4 million, largely owing to revenues from the Vatican Museums.

Enjoy the Rich History of the church in South Texas “Becoming the Body of Christ: A History of the Diocese of Corpus Christi” This 208-page coffee table book features the tales of Catholic faith in south Texas, including stories and photos of every parish and mission. Each chapter of the book begins with a stained glass window from Corpus Christi Cathedral and scriptural reflection. Also featured are many historic photos of early churches in the diocese. Call (361) 882-6191 for more information.

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Pope Francis greets a baby as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 17. Paul Haring, Catholic News Service

Pope Francis says Catholics still need to enact teachings of Vatican II Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

hile some Catholics would like to undo the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, others basically are trying to build a monument to it rather than fully live its teachings, Pope Francis said.

In his homily April 16 at an early morning Mass in the chapel of his

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residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis said Christians must struggle with the temptation to tame the Holy Spirit. “To speak plainly: The Holy Spirit annoys us,” he said. The Spirit “moves us, makes us walk, pushes the church to move forward.” But, too often, he said, Catholics are like the Apostle Peter on the mountaintop when Jesus is transfigured. They, like Peter, say, “Oh, how nice it is to be here all together,” but “don’t bother us.” “We want the Holy Spirit to sleep,” he said. “We want to domesticate the Holy Spirit, and that just won’t do because he is God and he is that breeze that comes and goes, and

you don’t know from where.” The Holy Spirit is God’s strength, the pope said. The Holy Spirit “gives us consolation and the strength to move forward,” and the moving forward part is what can be a bother. People think it’s better to be comfortable, but that is not what the fire of the Holy Spirit brings, Pope Francis said. While Catholics today may be more comfortable speaking about the Holy Spirit than they were 50 years ago, it doesn’t mean the temptation to tame the Spirit has diminished, he said. Pope Francis said reactions to the Second Vatican Council are a prime example. MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Spirit gives us consolation and the >> The Holystrength to move forward... “The council was a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit,” he said. “But after 50 years, have we done everything the Holy Spirit in the council told us to do?” The pope asked if Catholics have opened themselves to “that continuity of the church’s growth” that the council signified. The answer, he said, is “no.” Catholics seemed willing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the council’s opening in 1962, he said, but they want to do so by “building a monument” rather than by changing anything. At the same time, Pope Francis said, “there are voices

saying we should go back. This is called being hard-headed, this is called wanting to domesticate the Holy Spirit, this is called becoming ‘foolish and slow of heart,’” like the disappointed disciples on the road to Emmaus. The same phenomenon can be at work in Christians’ personal lives, he said. “The Holy Spirit pushes us” to live the Gospel more seriously, but resistance is often one’s reply. Pope Francis ended his homily encouraging everyone to pray for docility to the Holy Spirit, “to that Spirit who comes to us and urges us forward on the path to holiness.”

Pope Francis names U.S. Vatican diplomat to Pacific islands Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

ope

Francis

named U.S. Archbishop-designate

Michael W. Banach, a Vatican diplomat, to be apostolic nuncio to Papua New Guinea. The appointment, which the Vatican announced April 16, came just two months after Pope Benedict XVI named him a Vatican ambassador with the rank of archbishop. His episcopal ordination was scheduled to take place April 27 in St. Peter’s Basilica, according to the website of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in his hometown of Worcester, Mass.

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

His post in the Pacific islands will be his first placement as nuncio. Archbishop-designate Banach had served as the Vatican’s representative to several international agencies based in Vienna. The 50-year-old has served in the Vatican diplomatic corps since 1994. Born in Worcester, Mass., Nov. 19, 1962, he was ordained to the priesthood July 2, 1988, for the Diocese of Worcester. After earning his degree in canon law, he entered the Vatican diplomatic corps and served at Vatican embassies in Bolivia and Nigeria before moving to the Secretariat of State, where he served in the section for relations with states. In Vienna, he served as the Vatican’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency; the Organization for Security and

Msgr. Michael W. Banach

Cooperation in Europe; the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization; the U.N. Industrial Development Organization; and the local United Nations oﬃce.

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Pope grateful for bishop’s “devoted sentiments”

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MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Dominicans moving back home to Spain Rebecca Esparza Correspondent

he last two remaining Dominican priests in the Diocese of Corpus Christi are returning home to Spain on July 1, bringing to end more than 80 years of service to the parish communities in San Diego and the surrounding area. Father Benito Retortillo, O.P., 76, has been all over the world during his 51-years of service to the Church, from the Dominican Republic to the mountains of Guatemala to working with the poorest of the poor in Mexico. More than half of his time as a priest has been in San Diego. He arrived in San Diego 27 years ago and has been making a difference in the lives of parishioners at St. Francis de Paula ever since, alongside 85-year-old Father Epifanio RodrĂguez, O.P., or Father Epi as he is known by his parishioners. Father Epi arrived in San Diego in 1957. But now, the time has come for both priests to return to Spain. The Dominicans have called all remaining priests in the Americas back to Spain, due to a shortage in vocations. Father Benito and Father Epiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last day of service at St. Francis de Paula will be June 30. The details of their return have yet to be confirmed, but

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

one thing is certain: on July 1 both priests will board a plane for Spain. Father Benito, pastor and superior at the church, said although he will miss his parishioners, which he considers his extended family, the time has come to

A 29-year-old Father Epi visited St. Francis De Paula in San Diego a few years before he would be assigned to the parish in 1959. At right, Father Benito Retortillo, O.P. and Father Epi in front of St. Francis De Paula in San Diego, their home for many years. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

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MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Father Benito shares a laugh with Kimberly Soliz at the church’s rectory recently. Soliz and her husband Isidro Perez met with Father Benito to discuss get-

Father Benito (right) has served at St. Francis De Paula church in San Diego since 1986.

ting married in the church.

Benavides and Freer through the years.

Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

go home. “I’ve enjoyed serving the people of San Diego, including the smaller communities and ranches around this area, but we have been called home. Retirement is waiting for us both back in Spain,” he said. “It’s definitely a bittersweet time for us all.” Father Epi, said parishioners at St. Francis de Paula are the most kind and giving people he’s ever met. “Everyone is always ready to help. We have music at each Mass and we have volunteers who make sure every role is filled. I’ve loved working with our generous and friendly parishioners over these years,” Father Epi said, who celebrates 59 years as a priest this year. He recalled an instance when he traveled to Mexico in 1960 to procure ornate stained glass windows for the church. The windows continue to adorn the church to this day, perfectly intact. “I’ve seen the church grow and change tremendously over the years, including the closing of our school in 1962,” he lamented. Pointing to several beautiful large trees between

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

the rectory and the church, Father Epi said proudly, “I remember planting those trees many, many years ago.” St. Francis de Paula was established in 1866, making it one of the oldest parishes in the diocese. In 1931, the Dominicans came to serve in the diocese, specifically Duval, Jim Wells and for a short period in Brooks counties. “By the late 1960s, we had 11 Dominican priests throughout the area. Today, Father Epi and I are the only ones left,” Father Benito said. “Throughout our many years here, we have never once missed a Mass. And we have Mass everyday.” Ramona “Monche” Trejo, 77, parish secretary, has been a lifelong parishioner at St. Francis de Paula. Although she began volunteering with the church back in 1963 as a CCD teacher, she officially joined the staff in 1996. “It’s the end of an era,” she said. Trejo said working with the two priests has been a wonderful experience and added she feels their presence will be sorely missed. “I was as an altar server with Father Epi, and my www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

Father Epi visits with Isidro Perez and his son Alvaro Jose at the parish rectory recently. Father Father Epi has been in San Diego, on and off, for 54 years. They also served in Alice,

Epi is set to retire by July 1 after 59 years of service to the church.

Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

children served with Father Benito,” Alfredo Cardenas, editor of the South Texas Catholic said. “We will miss them greatly. So will the community, they have been pillars of San Diego for a long time.” Father Benito said he’s seen many moving things during his tenure at the parish, but one of the most memorable was a young disabled boy who never missed one Sunday Mass with his family. “His determination to attend Mass every week was so inspiring to me. It’s not easy for the family, not easy for him, but they never missed a Sunday Mass,” Father Benito said. “It would make me think about this young man’s devotion to be closer to God. Witness-

Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

ing his courage on a weekly basis is something I will never forget.” Like this boy’s witness, Father Benito and Father Epi’s devotion to God and his Church will never be forgotten in San Diego.

Father Epi tells story of when he traveled to Mexico in 1960 to retrieve the numerous stained glass windows that adorn the church to this day. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Dominican priests will end 82-years of

They came, the Alfredo E. Cardenas

South Texas Catholic

n April 1931, the Claretian Provincial Secretary in Mexico City informed Corpus Christi Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina that they could no A large crowd turned out for the dedication of the first St. Joseph School in Alice built by the Dominicans in the 1930s. The Dominicans were still in charge of the parish when the new school was built years later.

longer serve the parish in San Diego. He informed the bishop that the order simply did not have enough priests who could â&#x20AC;&#x153;speak and preach in correct English.â&#x20AC;? Bishop Ledvina was taken by surprise with the move since he had only three years earlier assigned

Archived Photo

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

service to Diocese of Corpus Christi

ey saw, they built the parish to the Claretians on a “permanent” basis. They had, moreover, done very good work at San Diego. Still, it was at the height of the Cristero War in their native Mexico, making things very uncertain. By July, the Claretians were gone and the bishop moved Father José Muras from St. James the Apostle in Refugio to temporarily take over at San Diego and its 13 missions. The transfer was finalized in July. This was only a temporary fix, and Bishop Ledvina still faced the task of finding permanent caretakers for St. Francis de Paula in San Diego and its missions strung out throughout the brush country.

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His prayers were soon answered. Quite unexpectedly, Bishop Ledvina received a letter on Aug. 12, 1931 from Father Juan Blázquez, O.P. with the Order of Preachers in San Antonio advising him that they were expecting new arrivals from Spain ready to do mission work. San Antonio Archbishop Arthur J. Drossert highly recommended them. Bishop Ledvina quickly responded and oﬀered Father Blázquez the church in San Diego that had a house that could accommodate two, maybe three priests. The bishop mentioned only six missions had chapels. The bishop told Father Blázquez that the Augustinians from Mexico wanted to establish a foundation in San Diego much like the one that the Franciscans had in Hebbronville where they could train priests uninterrupted. Bishop Ledvina, however, preferred to have the Dominicans. Father Blázquez urged the bishop not to make any other agreement, that the Dominicans were very interested and would expedite approval from Spain. By late September the parties had

MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

take charge of San Diego and to transfer the parish to Father Juan Zabala. Later in the month, Bishop Ledvina and the Dominicans agreed that they could also have Sacred Heart church in Alice. The following year, Sacred Heart became San Jose, now known as St. Joseph. In August 1932, an agreement was reached that the Dominicans would take over Sacred Heart in Falfurrias. The Dominicans now had five priests in the area, two each at San Diego and Falfurrias and one in Alice. In no time, Father Zabala and his associates were oﬀ to a fast start building up the parishes under their charge. In February 1934, Bishop Ledvina gave The new Santa Rosa de Lima church was dedicated in December 1940 after Dominicans Father Zabala the Stations of the Cross took several years to raise the needed funds to build it. from the Cathedral and suggested Archived photo. that he give the ones in the San Diego church to the new church being built sealed an agreement. Bishop Ledvina oﬀered to turn over in Benavides, which would be known the parish “cura animarum…in perpetuum.” as Santa Rosa de Lima. “It practically amounts to total surrender of all jurisThe following year Father Zabala was raising funds in diction outside of the canonical rights and privileges of Ben Bolt for a new church, while the Benavides church the bishop, and keep the ownership, title, legally in the was under construction. In 1937, Father Zabala had added name of the diocese,” Bishop Ledvina wrote to Father Blázquez. Three days later, the Chancellor transferred titles to chapels of St. Francis de Paula in San Diego; St. Patrick at Mendieta; St. John at Rosita; St. Paul the Apostle at Benavides; St. Catherine at Los Reyes; St. Clement at Guajillo; and St. Joseph at Eva to the Dominicans. The bishop also ordered a piano to be shipped to San Diego for the Dominicans. On Oct. 9, Bishop Ledvina informed FaThe first mission church in Freer was dedicated May 22, 1938. Dominicans were also responsible for the curther Muras that the rent St. Mary’s sanctuary built in 1991 under Father Luis Fernando Iglesias, O.P. Dominicans would Archived photo.

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

fered that they could give up Benavides and Freer instead, but the Dominicans opted to leave things as they were. In 1940, the Dominicans were near completing a school at St. Joseph as well as a residence for the sisters in Alice. That same year they secured priests for “the American missions.” Father Peter O’Brien and Father Mark O’Dowd, however, only stayed a short time. In December of Domincans built a new mission church in the east side of Ben Bolt in 1936. that year, the church Archived photo. in Benavides was complete and both Bishop Ledvina and a new parochial school in San Diego to his construction Auxiliary Bishop Garriga wanted to participate in the portfolio. The bishop was so impressed with the school blessing scheduled for Dec. 22, 1940. that he asked Father Zabala for a copy of the plans so that By 1941, the Dominicans did in fact transfer Sacred he could build one in Auxiliary Bishop Mariano Garriga’s Heart in Falfurrias to the Oblates. Father Zabala moved birthplace of Port Isabel. from San Diego to Alice in 1946 and left the area in 1950, Bishop Ledvina had been holding on to a city block in only to return to San Diego for a short time from 1957 San Diego, donated by Anna Collins, in hopes of building to 1960. The growth of the Church in Alice and Duval a school and convent but, he wrote to a prospective buyer, County, however, continued at a steady clip. “…there is now a pretty school in San Diego through In 1948, Santa Rosa de Lima became a parish. In 1950, the zealous and indefatigable work of the fathers now the Dominicans had charge of Our Lady of Guadalupe in charge of San Diego.” He cited the “good work of the in Alice. Five years later, old Sacred Heart in Alice was Dominican fathers progress for the up building of the reopened as a mission of St. Joseph. That same year, 1955, parish…” a mission was established in San Jose in Duval County. In addition to new construction in San Diego, BenaIn 1960, there were nine Dominicans serving the area. vides and Ben Bolt, the Dominicans were building a new As the years rolled by, however, the well of priests church for St. Joseph in Alice, a new school in Falfurrias and women religious began to dry up. The school in San and a new sanctuary in Freer. In addition, they were Diego closed in 1962. In 1970, Our Lady of Guadalupe active in the Fiestas Patrias in San Diego and Father was given to diocesan priest. By 1986, the Dominicans Zabala was organizing a Sociedad Católica Mutualistas, left St. Joseph in Alice and were down to three priests, or mutual aid society. one each in Freer, Benavides and San Diego. Today, only While things were going well in the Diocese of Corpus two Dominicans remain in San Diego and they have Christi, they were not going well at all for the Dominibeen called home. cans in their native Spain, as the Spanish Civil War had For 82 years the Order of Preachers served the Diocese claimed the lives of many priests and seminarians. They of Corpus Christi in exemplary fashion. They came at a asked Bishop Ledvina to relieve them of Sacred Heart in time of great need for the diocese and contributed greatly Falfurrias but the bishop was concerned that their leavto the building-up and maintaining the Church. ing would cause harm to the new school. The bishop ofwww.SouthTexasCatholic.com

MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

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NATIONAL NEWS

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, left, signs a response to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Ala., April 15. The development of the response letter and its signing commemorated the 50th anniversary of Rev. King’s letter. The effort was organized by Christian Churches Together, an ecumenical organization concerned with issues such as immigration, poverty and racial injustice, sponsored a commemoration of the anniversary of the letter. Mary D. Dillard for Catholic News Service

Religious leaders mark 50th anniversary of King letter from jail Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

ifty years ago, the Rev.

strations and protests, to

Martin Luther King Jr.

seek racial equality.

took a group of white

The civil rights leader did not mince words telling the group that included Protestant pastors, a rabbi and a Catholic bishop -- Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Durick of what was then the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Ala. -- that he was

Alabama clergymen to task for suggesting he find ways, other than demon-

www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

“disappointed with the church.” In their public letter to Rev. King, published in an April 13, 1963, newspaper, the religious leaders urged him to negotiate and wait for court actions and described the civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham as “unwise and untimely.” Rev. King, held in solitary confineMAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

ment for eight days for violating the city’s ban on civil rights demonstrations, began his response to the clergymen April 16, the fourth day of his prison sentence. He used a pencil to write on margins of a newspaper and slips of paper, and he only wrote during the day since his cell had no overhead light. The letter, addressed to “My Dear Fellow Clergymen” became the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Pieces of it were smuggled out with his attorneys and an associate compiled them and gave them to Rev. King’s secretary to type. The 21-page letter was never sent to the religious leaders; they saw it when everyone else did, published in part in newspapers and magazines May 19, 1963. In the letter, Rev. King explained why he felt compelled to participate in demonstrations, marches and nonviolent actions. “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham,” he wrote. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Jonathan Bass, history professor at Birmingham’s Samford University and author of the 2002 book “Blessed are the Peacemakers: Martin Luther King Jr., Eight White Religious Leaders, and the Letter from Birmingham Jail,” said Rev. King’s letter is “without a doubt the most important written document of the civil rights era.” He told Catholic News Service April 15 that the letter was meant for a much broader audience than just these eight religious leaders but, since he wrote to them as a minister, it has deeply spiritual themes. “Those who read this through a nonspiritual lens miss a lot of these truths,” he added. For the letter’s 50th anniversary, public readings of the letter are taking place not only in Birmingham, but across the United States and in places around the world. Religious figures in particular are not just reading the letter but respond-

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

ing to it. Leaders of U.S. Christian denominations who are part of the ecumenical organization Christian Churches Together gathered in Birmingham April 14-15 to sign a response to the letter and discuss its meaning then and now. One participant was Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In an April 14 address to the gathering, he stressed the importance of responding to Rev. King’s words by asking forgiveness for past wrongs, appreciating eﬀorts that have been made and being “resolved for more action.” He commended steps made by the Catholic Church including its Aug. 23, 1963, statement “On Racial Harmony,” issued by the administrative board of what was then the National Catholic Welfare Conference, the predecessor of today’s USCCB. It said: “We must insist that the heart of the race question is moral and religious.” He also quoted the U.S. bishops’ 1979 pastoral letter “Brothers and Sisters to Us,” which said that “racism is a sin: a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father.” In a telephone interview before the two-day gathering in Birmingham, the archbishop told CNS that when he reread Rev. King’s letter he “recognized not just what a classic it is, but how touching it is to uncover the soul of someone seriously trying to follow Christ” and trying to move people to action. He said Rev. King’s words can have an impact today on religious leaders as they listen to one another and try to work together to bring about necessary changes which he described as “prayerful dialogue.” Bass was able to interview six of the clergymen Rev. King addressed in his

letter; all eight have died. He described Bishop Durick, who became bishop of Nashville, Tenn., as the “most fascinating.” He said the bishop went from a “passive segregationist to a desegregationist and an integrationist in a very short period of time.” Bass said the bishop had grown up in the South and “just naturally accepted the social order of segregation” but then “recognized the reality that desegregation was coming” and like the other religious leaders who challenged Rev. King, he wanted to be sure the “process of dismantling segregation would be peaceful and gradual.” Bass said the events of 1963, not just Rev. King’s letter, had an impact on the bishop and changed his views. After Rev. King’s assassination in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968, Bishop Durick walked in the front ranks of a civil rights march. He marched again the following year in a tribute to the slain civil rights leader. At the two-day event in Birmingham, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., also addressed the gathering. “The civil rights movement was a religious movement,” he said, adding that he saw the eﬀorts as “love in action.” Activities included a morning prayer walk April 15 at Kelly Ingram Park. Those gathered for it were split into two groups, each following a path marking the routes of civil rights marches. The two groups then rejoined and participants held hands and prayed at the “Kneeling Ministers” sculpture. The statue depicts the Revs. John Thomas Porter, Nelson H. Smith and A. D. King, kneeling in prayer after being confronted by Public Safety Commissioner Bull Connor during an April 7, 1963, protest. Rev. A.D. King was the brother of Rev. Martin Luther King. (Contributing to this story was Mary Dillard with One Voice, the newspaper of the Birmingham Diocese.) www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

Calendar of Events: May 2-5: Women’s Silent Retreat May 13: Global Living Rosary at 7 p.m. in the Adoration Chapel. May 16-19: Men’s Silent Retreat June 7: Benefit Dinner with guest of honor DANA Rosemary Scallon of Ireland. There will be a silent auction to help offset cost of Dome Fest. If you would like to donate an item, please call Mona Lisa at (361) 289-9095, ext 301. June 8: 1st Annual Dome Fest from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. June 28-30: Marriage Encounter Weekend. To sign up go to: www. mecorpuschristi.org or to request an application, email ccwwme. register@gmail.com or call (361) 851-8306.

You’re cordially invited Global Gl b l Living Rosary Perpetual Adoration Chapel Monday, May 13 7:00 p.m. 1200 Lantana • Corpus Christi

(361) 289-9095 Bookstore: Ext. 309 Retreats: Ext. 321

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June 7 at 7 p.m.: Benefit Dinner at OLCC Guest of honor DANA Rosemary Scallon, $50 per person

June 8: 1st Annual DOME FEST! Music Festival for the whole family with DANA and more than 10 other local musicians performing FREE ADMISSION! Lots of vendors, rides and games, including a ROCK WALL! For more information for the silent retreats, please visit www.deepprayer.org or “Come and See” Jesus in our beautiful Perpetual Adoration Chapel! www.ourladyofcc.org AND “Like” us on facebook @ “Our Lady of Corpus Christi and Cafe Veritas”

MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Investigators: Joseph Austin Catholic News Service

hen a team of health officials and investigators looking into illegal drug use raided Dr. Kermit Barron Gosnell’s Women’s Medical Society Feb. 18, 2010, they happened upon what many are calling a “house of horrors.” “There was blood on the floor. A stench of urine filled the air. A flea-infested cat was wandering through the facility, and there were cat feces on the stairs,” said a grand jury report about the conditions found in the clinic Gosnell ran in West Philadelphia. The two surgical rooms resembled a “bad gas station restroom,” according to Agent Stephen Dougherty of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. The team went on to recover the remains of 45 fetuses “in bags, milk jugs, orange juice cartons, and even in cat-food containers,” the report explained. Three days later, the Pennsylvania Department of Health suspended Gosnell’s license. He was arrested in January 2011 and charged with seven counts of infanticide and one count of murder in the case of a Nepalese woman who died during an abortion. Gosnell’s trial on those charges began March 18 of this year. By the fifth week, beginning April 15, prosecutors were continuing to call witnesses, including several patients and several former employees, who testified about the squalid conditions they saw at the clinic. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Gosnell. It was a “meat-market-style of assembly lines of abortions,” Mallory Quigley, a spokeswoman for the Susan B. Anthony List, told Catholic News Service April 15, referencing the words of two nurses who recently left a Delaware clinic for similar reasons. “The Gosnell case is a lot more common than people realize,” Quigley said. “Americans as a whole think that abortion clinics are sanitary decent clinics,” said Jeanne Monahan, president of the March for Life Education & Defense Fund. But, she said,

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

the “majority of abortion clinics in our country are held to very minimal standards: legally the same standards as beauty parlors and vet clinics.” According to Pennsylvania Department of Health spokeswoman Kait Gillis, because of “tougher regulation and new leadership, today, abortion facilities are being held accountable to higher standards to better protect the health and safety of women.” “We have a far deeper understanding of these facilities now than we did then (when Gosnell’s abuses were uncovered) and conduct regular annual and unannounced inspections, not only because the law tells us to, but because we are committed to doing what is right,” she told CNS in an emailed statement April 15. Pennsylvania law requires that abortions be done under 24 weeks of pregnancy because of the risks to the mother, but the grand jury report showed Gosnell routinely flouted that law. “The bigger the baby, the more he charged,” it said. He is accused of sticking a pair of medical scissors into the back of the necks of prematurely born babies and cutting the spinal cord, a procedure he called “snipping.” Court records show he destroyed most of the documentation on his use of “snipping,” but pictures taken by employees and other evidence are being used by prosecutors. “Over the years, many people came to know that something was going on here. But no one put a stop to it,” the report explained. The clinic went unchecked by the Depart-

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Gosnell’s clinic a ‘house of horrors’ ment of Health for 16 years until the drug raid accidentally uncovered its horrors. Several employees face similar charges. The grand jury report said Gosnell hired untrained, uncertified nurses, and taught them to view ultrasound pictures at an angle so that unborn babies to be aborted looked smaller than they actually were. It also said Gosnell and his wife performed late-term abortions on Sundays when no other staﬀ was present. In an April 16 statement on the Gosnell trial, Dayle Steinberg, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, said: “Gosnell is a criminal who preyed upon vulnerable women, and committed illegal acts. “As health care providers who work every day to protect women’s health and safety, we are outraged by his criminal behavior and hope he is held accountable,” she continued. “All health care providers must be regulated, and these regulations should be based on health care needs -- not on politics. “Planned Parenthood insists on the highest standards of patient care and has rigorous safety guidelines in place,” Steinberg added. “As long as these clinics enjoy such privileges -- privileges no health department would ever grant to any hospital -- we will never know how many Kermit Gosnells are out there. And every time we find the next one, it will be too late,” Lila Rose, president of Live Action, told CNS in an emailed statement. Rose, a 24-year-old Catholic convert, oﬃcially became involved with the abortion cause at 15 when she founded

Live Action, a pro-life nonprofit specializing in investigative journalism. Since then she has received national recognition for her hidden-camera exposes of the Planned Parenthood abortion industry, which she calls “reckless (and) unregulated.” “Just because abortion is legal doesn’t make it safe,” Kristan Hawkins, executive director Students for Life of America, told CNS. “Abortion doesn’t help women,” added Quigley. She explained the pro-life movement operates more than 3,000 pregnancy resource centers for mothers and families in need, oﬀering them assistance so they do not feel abortion is their only alternative. “Those are the places we need to be building up,” she said, noting that more than 90 percent of the funding for such centers is private. While Monahan acknowledged the Gosnell case is a somewhat extreme case, she told CNS that it highlights the violence of the abortion procedure, which she describes as being “deeply invasive” to the woman. She said it also shines a light on what she termed is the sad reality of the abortion business. “There is no constitutional right to maim and kill women and girls nationwide,” Kristi Hamrick, spokeswoman for Americans United for Life, told CNS in an emailed statement. “One woman’s death is too many. ... The mere existence of protective laws is not enough. State oﬃcials must also consistently enforce these laws,” she said.

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VOCATIONS

Four Brehony girls entered convent

Religious life was a sisterly way Sister Juliane Kuntscher, IWBS Contributor

ister Maria Elizabeth Brehony attributes vocation to the grace of God and her family.

“Religion was always part of the rhythm of our home,” Sister Maria Elizabeth Brehony, said as she entered her 60th year in consecrated life on April 18. Sister Maria Elizabeth was born in County Sligo, Ireland, on April 16, 1935 to John Brehony and Catherine Anne Mc Donagh Brehony. As a supplement to her basic education and training at home, she attended elementary and secondary school staﬀed by the Sisters of Mercy. She was also involved in apostolic work with the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary. One of four Brehony sisters to embrace religious life, Sister Maria Elizabeth entered the Incarnate Word Congregation, traveling by ship to the United States on July 18, 1951. She made first profession of vows on April 18, 1953, and perpetual profession on June 4, 1956. Her mother often spoke of religious vocation in conversations with her children. Sister Maria Elizabeth’s aunts, who were Incarnate Word sisters, and her siblings, Sisters Catherine and Rita, were also instrumental in her decision to seek admission to the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Congregation. Her younger www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

sister, Sister Colette, followed her one-year later to Corpus Christi. Having completed the initial stages of religious life, Sister Maria Elizabeth earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin, a master’s degree in Latin American History from Texas A&I University in Kingsville and a second master’s degree from Corpus Christi State University in counseling. She is certified in administration, and she studied theology courses at St. Mary’s and Incarnate Word Universities in San Antonio. For a number of years, Sister Maria Elizabeth taught in parochial and private schools, her ministry included work at Incarnate Word Academy, Sacred Heart, Christ the King and St. Theresa Schools in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. In Brownsville, she taught at Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Incarnate Word Academy and Villa Maria High School. She served also in Port Isabel, Goliad and Sinton. Sister Maria Elizabeth served as principal for 23 years in various schools. From 1994-97, Sister Maria Elizabeth conducted religious education classes and shared administrative duties at Xavier High School in Kenya, East Africa. “The country and people are so beautiful, yet they are surrounded by poverty; they live so simply,” Sister Maria Elizabeth said. “They are always willing to wait–for transportation, food or medical help. They are such giving people, always ready to share their talents, their time and their resources, no matter what

Sister Maria Elizabeth Brehony, IWBS

little they possess.” More recently Sister Maria Elizabeth’s ministry led her to Sacred Heart School in Rockport for four years. When she came to Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi, she first served as assistant librarian, and presently, she assists with religious instruction at the Incarnate Word Academy Atrium, directing elementary and Montessori students in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Other ministerial experiences in which Sister Maria Elizabeth has engaged include the Pax Christi Peace Movement, home visiting, jail ministry, mediation at the Dispute Resolution Center and participation in the Diocesan Synod. In the Incarnate Word Congregation, Sister Maria Elizabeth is a member of the Initial Formation Team; she has been local councilor and sister-in-charge in houses of the congregation, a member of commissions and committees and a delegate during general chapters. Each phase of ministry oﬀered its own challenges and left its particular mark for Sister Maria Elizabeth. “I have been enriched and blessed abundantly during my years in religious life. I feel that I have always received much more than I have given,” she said. MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Tragedy in Boston shows us meaning of Paschal Mystery

ear brothers and sisters, the Lord is risen! The Easter

season continues to bring to our minds and hearts the fact that God loved the world so much that he sent His only son. Christ loved us so much that He suﬀered and died for us on the cross and rose from the dead. He loved us so much that He left the memorial of this mystery present in the Holy Eucharist, which we are called to every Sunday to celebrate and to incorporate into our lives. This is called the Paschal Mystery, the mystery of Christ dying and rising in the world today, dying and rising in our own personal lives. The tragedies that we witnessed

in Boston at the end of the Boston Marathon again bring this mystery to light. The tragedy of violence and hatred continue to live on, unfortunately, in our society. This is an expression of the death that Christ died for all of us. But we also experienced the resurrection in seeing so many people gather together to assist, to help, to console, to bring hope to others. Christ is also risen. His mystery incorporates all of these events in human life and human society. This is what gives us hope. As we face tragedies in our world today let us be reminded always that Christ gave his life for all of these and as we see the response in the beauty of compassion and love respond deep within the human heart we know that this is a mark of Christ’s resurrection today. As we contemplate these mysteries in the events of our world and in the events of our own lives let us be drawn closer to the mystery, which is Christ,

Most Rev. Wm. Michael Mulvey Bishop of Corpus Christi

who sheds light on every human person and every human situation. We pray for the victims and the families of these tragedies. We also pray that our faith may grow during this Year of Faith so that we may live the Paschal Mystery in our own lives and witness to His love to our world. May our faith grow, may our hope be alive and may our love and charity for others always be concrete and real. God bless you as we continue to live this Easter mystery and to celebrate the Easter season.

Young people become emotional during a candlelight vigil in the Dorchester section of Boston April 16, where Boston Marathon bombing victim Martin Richard lived. The 8-year-old boy, who attended St. Ann Parish Neponset in Dorchester with his family, was one of three people killed when two bombs exploded in the crowded streets near the finish line of the marathon April 15. More than 170 people were injured, including the boy’s mother and sister, who were seriously injured. Brian Snyder, Catholic News Service

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

The Joy of a Mother

much greater would our love for >> how our mothers shine if we endeavored Deacon Stephen Nolte

to let them know how much we love them every day of...our lives?

Contributor

he joy of a woman holding her newborn infant for the first time

is so great that it is often beyond words. Indeed, the countenance of her face says all that can be said–in the glow on her face there can be seen wonder and awe, elation and bliss, tenderness and love beyond telling. Her love is a mystery that intertwines deeply between the woman and the child of her womb, a mystery that even she cannot fully fathom, yet one that exists nonetheless.

Consider the relationship between Jesus and His mother, Mary. Jesus, wishing to become incarnate and enter human history, willed to have a Mother, and chose Mary, thus raising woman to the highest peak of dignity as the Mother of God Incarnate. Mary’s work was a hidden work which was mostly veiled from the world around www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

her. Her moments of joy, recorded in Scripture, are not unlike the joys of any other woman. The moment of annunciation arrived with her humble acceptance. Even as the child growing within her womb remained an unseen mystery, Mary’s wonderment and joy grew with each passing day. Luke relates Mary’s visit to Elizabeth as a moment filled with overwhelming joy and anticipation. Even in the diﬃcult situation of the nativity, Mary’s humility and joy only intensifies when Joseph welcomes the adoring shepherds into the stable to pay homage to the newborn babe in the manger. When presenting Jesus in the Temple Mary and Joseph are met by Simeon and Anna whose words confirm what had been foretold to them by the angels. Those words served to temper and refine their joy as they pondered the child’s future. For 12 years Mary’s work in service to her little family remains hidden until Jesus is lost. Imagine the joy of the mother finding her Son after three days of agonizing torture as she searched for Him. Although Jesus’ response to His mother’s words of concern may seem harsh, His action of returning with them and remaining obedient until the beginning of His public ministry speaks of a devotion and love of which any mother would be filled with joy. Blessed Pope John Paul II wrote in “The Dignity of Woman and Her Mission,” that every woman “repre-

sents a hidden work that is necessary and indispensable; work of sacrifice, not exciting, which does not win applause and sometimes does not even have recognition and gratitude; the humble, repeated, monotonous and therefore heroic work of an innumerable host of mothers, who with their daily labor contribute to their families, and who solve so many difficult and delicate situations for their children and husbands.” This work must be seen as a free choice, responsible and willed, completely fulfilling woman’s dignity which is only found completely and exhaustively in Christ. He entered into human history, putting himself at our side, walking with us in every path of existence to gather our confidences, enlighten our thoughts, purify our desires and console our sorrows. Always showing the greatest esteem and respect for every woman, Jesus was sensitive to female suffering. How could we fail to recall his meetings with Martha and Mary (Lk 10:38-42), with the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:1-42), with the widow of Naim (Lk 7:11-17), with the adulterous woman (Jn 8:3-9), with the woman who suffered from a hemorrhage (Mt 9:20-22), with the sinner at the house of Simon the Pharisee? (Lk 7:36-50) It is sad to see how woman has been so humiliated and ill-treated in the course of the centuries. Yet we must be convinced that the dignity of both man and woman are great in the eyes of God, who sent MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Mary’s moments of joy, recorded in Scripture, are not unlike the joys of any other mother. His only Son to redeem us from the brokenness of sin. This then serves as a reminder to us of the dignity of woman and of her mission. Women’s mission is to consecrate all of their work for the total good of society even as men are called to do. If it is clear that man by temperament is more inclined to deal with exterior aﬀairs and public activities, woman has then, generally speaking, greater insight and finer tact to know and solve the delicate problems of domestic and family life, the basis of all social life. The domestic work commonly assigned to women is an essential part in the smooth running of society and has enormous influence upon the community. It calls for continual and complete dedication, for patience, self-control, farsightedness and creativity, for a spirit of adaptation and courage in unexpected occurrences. This gives rise also to the dignity of women’s work as spouse and mother, a commitment which is not humiliation but consecration. In all of these labors, women are called to be sowers of goodness. This is what the Mother of Jesus did in her daily life. This is what mothers everywhere strive for; that their children will have good and joy filled lives because of the personal sacrifices their mothers make on their behalf. As a nation we will celebrate Mother’s Day on May 12. Rather than focusing on that one day alone, how much greater would our love for our mothers shine if we endeavored to let them know how much we love them every day of the month, or to take it one step further, to do so every day of the year? Everyday of our lives? It is a task given to us in the fourth commandment to love and honor our mothers, thereby lifting them up and to oﬀering the encouragement they need in a tired world.

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

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Going too far with ‘Do Not Resuscitate’? Father Tadeueusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. Columnist

esuscitating a patient who undergoes a cardiac

arrest or stops breathing often involves multiple procedures. When resuscitation “Code Blue” is called in the hospital, something like a medical “flash mob” comes together to try to save the patient. The sequence of events typically involves a combination of CPR, airway assistance, medications and shocks to the heart when the resuscitation is performed in a clinical setting. Sometimes these interventions can seem unwarranted or extreme, and people wonder whether it would be okay to fill out a “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) order for themselves or for family members. Would declining permission to resuscitate someone mean they are abandoning their loved one? Each crisis or emergency situation will have unique contours, and the question of our moral duty to provide resuscitation will vary with the details of each case. Sometimes a DNR order will be a reasonable choice; www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

other times it will not. If a DNR order is chosen, the condition of the patient must be such that the intervention would be of no significant benefit to him or her. Sometimes out of a generalized fear of medical technology, people may decide to put a DNR in place many years before any serious medical situation arises. Without knowing the medical particulars of their own future situations, however, this would be an unwise and ill-advised step. It can also be premature to decline a full code early in the course of a progressive disease, as resuscitation might well offer a bridge to healing or to another extended period of life. As the patient’s condition worsens, though, he or she may later decide that a full code has become unreasonable, and choose a DNR at that point. These judgments are tricky to make, because the specifics of each case differ, and those specifics change with time and disease progression. DNRs should be put in place only when the circumstances warrant it, that is to say, on a case-by-case, patient-specific basis. In other words, when CPR/resuscitation can reasonably be determined to no longer offer a hope of benefit to the patient or if it entails an excessive burden to him, at that time a DNR can be put into place. Some of the possible burdens that may need to be considered in decid-

Making Sense out of

BIOETHICS ing whether to pursue resuscitative interventions for a patient would include some of the following: the risk of rib or other bone fractures; puncture of the lungs by a broken bone (or from the trauma of lung compression and decompression); bleeding in the center of the chest; cerebral dysfunction or permanent brain damage; the small risk (about 3 or 4 percent) that the patient might end up entering a vegetative state; and subsequent complications if the patient ends up staying on a ventilator for an extended period following the resuscitation. During resuscitative eﬀorts, elderly patients are more likely to experience complications or to have ribs break during CPR. Younger patients, on the other hand, tend to show a greater resilience and are often better able to tolerate CPR. Patients suffering from advanced cancer are also known to fare poorly following resuscitative eﬀorts. In terms of overall statistics, when a patient codes in the hospital and all resuscitative measures are taken, patients frequently do not end up leaving the hospital, especially when they are elderly or have other co-accompanying conditions. Based MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

>> These judgments are

tricky to make, because the specifics of each case differ, and those specifics change with time and disease progression. DNRs should be put in place only when the circumstances warrant it, that is to say, on a case-by-case, patient-specific basis.

on data from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, studies have determined that patients who undergo cardiac arrest in the hospital have an overall survival to discharge rate of about 17 percent. The rate drops even lower–to around 13 percent–for cancer patients. In other words, the benefits are oftentimes few and short-lived, while the burdens tend to be high. There are, of course, exceptions; while many patients do not experience significant benefits from resuscitative measures, a small percentage do. So when death is imminent, and disease states are very advanced– perhaps with multiple organ failure, and assuming other spiritual matters, such as last sacraments, have been addressed, a DNR order may not raise any moral problems. The key consideration in making the judgment will be to determine whether the benefits of resuscitation outweigh the burdens.

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

DNR orders can be misused, of course, if they are broadly construed as calling on medical professionals to abandon or otherwise discontinue all care of a patient. Even as patients may be declining and dying of serious underlying illnesses, we must continue to care for them, support and comfort them, and use the various ordinary means that they may have been relying on, such as heart and blood pressure medications, diuretics, insulin, etc. We should always seek to do what is ethically “ordinary” or “proportionate” in providing care for our loved ones, though we are never obligated to choose anything that would be heroic, disproportionate or unduly burdensome when it comes to CPR or other resuscitative measures. (Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org.)

Cleaning George Weigel Columnist

f the conclave of 2005 was about continuity—extending the

legacy of John Paul II by electing his closest theological advisor as his successor—the conclave of 2013 was about governance.

The College of Cardinals came to Rome convinced that the incapacities of the Roman Curia over the previous eight years had become a serious obstacle to the Church’s evangelical mission; their experience in the General Congregations prior to the conclave hardened that view. So the cardinals elected a proven reformer whose age on assuming the papacy meant that he wouldn’t have to play a long game, but could move swiftly to repair what needs repairing in what Blessed John Henry Newman allegedly referred to as the “engine room” of the Barque of Peter. What needs repairing, down there below decks? It’s not only a question of structure and personnel, in my view, but of institutional culture. The cast of mind in the Roman Curia must be changed, so that the entire Curia thinks of itself as its many good people now do: as servants of the New Evangelization, not as the twenty-first century version of a papal court. That means that those www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

up the engine room curialists who think of themselves as courtiers must either be converted to a different self-understanding or replaced. Thus a first, specific suggestion for curial personnel reform: strict term limits, by which men and women of proven ability from all over the world would come to Rome to serve the universal Church for a maximum of 10 years before returning to their local churches. Service in the Roman Curia would cease being a way to punch one’s ticket for higher ecclesiastical office; it would be a sacrifice. Then there is language. It’s sometimes assumed that the majority of curialists will always be Italian, which means that Italian-language competence is essential to effective curial service. But why must the majority of curial workers be Italians? The U.N. draws its personnel in New York, Geneva, Vienna and other locales from all over the world. English is the working language; why should the Roman Curia be different–because it’s in Rome? Well, no, not really. The Vicariate of Rome runs the Diocese of Rome for the pope, and of course, its personnel should be of local origin. But the Roman Curia exists to support

the Bishop of Rome in his mission as universal pastor of the Church and its personnel should reflect that global mission—as should its working language. It will take some time to change this, to be sure. But the first head of a curial department who insists on conducting the department’s business in the world language—English—will be doing the entire Church a big favor by modeling a diﬀerent, more universalist approach to running the engine room. As for structure, the first order of business is getting the proliferation of “pontifical councils” under control, merging some, eliminating others and reducing many of these entities to the in-house think tanks they were originally intended to be, rather than the document-producing bureaucratic machines they’ve become. There will be exceptions. The Pontifical Council for the Laity would still run World Youth Days and be the Roman contact-point for renewal movements and new Catholic communities and Cor Unum would continue to oversee the Vatican’s international development work. But departments like the pontifical councils for the Family, for Justice and

The Catholic Difference Peace and for Culture would become research centers in their fields, not mini-cabinet departments—and in that new configuration, there is no reason why (with appropriate changes in Church law) they couldn’t be run by lay people. And then there is integrity. When members of the Roman Curia do not live the lives expected of deeply converted and mature Christian disciples, they must be replaced; not as a matter of retribution in the wake of financial or sexual misbehavior but as a matter of safeguarding the mission. The Church’s ability to preach the Gospel is severely compromised when churchmen lead dishonest lives. Integrity is one key to mission-eﬀectiveness in the evangelical Catholicism of the twenty-first century. (George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow of Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center. The Denver Catholic Register distributes his column.)

The cast of mind in the Roman Curia must be >> changed, so that the entire Curia thinks of itself as its many good people now do: as servants of the New Evangelization, not as the twenty-first century version of a papal court.

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MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made Father Patrick Serna Contributor

othing comes to us from a vacuum. Just as God used history and the Catholic Church to give us the Christian Bible as we know it today, so too God used history and the Catholic Church to give us the Nicene Creed that expresses the most fundamental beliefs about the Trinitarian God.

The Nicene Creed came about as a response by the Church in the Council of Nicea in 325 AD to the heresy being spread by Arius between 256-336 AD. In the early years of the Church when pursuit of the one true God and true teaching was of paramount importance to the literate world, disagreement on universal teaching at times led to a divided Christian Church. Rather than teach that The Word is the uncreated Son who is co-eternal with the Father, the heretic Arius preached that The Word was created and not co-eternal with God the Father Rather than teach that The Word is consubstantial with The Father, Arius also taught that The Word and God the Father were not of the same substance, not grounded to each other. Many saints spoke bluntly and harshly about Arius, on account of the way his false teachings were leading so many astray. Saint Jerome said that, “Hell belched, and out came the Arian heresy.” Saint Methodius gave praise to Saint Nicholas of Myra when he wrote, “thanks to the teaching of St. Nicholas the metropolis of Myra alone was untouched by the filth of the Arian heresy, which it firmly rejected as death-dealing poison.” It is safe to say that Arius and his heretical teachings were much scorned by the Church Fathers. The Council of Nicea sought to make universal and binding some of the fundamental beliefs about the Trinitarian God, over and against the errors of the Arian heresy.

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

God from God, True God from True God When we proclaim to believe in “God from God,” it is implicit that we are referring to “God the Son from God the Father.” In an earlier reflection, we looked at some of the attributes of God, and we know that God must be the eternal uncreated Principle Who creates. The reminder that God the Son is from God the Father sets up a boundary, disallowing us from letting God the Son be any “less” than God the Father. By definition, He who is God cannot be inferior to anything else, so “God from God” prevents the Son from being less than the Father, and it prevents the Father from being less than the Son. The New Testament is brimming with pericopes and passages that emphasize and highlight the closeness and unity between God the Son and God the Father. In John 10:30 Jesus tells us, “My Father and I are one.” In John 14:9 we are told, “He that hath seen me hath seen my Father.” In John 14:11 Jesus says, “I am in my Father and my Father in me.” In Matthew 11:27 our Lord tells us, “No man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son.” Arius’ insistence that the Son is NOT co-eternal with the Father is at odds with these and other pericopes from Holy Scripture, and therefore his claims should not be deemed as true. The symbol’s statement that the Son is God from God helps our intellects grasp the fact that the Son is not from outside of God the Father, rather, the Son belongs to the same essence as God the Father, which later helps us with the statement that the Son is consubstantial– of the same substance–with God the Father. Saint Thomas Aquinas explains the relationship of the Son to the Father this way: “The Word is the great God, and not inferior. The Word was with God from eternity, and not only in the beginning of creatures as Arius held, but with God.”

Light from Light Before the seventeenth century Dane Ole Rømer challenged the ancient belief that there is no speed of light, since light was instantaneous, the Church Fathers who attended the councils of Nicea and Constantinople believed www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

into existence through some form that light ON the sun and light touching of propogation. Not so with the the earth FROM the sun were one and the Son of God the Father. The Son is same light, with no succession of time with the eternal creator and maker who travelling light. makes but is not made. Saint Thomas Aquinas referred to light In John 1:1 we are told, “In the and its source in this way: “Brightness beginning was the Word…” This issues naturally and without succession Word being spoken of is the Son from a fire. If the fire were eternal, its of God, and Aquinas empathizes brightness would be coeternal with it. with those of us who are confused This is why the Son is called the brightOur Catholic with a beginning, which refers to ness of the Father, ‘the brightness of his Faith a beginning in eternity and not in glory’.” (Heb1:3) time. “We cannot understand this Explaining the procession of the Son as a human or angelic word, because from the Father as “light from light” made both these words have been made since man and angel have even more sense before Rømer’s important discovery a cause and principle of their existence and operation. This that light does not travel instantaneously. In the preWord was not made, since all things were made by it. The seventeenth century understanding, the instantaneous word about which John speaks here is the Word of God,” procession of light from the sun or any other source would Aquinas points out in his Commentary on John. of course be a perfect comparison to the eternal and instanThe real Saint Nicholas of Myra, who we now usually taneous procession of God the Son from God the Father, refer to as “Jolly Saint Nick,” was a staunch defender of without a prior moment of the Father before the Son. true teaching, and for that reason was a huge opponent Moreover, the Church Fathers in attendance at the of Arius and his heresy. councils of Nicea and ConstanArius was definitely on tinople were largely influenced Saint Nicholas’ short by neoplatonic philosophy, list, and he found out which frequently used referthe hard way one day ence to the sun and its light. after Bishop Nicholas The ancient Greek philosoI believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and knocked him out with a phers believed, in general, that earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord punch to the face. The the sun was eternal and that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father altercation put Bishits light was omnipresent in before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from op Nicholas in trouble an instantaneous manner, so true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father; with Church authority reference to Jesus as the rays of through Him all things were made. For us men and for our for about a year, and “light” coming from the source salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit he was reminded that of light, that is, the sun, makes was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our persuasion with reason total sense. sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death is to be preferred over and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance Begotten not made persuasion with a fist. with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at In the previous reflection While we should never the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to on Jesus as the only begotten take true teaching to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no Son of God, we understood the extreme of decking end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life, who that “When we talk about Jesomebody, it is good to proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father sus being begotten…He is not have some of Jolly Saint and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through begotten in time, but in eterNick’s zeal! the Prophets. I believe in one holy, Catholic, and apostolic nity. Even time is a creature (Editor’s Note: This is the created by God.” As humans, Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I fifth installment in a conwe only know of creatures or look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the tinuing series on the Nicene things that at one time did world to come. Amen. Creed.) not exist, and then they came

Nicene Creed

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MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

Reflecting on year-long study of consecrated life in Corpus Christi Sister Kathleen McDonagh, IWBS Columnist

ll communities of consecrated life share some elements that are necessary in order for the Church to recognize them as a community. However, individual communities also differ in regard to certain elements that give their communities the specific character that makes them who they are. For a group of persons to be recognized by the Church as a religious community, there are certain requirements set out in the Church’s Code of Canon Law. These include the fact that there must be a suﬃcient number of members to make it likely that this group will survive as a group over a prolonged period of years. In addition, the group must follow the decrees of Canon Law that are called for in every religious community. These include “members according to proper law pronounce public vows, either perpetual or temporary,

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

which are to be renewed when they have lapsed, and live a life in common as brothers or sisters,” (Can. 607, *2) Part 3 of the same canon requires “The public witness to be rendered by religious to Christ and to the Church entails a separation from the world proper to the character and purpose of each institute.” So, we have cloistered communities such as the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration known as the Pink Sisters for whom a “public witness to Christ and to the Church” entails a clear separation from the world. This physical separation, however, allows for the ongoing prayer of the cloistered sisters who pray continually for all, centering their activities around spiritual help for others. On the other hand, there are active sisters, more numerous than the contemplative sisters, such as the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and the Missionary Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary whose ministry shows itself in serving others through hospital work or through educating children or ministering to adults. In modern times, the types of active ministry have changed and developed. For many years, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-ofthe-Woods taught in schools in the Diocese of Corpus Christi as well as in other locations. Today, with changing times and changing numbers of vocations, only one Sister of Providence of

Saint Mary-of-the- Woods ministers in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament are described in their Constitution as somewhere between the active congregations and those that are cloistered. They are, therefore, called a contemplative/ apostolic community. They are called to pray to a certain degree in a way that is comparable to contemplatives, such as the Pink Sisters, while living out important aspects of the apostolic efforts of most of the other religious in the diocese. These sisters have to be aware always of the demands of the apostolic life while at the same time, taking more time for prayer than most religious institutes. Contemplative/active sisters are called to participate in daily Mass, a daily hour of contemplative prayer, elements of the Divine Office, plus private prayer at the choice of each sister. The result calls for an ongoing effort to balance out both the apostolic and the contemplative–sometimes difficult but not impossible. It is important, however, to remember that all religious communities are called to both prayer and apostolic endeavor. Where the emphasis is placed differs from community to community, but if a community neglects one totally in order to concentrate on the other, this community has lost its sense of perspective. The many congregations of sisters www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

It is important, however, to remember that all religious communities are called to both prayer and apostolic endeavor. Where the emphasis is placed diﬀers from community to community, but if a community neglects one totally in order to concentrate on the other, this community has lost its sense of perspective. in the Diocese of Corpus Christi who are described as active but who also have a deep prayer life include the Dominican Sisters of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Missionary Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary in Kingsville, the Pax Christi Sisters, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods, the Sisters of Saint Ann and the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. All of these take

the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, as do the more contemplative sisters, but they also spend a great deal of time in apostolic work in order to help others. And living in community with each other, sharing prayer and everyday life with each other is important to them. They see their apostolic endeavor as reaching out to bring God’s love to others–an endeavor that is supported by their prayer life so that success in

the apostolic endeavor can be recognized as the fruit of prayer. The spiritual life and active ministry then of most of the religious congregations in the Diocese of Corpus Christi go hand-in-hand. Where the emphasis goes depends on each congregation but all are called to prayer and to action to help others. To this call, they endeavor to respond whole-heartedly and with great love.

MAY LITURGICAL CALENDAR May 1 Wed Easter Weekday white/ white [Saint Joseph the Worker] Acts 15:1-6/Jn 15:1-8 (287) or, for the Memorial, Gn 1:26—2:3 or | Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24/Mt 13:54-58* (559)

Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23/Lk 24:46-53 (58) Pss Prop

May 2 Thu Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church white | Memorial | Acts 15:7-21/Jn 15:9-11 (288)

May 11 Sat Easter Weekday white | Acts 18:23-28/Jn 16:23b-28 (296)

May 3 Fri Saints Philip and James, Apostles red | Feast | 1 Cor 15:1-8/Jn 14:6-14 (561) Pss Prop May 4 Sat Easter Weekday white | Acts 16:1-10/Jn 15:18-21 (290) May 5 SUN SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER10 | white | Acts 15:1-2, 22-29/Rv 21:10-14, 22-23/Jn 14:23-29 (57) Pss II May 6 Mon Easter Weekday white | Acts 16:11-15/Jn 15:26—16:4a (291)

May 10 Fri Easter Weekday white/ white [Saint Damien de Veuster, Priest] Acts 18:9-18/Jn 16:20-23 (295)

May 12 SUN SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER12 white | Acts 7:55-60/Rv 22:12-14, 16-17, 20/Jn 17:20-26 (61) Pss III May 13 Mon Easter Weekday white/ white [Our Lady of Fatima] Acts 19:1-8/ Jn 16:29-33 (297) May 14 Tue Saint Matthias, Apostle red | Feast | Acts 1:15-17, 20-26/Jn 15:9-17 (564) Pss Prop

May 7 Tue Easter Weekday white | Acts 16:22-34/Jn 16:5-11 (292)

May 15 Wed Easter Weekday white/ white [Saint Isidore] Acts 20:28-38/Jn 17:11b-19 (299)

May 8 Wed Easter Weekday white | Acts 17:15, 22—18:1/Jn 16:12-15 (293)

May 16 Thu Easter Weekday white | Acts 22:30; 23:6-11/Jn 17:20-26 (300)

May 9 Thu The Ascension of the Lord11 | white | Solemnity [Holyday of Obligation] Acts 1:1-11/Eph 1:17-23 or

May 17 Fri Easter Weekday white | Acts 25:13b-21/Jn 21:15-19 (301) May 18 Sat Easter Weekday white/

red [Saint John I, Pope and Martyr] | Morning: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31/Jn 21:20-25 (302) May 19 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) | Extended Vigil: Gn 11:1-9/Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b/Ez 37:1-14/Jl 3:1-5/Rom 8:2227/Jn 7:37-39 (62) | Day: Acts 2:1-11/1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Rom 8:8-17/Jn 20:19-23 or Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26 (63) Pss Prop May 20 Mon Weekday (Seventh Week in Ordinary Time) green/white [Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest] Sir 1:1-10/ Mk 9:14-29 (341) Pss III May 21 Tue Weekday green/red [Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs] | Sir 2:1-11/Mk 9:30-37 (342) May 22 Wed Weekday green/white [Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious] | Sir 4:11-19/Mk 9:38-40 (343) May 23 Thu Weekday green | Sir 5:18/Mk 9:41-50 (344)

May 24 Fri Weekday green | Sir 6:517/Mk 10:1-12 (345 May 25 Sat Weekday green/white/ white/white/white [Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest and Doctor of the Church; Saint Gregory VII, Pope; Saint Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi, Virgin; BVM] Sir 17:1-15/Mk 10:13-16 (346) May 26 SUN THE MOST HOLY TRINITY white | Solemnity | Prv 8:22-31/ Rom 5:1-5/Jn 16:12-15 (166) Pss Prop May 27 Mon Weekday (Eighth Week in Ordinary Time) green/white [Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop] | Sir 17:20-24/Mk 10:17-27 (347) Pss IV May 28 Tue Weekday green | Sir 35:112/Mk 10:28-31 (348) May 29 Wed Weekday green | Sir 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17/Mk 10:32-45 (349) May 30 Thu Weekday green | Sir 42:15-25/Mk 10:46-52 (350) May 31 Fri The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary white | Feast | Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16/Lk 1:3956 (572) Pss Prop

10 When the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on the following Sunday, the second reading and Gospel from the Seventh Sunday of Easter (see no. 61) may be read on the Sixth Sunday of Easter. 11 Regarding the Ascension of the Lord, the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia have retained its celebration on the proper Thursday, while all other provinces have transferred this Solemnity to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 12. If transferred, Thursday, May 9, is observed as an Easter Weekday. The following readings are used: Acts 18:1-8/Jn 16:16-20 (294). 12 In those places where the observance of the Ascension of the Lord has been transferred to this day, the Mass and readings of the Ascension are used: Acts 1:1-11/Eph 1:17-23 or Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23/Lk 24:46-53 (58)

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MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

MAY CALENDAR

Women’s Silent Retreat On May 2 beginning on Thursday, at 5 p.m. - Sunday 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center on 1200 Lantana in Corpus Christi. For more information visit www.deepprayer.org or call (361) 289-9095, ext. 321.

Conﬁrmations Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 3, at 6:30 p.m. Sacred Heart – Rockport; Our Lady of Guadalupe – Sinton; Holy Family – Taft; St. Mary, Star of the Sea –Aransas Pass; and St. Michael the Archangel – Banquete.

Spring Fiesta/Trail Ride On May 4, Immaculate Conception Church in Concepcion will have their 1st Ever Spring Fiesta/Trail Ride from 12 p.m. - 12 a.m. There will be live music and street dancing featuring Art and Bottom Creek Band, Conjunto Temblor, Grupo Amantes and DJ’s. There will be live entertainment featuring dancing by Grupo de Danza (La Guadalupana), a special performance by Amanda Lee and the Premont Mariachi. There will be food, a variety of booths, games, a train ride for children and much more. No coolers please. Admission is free.

Thomas the Apostle – Calallen; and St. Andrew by the Sea – Corpus Christi.

Theology on Tap

Conﬁrmations

There will be a Theology on Tap on Tuesday, May 7, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Carino’s Italian Restaurant located at 1652 SPID in Corpus Christi. Hear guest speaker Tim Legamaro, President of Legamaro Financial Services, give ﬁnancial advice for young adults from a Catholic perspective. Dinner will be provided. For more information, contact Adam Koll at akoll@diocesecc.org.

Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 18, at 10 a.m. Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Corpus Christi and Saints Cyril & Methodius - Corpus Christi.

Conﬁrmations Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 8, at 6:30 p.m. Most Precious Blood – Corpus Christi and Our Lady of Guadalupe – Alice.

Cathedral Concert Series presents The Rose Ensemble On May 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Corpus Christi Cathedral. Experience the divine season 29 of the Cathedral Concert Series, The Rose Ensemble. No charge. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For VIP Membership passes or more information call (361) 888-7444.

World Youth Day Gathering There will be a World Youth Day Spiritual Gathering on May 19 from 4-6 p.m. at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles in Corpus Christi. For more information, contact the Youth Ministry Oﬃce at (361) 882-6191.

BBQ Chicken Fundraiser Nuestra Senora de San Juna de los Lagos, Madre de la Iglesia, on 1755 Frio St., will be having a Barbecue Chicken fundraiser on May 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tickets donations are $8 per plate (served with all the trimmings.) For more information call (361) 852-0249.

Conﬁrmations Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 19, at 3 p.m. Corpus Christi Cathedral; St. Pius X – Corpus Christi; Our Lady of Refuge – Refugio; and Sacred Heart- Odem.

Classes at OLPH

Youth Minister Meeting

Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 4, at 10 a.m. St. Gertrudes –Kingsville; St. Joseph –Kingsville; Our Lady of Good Counsel –Kingsville; Nuestra Sra. De San Juan; Our Lady of Consolation –Vattman; St. Elizabeth –Alice; and St. Theresa – Corpus Christi.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish holds monthly classes entitled “A Covenant of Love with Mary” in the Parish Hall. Mass begins at 6:15 p.m., followed by a video and talk at 6:45 p.m. and a light dinner and celebration. The next class is on Monday, May 13.

There will be a Quarterly Youth Minister Meeting on May 22 and May 25 at the Chancery from 1-3:30 p.m. For more information, please contact the Youth Ministry Oﬃce at (361) 882-6191.

Cinco De Mayo Fiesta

Global Living Rosary

St. Paul the Apostle Youth Ministry will have their 1st Annual Cinco De Mayo Fiesta on Saturday, May 4 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall on 2233 Waldron Rd. There will be dinner and a live auction. $10 per person. Please RSVP: (361) 937-5875.

On May 13 at 7 p.m. in the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel on Our Lady of Corpus Christi Campus on 1200 Lantana. For more information call (361) 289-9095, ext. 321.

Help Feed the Homeless On May 5 , join the Cursillo Movement to Help Feed the Homeless at 8 a.m. at Mother Theresa Shelter, located at 513 Sam Rankin in Corpus Christi, Texas.

On May 16, beginning on Thursday, at 5 p.m. - Sunday 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center on 1200 Lantana in Corpus Christi. For more information visit www.deepprayer.org or call (361) 289-9095, ext. 321.

Conﬁrmations

Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 5, at 3 p.m. Holy Family – Corpus Christi; St. Anthony – Robstown; Christ the

Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 17, at 6:30 p.m. Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Portland; St. Patrick – Corpus Christi; St.

Conﬁrmations

King - Corpus Christi; and St. Therese – Woodsboro.

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013

Men’s Silent Retreat

Cursillo de hombres Cursillo de hombres se celebrará del 23 al 26 de Mayo en el Corpus Christi Cursillo Center localizado en el 1200 Lantana en Corpus Christi. Para obtener más información, llame al America Lopez, Vocal del Pre-Cursillo- mujeres, al (361) 592-1927 o envia correro electrónico a americalopez@yahoo.com. Hacer un amigo, ser un amigo, y traer a un amigo a Cristo.

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MAY 2013 | SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC

May 2013 Issue SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC P.O. Box 2620 Corpus Christi, TX 78403 (361) 882-6191

SOUTH TEX AS CATHOLIC | MAY 2013