Oct. 2017 - Vol.52 No.9

SERVING THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

South Texas

Catholic

W W W . S O U T H T E X A S C A T H O L I C . C O M • O C T O B E R 2 0 17

2  South Texas Catholic | October 2017

ON THE

VOL. 52 NO. 9

COVER

19

Publisher Bishop Michael Mulvey, STL DD

The Blessed Mother and baby Jesus held watch over St. Peter Church in Fulton, while Hurricane Harvey destroyed the building, rectory and grounds, it did not make a dent on its parishioners, who are anxious to rebuild.

Alfredo E. Cárdenas, South Texas Catholic

Editor Alfredo E. Cárdenas ACardenas@diocesecc.org Theological Consultant Ben Nguyen, JD/JCL. BNguyen@diocesecc.org Editorial Staff Mary E. Cottingham MCottingham@diocesecc.org Adel Rivera ARivera@diocesecc.org Madelyn Calvert MCalvert@diocesecc.org Correspondents Luisa Buttler, Rebecca Esparza, Jessica Morrison, Emily Priolo, Luisa Scolari, Beth Wilson, Dayna Mazzei Worchel

Manage Subscriptions 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 To subscribe, unsubscribe or submit a change of address go online at www.southtexascatholic.com/subscribe.

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of Knights of Columbus from across the country poured into the 26 Hundreds Diocese of Corpus Christi to lend a hand in the recovery from Hurricane Harvey.

INSIDE 4 VIEWPOINTS When we are silent

CATÓLICA 29 VIDA Su revista esta dispuesta

VOCATIONS 8 Seeking holiness is the key to

NATIONAL NEWS 31 Did this Spanish nun bi-locate to

only God is present

discerning God’s will for us

a servirle a lo máximo

Texas? Vatican aims to find out

THE VATICAN NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE 13 October 33 is the Month of the Pope hopes President Trump Rosary, here’s why we should pray it

NEWS BRIEFS 16 Annual Celebration for Life rescheduled for Oct. 17

will ‘rethink’ DACA decision

FAITH 35 OUR Invite a friend to Mass,

he or she may just say ‘sure’

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 3

†† VIEWPOINTS

Most Reverend Michael Mulvey is bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

When we are silent only God is present Bishop Michael Mulvey

O

South Texas Catholic

n the afternoon of Aug. 25, around five o’clock, the power went out, the lights went out and everything became silent.

The only noise was the elements of God’s creation: the wind, the rain and the rustling trees. The storm had begun.

Hurricane Harvey was on his way.

In the silence of those hours, many things filled our minds; worries, future plans, projects in the making, memories of the past, fears about economic stability and, above all, concerns for family and friends.

In the light of those dark moments a person of faith realizes that only God is present in the silence. Even though we may be surrounded with friends and family, inside our hearts and minds turn to one reality and that is God. One question in our society today is “does silence have any value?” Already with our efforts to rebuild, to encourage one another and to allow our faith and hope to be strengthened, there is also an opportunity for us to look at and appreciate the value of silence in our life.

We will rebound, we will help one another, we will rebuild, we will comfort the anxieties and fears of one another, but I would encourage all of us not to lose this opportunity to evaluate the gift of silence in our lives. When we are silent God’s presence is almost tangible. When we

are silent all of our activities, hopes, desires and relationships are put into perspective.

The hours and the days that we lived together during Hurricane Harvey bring all of this to light, if even for a brief moment. The Book of Ecclesiastes reminded us “vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! (ECCL 1:1-2).” Only God remains. Only God is eternal. For me, this again was the lesson of the days of Harvey.

As I travel around the diocese and meet people that one thought continues to echo in my mind. We need to help one another. We need to gather together to support one another. Pray together. Have faith together. Remembering, however, that in the end only God is eternal.

My dear brothers and sisters in the Diocese Corpus Christi let us work together to rebuild our lives and the lives of our neighbors and friends. Let us work to rebuild our communities and neighborhoods and our parishes, and let us be courageous to rebuild what is inside, what is eternal. May our love for God abound. We are reminded in Psalm 62 that God’s exclusive presence is in the silence of each person’s life.

God bless you as we journey the future together to rebuild both what is exterior and what is interior: God’s love for us and our love for God. I am praying for you and your families. Please know that you are constantly in my prayers and thoughts.

➤We need to help one another. We need to gather together to support one another. Pray together. Have faith together. Remembering, however, that in the end only God is eternal.

4 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

✝ Bookmark our Web site to keep up to date on all the happenings in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

• St. Pius Scouts help brother scouts recover

• Beeville college students get Newman Center

• School gets tuition assistance for displaced families

• Parish celebrates novena for patron’s feast day

• Gala helps raise needed funds for The Ark

• IWA hosts Care of Creation Environmental Expo

• Portland parish gets new pastor

• In Memoriam: Sister Helen Dolores Losleben

• St. Pius X School celebrates Grandparents Day

• Newman Center hosts ‘Pasta with a Priest’

• OLPH Casino Night to benefit ‘Fill Every Desk’ campaign

• V Encuentro diocesano es este sábado

• Students participate in hurricane relief efforts

• Where is autumn in your Spiritual Life?

• JPII accepts students displaced

by Hurricane

• In Memoriam: Sister Richard Bussing, 95

• Centurions open Bishop Carmody Field with a win

• Volunteers unload truckloads of donated supplies

• IWA accepting displaced coastal bend students

• Diocese begins recovery from Hurricane Harvey

• Sacred Heart students can enroll in other Catholic Schools

• Tiny Texas stays tough

• School personnel get Safe Environment training

• Our Lady of Consolation remembers Father Antony • Cathedral choirs conducting talent search • Bishop Mulvey names new deans • St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles celebrates 50 years • St. Paul the Apostle begins next half century with facelift

All Services FREE: • Pregnancy Test • Limited Ultrasound • Baby Supplies • Parenting Classes • Adoption Information • Abortion Recovery Classes

Corpus Christi

Pregnancy

Resource Center

4730 Everhart Rd

361.991.2008 www.ccpregnancy.org

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 5

†† VIEWPOINTS

Headlines from southtexascatholic.com

Corpus Christi

Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference

and Pilgrimage Bishop Michael Mulvey

invites YOU to join him on an 11-Day pilgrimage to Ireland!

Please visit...

6  South Texas Catholic | October 2017

SECOND COLLECTION REPORTING Amounts recieved through August 31, 2017

PETER'S PENCE COLLECTION

CHURCH IN AFRICA

TOTAL ALICE DEANERY:

0.00 112.50 0.00 280.00 100.00 150.00 540.00 0.00 501.06 369.65 0.00 2,053.21

0.00 0.00 0.00 502.82 171.00 332.72 413.00 36.00 576.35 180.45 0.00 2,212.34

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

0.00 85.00 53.00 87.00 252.81 341.00 102.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 603.05 0.00 0.00 231.50 0.00 80.00 1,835.36

0.00 119.00 0.00 109.00 302.26 452.00 58.00 0.00 51.00 0.00 0.00 224.25 491.43 0.00 22.00 55.03 1,883.97

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

0.00 0.00 167.00 0.00 735.00 0.00 290.00 0.00 1,528.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,720.00

0.00 0.00 144.00 0.00 519.00 175.30 301.00 0.00 3,240.00 0.00 661.75 20.55 5,061.60

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

0.00 40.00 136.00 3,248.58 150.00 221.50 290.00 123.01 4,209.09

750.00 0.00 169.00 2,821.08 276.00 283.09 2,017.08 0.00 6,316.25

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

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 7

SECOND COLLECTION REPORTING Amounts recieved through August 31, 2017

PETER'S PENCE COLLECTION

CHURCH IN AFRICA

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

500.00 2,747.66 831.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 225.00 1,910.81 311.00 6,525.47

500.00 797.00 665.48 0.00 0.00 0.00 225.00 0.00 705.25 2,892.73

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

181.00 0.00 476.00 0.00 354.00 2,092.34 0.00 3,103.34

320.00 457.00 386.45 498.00 332.00 0.00 484.68 2,478.13

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

0.00 1,155.00 0.00 151.00 0.00 605.80 0.00 0.00 1,072.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 117.00 0.00 3,100.85

0.00 1,144.00 0.00 91.00 5.00 1,094.45 881.58 0.00 1,291.25 0.00 0.00 313.00 0.00 92.00 0.00 4,912.28

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

0.00 657.52 266.65 0.00 0.00 378.31 775.00 444.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 181.13 69.00 684.14 149.00 0.00 163.01 368.00 4,135.76

0.00 611.52 0.00 164.63 0.00 436.00 785.00 480.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 347.00 29.00 1,208.93 181.00 0.00 150.80 259.00 4,652.88

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

27,683.08

30,410.18

OTHERS MISCELLANEOUS TOTAL FOR DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

8  South Texas Catholic | October 2017

TOTAL OTHERS:

Father Romeo Salinas

S Contributor

eeking holiness is the key to discerning God’s will for us; to discovering the road in life the Lord has planned for us—our vocation; and to achieving and remaining in a state of grace, which allows us to do the will of God with joy, great peace and contentment. We all share the duty to help one another seek holiness.

One might ask, “How can we do this?” The answer is so wonderfully simple. We help others find this gift of holiness, the ability and willingness to do God’s will, by allowing God’s love to enter our hearts. We want to love with God’s love not human love.

When we help others reach a state of grace, to model the behavior that our Lord has taught us and bring conversion and open hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, then we are ready to hear Jesus share with us our vocation whether it be marriage, the religious life, priesthood or the single life. All vocations call us to follow God’s will and do his work in our daily lives.

Parents, priests, parishioners, youth and the elderly are all important in this quest for holiness. They can be positive influences in teaching others how to find holiness. They can teach us to pray with the heart; to ask the angels and saints for assistance; to consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary; and to pray without ceasing.

Five basic practices put us on the path to holiness. These include: prayer, specially the rosary; the Eucharist, Mass and Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar; reading the Bible; receiving the sacrament of

penance; and fasting and making little sacrifices to make our prayers stronger.

Prayer and the rosary

Prayer is the means by which we obtain the gift of peace from God. Prayer gives us a sense of intimacy with the Lord and with the Blessed Mother. The rosary gives us signal graces; brings about miracles in the world and in our own lives; causes good works to flourish; obtains for us the abundant mercy of God; and draws us away from worldly things to the desire of eternal things.

Though we may not always have the time to pray a rosary, there are so many short prayers of the saints that bring us great strength. St. Therese of Lisieux’s life can be made into a prayer, “I will do God’s will and be what he wants me to be.” The Fatima Sacrifice Prayer, “Oh my Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” St. Teresa of Calcutta recommended that when stressed, one could pray, “Mary, Mother of God, please be a mother to me now.” St. Faustina’s prayerful words from the Chaplet of Mercy, “Jesus, I trust in you.”

Many of us may also start each day with the plea, “St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.”

We must do as St. Augustine reminds us: “Work as if everything depended on you, and pray as if everything depended on God.”

Eucharist, Mass and Adoration Because we are truly in the presence of God during the Mass, it is a union of heaven and earth. We need to live and experience the holy October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 9

†† VOCATIONS

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

Seeking holiness is the key to discerning God’s will for us

†† VOCATIONS

Mass and open our hearts to receive with great joy the graces that Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar bring.

St. John Chrysostom held that, “When the Eucharist is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar.” St. Augustine followed this sentiment closely when he affirmed “the angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.” St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina confirmed that there is no greater prayer than the holy Mass, declaring that, “It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without holy Mass.”

Reading the Bible

When studied diligently, the Bible provides answers to questions about life. It is God’s word. It feeds us. It is good for the family to pray and read the Bible together in the community of their home, for it mirrors the community of the Church. One can read a few verses of the Bible in the morning, and then live those verses throughout the day. The Holy Spirit will guide whoever reads sacred Scripture regularly.

Receiving the sacrament of penance monthly

Just as those who suffered the ravages of Hurricane Harvey must physically clean or even rebuild their damaged homes; the sacrament of confession helps us to spiritually clean and purify our hearts and to begin anew. Jesus said to St. Faustina that “Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in my mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of my grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I myself am waiting there for you.”

Fasting and making little sacrifices

Fasting is the intentional absence of food for a period of time. When we fast, we are willingly denying ourselves sustenance that gives life. By fasting, we are making a sacrifice and offering it to God. By combining prayer and fasting, we increase the efficacy of our prayers. Prayer and fasting allow us to put God in the first place in our lives; help us remain in a state of grace; and help us along the path to holiness.

The things of the world are temporary; they fade and are gone; but conversion and salvation last forever. Seeking holiness puts us on the road to conversion and salvation by helping us achieve a state of grace, which in turn, helps us discover our vocation and embrace that vocation with joy, cooperativeness and oneness with God. As Venerable Mother Julia Navarette would always say, “Lo que quiere Dios, yo lo quiero.” (What God wants, I want.)

10 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

25th Annual

Join us as we celebrate the

KNIGHT S

O F C O L U M BUS IN SERVICE TO ONE. IN SERVICE TO ALL.

Clergy and Religious Appreciation Banquet Thursday, Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m.

at the

Richard M. Borchard Fairground 1213 TERRY SHAMSIE BLVD., ROBSTOWN, TX 78380

Help us make this event a success!

THE CORPUS CHRISTI AREA CHAPTER NEEDS YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: • Consider purchasing an ad in the event program.

• Consider the purchase of a table of 10 people ($600) to include your pastor and other parish clergy.

• Individual tickets are available for $60 a person.

For more information contact Bo Rimar at arimarjr@stx.rr.com or call (210) 379-2705. To download the registration form and the advertisment form for the event program go to:

www.corpuschristikofc.com

†† VOCATIONS

Could God be calling you?

Sister Gloria Rodriguez, MJMJ Sister Gloria Rodriguez, MJMJ is the director of the Office of Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

W Contributor

e all have heard the saying “everyone has a mission in life.” That mission is called a vocation. Vocations are not only essential to the life of the Church; they belong to the Church. Vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life highlight the call of the Church to be servants.

I have encountered a number of women who said to me, “When I was young, I considered a vocation to religious life, but never followed through. I now wonder what my life would have been like.” Most of them did not regret their marriage or children, or having remained single, but the question persisted in their minds.

Women who have answered the call to consecrated life have one common ingredient to their story. Somewhere along the way they encountered Christ and he touched their hearts.

God calls some women to religious life as children. They have awareness beyond their years that they want to be sisters even though there is no real discernment yet. Others begin their search during their teenage years, and still others are caught by surprise when the thought of becoming a sister enters their mind. In Scripture we find God calling people at different ages and times of their life. God called Samuel as a young boy. Jeremiah was perhaps a teenager, as were Mary and the apostles Andrew and John. Peter was an older married man. God calls those whom God chooses when God wills.

The religious women who serve in the Diocese of Corpus Christi are diverse

communities; both in their charism of committed religious as well as their ethnicity.

Most communities engage in external apostolates, reaching out daily to the poor, the sick, the homeless, the imprisoned, children, youth and young adults, the elderly, victims of domestic violence and in many other ways.

These communities minister in a multitude of ways.

There is one contemplative community of nuns; prayer is their primary focus. These nuns are the “palanca” (the lever) that supports all ministries in the diocese.

We are also blessed to have sisters from different countries including India, Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, Latin America, Ireland, Africa, Spain, Germany and the United States.

Today God continues to touch hearts and invites women and men to follow Jesus in a radical way by giving their entire selves to him in order that the Church (the Body of Christ) may be served in many ways. Our world needs Christ’s healing touch, especially in the poor and suffering. This invitation requires a response that can only be done through prayer and discernment.

Discernment is a way of figuring out a direction for your life, whether you are called to the married life, single life or religious life. I invite women who find the stirrings of the Holy Spirit in them to join our diocesan discernment group with other women that are also searching where God is calling them.

You will get to meet sisters that will help you on your journey to discover God’s will for your life.

For more information call the Office of Consecrated Life at (361) 882-6191.

➤Today God continues to touch hearts and invites women and men to follow Jesus in a radical way by giving their entire selves to him in order that the Church (the Body of Christ) may be served in the many ways.

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 11

Oktoberfest St. Anthony’s Church “Violet”

3918 County Rd. 61 (off Highway 44)

66th Annual

CHICKEN BAR-B-QUE

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

If you or someone you know is in need of such services, call Stephanie Bonilla, Director of the Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources at: (361) 693-6686 (office) or (361) 658-8652 (cell) for immediate assistance.

Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources

OCTOBER 15, 2017

Dine-In & Plates to Go Bar-B-Que Dinner & Trimmings Serving 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Donation $9.00 per plate For information call the parish office @

(361) 387-4434

All proceeds will be used for Church Repairs: Country Store, Children’s Games, White Elephant Booth, Clown Face Painting and Moonwalk Live Auction at 1 p.m., Drawing for Gift Certificate Visit our Historic Church/Museum Built in 1910

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

1222 Morgan at 10th Corpus Christi, TX 78404

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CATHOLIC Programming on RADIO, TV and INTERNET Cathedral Sunday Mass - LIVE BROADCAST at 9:30 a.m.

KLUX-HD 89.5, KLUX.ORG AND KDF-TV (cable subscribers should consult their cable guide)

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Internet Podcasts & video at GoCCN.org:

Cathedral Sunday Mass, La Santa Misa, Our Shepherd’s View, Simmillas De Experanza, Labors of Love, and Con Permiso

For H-D Radio Information: KLUX.org

Emily Priolo

M Correspondent

ost Catholics know how to pray the rosary, but for many, this Marian prayer is more of an occasional form of prayer rather than a staple of their prayer life. Father James Kelleher, SOLT, wants to change that. With a love of the rosary that was

taught to him as a child by his parents, Father Kelleher’s life is now devoted to reinvigorating this form of prayer within the Church.

Since 2005, Father Kelleher has been giving talks all across the country about the beauty and power of the Rosary, as well as leading Global Living Rosaries all over the world. He explains

Father Kelleher helps a young Irish boy pray the rosary during a Global Living Rosary.

Contributed photo October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 13

†† NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

October is the Month of the Rosary, here’s why we should pray it

✝ NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

that this prayer should be a part of every Catholic’s prayer life, and points to St. John Paul II, Our Lady of Fatima and St. Pio of Pietrelcina, perhaps better known as Padre Pio, to illustrate the importance of the rosary in Catholic life.

“St. John Paul II…said that the Rosary was his favorite prayer because with it, you contemplate the life and face of Jesus through the eyes of Mary,” Father Kelleher said. “Not only do we pray through her vision, but through her intercession.

When you and I are praying in the Hail Mary, ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,’ she is actually praying with us. Mary was preserved in perfect grace from sin, and she is completely united with God, so when she prays for us, she has perfect intercession.”

He illustrates the point thus, “When we pray, we receive grace. But when we ask for Mary’s intercession, and she prays for us, there is 1,000 times the grace!”

Pope John Paul II had such a devotion to the rosary that, in October 2002, he wrote the apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae (The Rosary of the Virgin Mary), to announce that the 2002-03 liturgical year would be declared “The Year of the Rosary,” as well as announcing the introduction of the Luminous Mysteries to the rosary.

“John Paul II loved scripture,” Father Kelleher said, “and the rosary is a very scriptural prayer.”

In fact the first part of the Hail Mary comes directly from the Gospel of Luke: the angel Gabriel declares, “Hail favored one! The Lord is with you (Lk 1:28)!”

And then Mary’s cousin Elizabeth cries out “Most blessed are you among women,

14 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

and blessed is the fruit of your womb (Lk 1:42).”

Father Kelleher explains that while the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries are also scriptural and follow the life of Christ, the Luminous Mysteries are special in that they cover Christ’s public ministry. He says, “In the Luminous Mysteries, we meditate on Christ’s work in the world, and as we pray these mysteries, we pray to let the life of the Holy Spirit illuminate our life.”

“As we pray in the Our Father, ‘thy will be done,’ we pray that, like Christ, we may follow God’s will, for that is our call to holiness,” Father Kelleher said.

The rosary is not only an important prayer for meditating on our personal lives, however. As Our Lady of Fatima teaches the Church, the rosary is an indispensable part of its mission to bring about peace in the world.

Between the months of May and October 1917, in Fatima, Portugal, the Mother of God appeared to three shepherd children in a series of glorious visions. Father Kelleher makes a point to recognize that “[Mary] could have appeared to someone older—to teens or adults—but she chose to appear to children: Lucia who was 10, Francisco who was eight, and Jacinta who was only seven.”

“And when Our Mother appeared to them, she told them, ‘Pray the rosary everyday for peace in the world and for this war to come to a quick end’,” Father Kelleher said. “Keep in mind, more than one million men had been killed [in World War I] before the apparitions… and so, it was perhaps the rosaries of those small children in Fatima which

helped bring about the end of the war one year later.”

At her last apparition, Mary told the three children that she was to be known as Our Lady of the Rosary; she desired to be known by the power of her intercession in that holy prayer. As Father Kelleher points out, “She called for rosaries to be said to bring about world peace, and it seems that, especially today, we should continue to pray the rosary for that peace.”

Father Kelleher adds another saint to his list of advocates for the Rosary: Padre Pio. “He was the greatest confessor of the 20th century!” Father Kelleher said.

“Padre Pio would hear confessions for 12 hours a day, and the Holy Spirit had given him the gift of reading souls.” This gift allowed Padre Pio to be able to know and reveal the mortal sins of a penitent who came to confession without remembering or confessing all of his mortal sins.

“So how did he get that gift?” Father Kelleher asks. “First, he was totally in love with Jesus in the Eucharist, and preferred to celebrate Mass for two or three hours if he could. But secondly, Padre Pio loved Our Lady in the Rosary.

In fact, he would pray 10 rosaries a day while hearing confessions. He called the rosary his ‘spiritual weapon’.”

Pope John Paul II, Our Lady of Fatima and Padre Pio stand as holy role models in a particular way during this month of the rosary. Whether the rosary is prayed for Mary’s intercession for something great like world peace or something small in the life of the believer, the words of Padre Pio assures with confidence that “With it, you will win.”

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†† NEWS BRIEFS

Charismatic movement celebrates 50 years For the good of the people of God in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Bishop Michael Mulvey has appointed Father Ignatius C. Nwankwocha parochial administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Sinton and St. Paul Mission in St. Paul. The appointment became effective on Sept. 11 Father Ignatius C. and is for an indefinte period Nwankwocha of time.

Father Nwankwocha came from the Archdiocese of Onitsha in Nigeria.

Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana will be the keynote speaker at a Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference to be held at Most Precious Blood Church on Oct. 7 from 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. The conference marks the 50th jubilee of the Charismatic movement in the United States.

Bishop Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi will open the conference with the celebration of Mass. For the

first time the conference will feature a youth tract and concert.

Tickets are available from parish prayer groups in the Bishop Sam G. Jacobs diocese and will be available at the door for $20.

Registration is also available online at CCR-CorpusChristi.org.

Annual Celebration for Life rescheduled for Oct. 17

Ramona Trevino

The 28th Annual Celebration for Life, originally scheduled for Sept. 7 has been rescheduled for Oct. 17 on account of Hurricane Harvey. The annual event benefits Birthright, Corpus Christi Hope House and the Gabriel Project.

This year’s celebration will begin at 7 p.m. at Mansion Royal in Corpus Christi. Pro-life activist Ramona Trevino, former manager of the Planned Parenthood referral facility in Sherman, Texas, will

provide the keynote address. Her resignation in 2011 led to the clinic’s closure.

Inspired by a Christian radio station and 40 Days for Life, Trevino resigned her position with Planned Parenthood and “reclaimed her walk with God.” She is a native of Trenton, Texas and is now sharing the story of her pro-life conversion.

General admission is $60 and $50 for seniors and students. For more information call (361) 852-2273.

Workshop for cantors and leaders of song “Singing the Rite Words - A Workshop for Cantors and Leaders of Song” will be held on Oct. 28 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish in Beeville; Nov. 4 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at St. Philip the Apostle in Corpus Christi; Nov. 4 from 2-5 p.m. at Corpus Christi Cathedral; and Nov. 6 from 7-9 p.m. at St. Gertrude in Kingsville. Presented

by Lee Gwozdz, Director of Music for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, this workshop will focus on

introductory materials and skills for people who are cantors and leaders of song in their parish.

The workshop will be of value to those who are beginning to serve in the role of cantor, as well as those who have had some experience. There is no charge for the workshop, due to a generous grant from the Kenedy Memorial Foundation. For more information visit the Diocese of Corpus Christi website diocesecc.org/singingtheritewords.

In Memoriam: Sister Richard Bussing, 95

Sister Richard Bussing

Sister Richard Bussing, 95, died on Sept. 5, in Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She taught at St. John School in Robstown from 1955-59 and1966-68.

Sister was born on Jan. 10, 1922 in Brazil, Indiana to Sylvester and Agnes Klein Bussing and was baptized Dorothy Ann. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence on Jan. 6, 1940 and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1948. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Of her 77 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered

16 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

Lee Gwozdz

for 35 years teaching in elementary schools in Illinois, North Carolina, California and Texas. In 1977 she retired from teaching and gave five years of service as a driver at the motherhouse. She then moved to Missoula, Montana and ministered as a caregiver to the elderly and for a few years served as a pastoral associate at a local parish.

In 2004, she returned to the motherhouse and shared her many talents with the community there. Beginning in 2016, she committed herself totally to the ministry of prayer.

Sister Helen Dolores Losleben

Sister Helen Dolores Losleben, who taught at St. John School in Robstown from 1979-84, died on Sept. 12 in Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She was born in Anaheim, California on Feb. 15 to George and Ida Kaiser Losleben and was baptized Helen Marie.

Sister Helen entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence on July 16, 1939 and professed Final Vows on Jan. 23, 1948. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree from De Paul University.

In her 78 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 54 years in schools in Illinois, California and Texas. For 22 of these years, she served as principal.

She retired from teaching in 1987 but remained in California serving first as school secretary and then as a volunteer in several education-related projects. In 2002 she moved to the Motherhouse where she served as Activity Department staff. She was active until just a few months before she died.

Parish celebrates novena for patron’s feast day In preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Consolation on Sept. 16, the parish baring her name in Vattmann celebrated a novena with speakers for each day of the novena, culminating with the Vicar General of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Father James Stembler, celebrating Mass on the feast day. Father Stembler’s homily was on “Our Lady of Consolation: A Role Model for us to be Comforters and Consolers.”

Each day of the Novena included Mass with a special homily topic and a special intention of parishioners.

The novena began on Sept. 8 with Father Peter Thenan’s homily “Marian Virtues, Humility & Obedience in Our Endeavor to Holiness.” The following day, Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmody spoke on the “Relevance of Marian Feasts in Our Spiritual Journey.” On Sunday, Sept. 10, Father Paul Waldie, OMI gave a homily on “Blessed Virgin Mary’s Fatima Apparition and its Message for Us Today.” On Monday, Father Jose Naul Ordonez preached on “Blessed Virgin Mary’s Approach Towards Human Suffering with Hope (Seven Sorrows of Mary).”

On Tuesday, Sept 12, Msgr. James Harris preached on “Blessed Virgin Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth and the Message of Magnificat for us Today.” On Wednesday, Sept 13, the topic of Father Christopher Becerra’s homily was “Blessed Virgin Mary, a Role Model for Modern Mothers & Family Life.” On Thursday, Father Scott Braathen, SOLT preached on the “Relevance of Marian Devotions Like Holy Rosary in Our Faith Journey.” On Friday, Father Romeo Salinas, director of the diocesan Vocations Office, spoke on “Blessed Virgin Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted and the Sick.”

Gala helps raise needed funds for The Ark According to Delma Trejo, executive director of The Ark, depending on the number of children living at the children’s shelter, costs can run anywhere from $4,000-$8000 per day. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services supplies about 65 percent of the operating revenue with the balance coming in the form of grants, donations and fundraisers like the annual gala held on Sept. 14.

Each year the fundraising event helps supplement some of these costs. Last year's Gala raised more than $100,000.

This year’s gala was dedicated to the memory of John William Schultz, who supported the shelter since it was proposed more than 20 years ago. Schultz designed one of The Ark's first logos and was a consultant and volunteer. He donated vehicles and his planning and knowledge of construction were used to build the shelter, the Erin Merryn

gym and make other improvements. He passed away on March 21 of this year at the age of 90.

"He was completely committed to The Ark and he truly cared about the welfare of these children," KIII news anchor Joe Gazin, who emceed the gala, said.

The keynote speaker was Erin Merryn, who is the founder and president of "Erin's Law," which has been implemented in 31 states, including Texas. It requires all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program.

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In Memoriam: Sister Helen Dolores Losleben

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Diocese of Corpus Christi responds to Hurricane Harvey

‘Need is overwhelming, but the help is overwhelming’ Alfredo E. Cárdenas

T

South Texas Catholic

he strongest hurricane to hit the South Texas Gulf coast in decades made landfall in Rockport on Friday, Aug. 25, at about 10 p.m. leaving in its wake death and destruction of epic proportions.

Hurricane Harvey’s strong winds, clocked

18 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

at 130 mph, and gushing rain inflicted extensive damage on the communities north of Corpus Christi, including some 42 churches, parish halls, schools and rectories in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Virtually untouched, however, were statuary of the Saviour, the Blessed Mother and other saints. A tour of many churches and

schools around the diocese found statues standing erect, both outside and inside.

The response to the tragedy was quick, with federal, state and local governments moving in to provide search and rescue operations, as well as to help with the clean up. The response from non-profit and church organizations was also swift,

Father James Stembler, VC for South Texas Catholic

as were the initiatives of many individuals. Help was on its way immediately after the storm moved north, causing further damage.

“The need is overwhelming, but the help is overwhelming,” Bishop Michael Mulvey told a gathering of pastors, parish administrators and deacons meeting to discuss a coordinated response to the storm’s impact.

As the center of the hurricane’s landfall was Rockport, not surprisingly it received the most damage in the Coastal Bend.

Sacred Heart Church was spared major damage but the same could not be said

The sanctuary at St. Peter Church in Fulton received catastrophic damage, but the Crucifix remains a beacon of hope for parishioners.

Alfredo E. Cárdenas, South Texas Catholic

of the parish school, rectory and offices.

Sixty five percent of the school’s roof caved in under heavy rains and the roof at the church offices were completely blown away causing extensive water damage inside the structures, said Orlando Zepeda, Construction Manager for the diocese. These buildings may have to be replaced or undergo substantial reconstruction.

While repairs are underway, Sacred Heart School students who relocated to the Archdiocese of San Antonio, the Diocese of Austin or the Diocese of Dallas will be able to attend school in those dioceses at no or reduced cost until they are able to return to their school. Schools in the Diocese of Corpus Christi are offering Rockport students the same offer, according to school superintendent Rosemary Henry.

A couple of miles down the road, in Fulton, St. Peter Parish suffered even worse damage; in fact the church and residence are considered a total loss.

“Speechless. Absolutely speechless,” is how Bishop Mulvey described his reaction

upon witnessing the devastation to St. Peter.

Amazingly, a statute of the Blessed Mother in front of the church appeared pristine. Inside, the devastation was severe but the Crucifix remained intact behind the altar and statutes of the Holy Family, tucked away in the Cry Room at the rear of the church were also intact.

Discussions are underway to determine what steps to take to care for the parishioners at St. Peter. In the meantime they held Mass outdoors, but have been asked to look to attend Mass at other parishes, which in the weeks following the disaster was difficult.

Sacred Heart, two miles away, was not celebrating Mass there and parishioners were asked to attend at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass. The chapel at Lamar did not appear to have experienced severe damage. The chapel and buildings at Schoenstatt were badly damaged.

Other of Rockport’s neighbors also saw serious loss of property. In Port Aransas, October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 19

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Bishop Michael Mulvey meets with Fulton Mayor Jimmy Kendrick at the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department building next to City Hall. The bishop told the mayor that the Church would be present to the community for the long term. At left is Deacon Mark Arnold, appointed by the bishop as Disaster Relief Coordinator for the diocese.

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on Mustang Island, St. Joseph Church suffered extensive water damage, as did the parish hall and rectory. Still, the parish held Mass two weeks later with Bishop Mulvey celebrating the vigil Mass on Saturday, Sept. 9. St. Mary Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass also suffered extensive wind and water

20 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

damage. In nearby Ingleside, the story was much the same, with water damage to the church, hall and rectory.

As the storm moved inland, the damage was not as severe but it was still intense. In Bayside, on the western shore of Copano Bay, the church suffered water damage to

its floor but the community experienced extensive damage.

Bishop Mulvey visited many communities in the wake of the storm, including Bayside and Fulton, two of the worst hit.

He assured mayors in those cities that the Church was going to be there for the long

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term.

“They may not all be Catholic or belong to the local church, but they are all our people,” Bishop Mulvey told pastors and deacons.

The bishop said that the storm afforded the Church an “opportunity to rediscover

ourselves as a diocese.” It was an opportunity to bring the Gospel and the mercy of God in a new way to people. It is an opportunity, he said, “to reach out to the periphery” as Pope Francis has called.

“Wherever the Church is not, that is the periphery,” the bishop said.

Roads from Bayside to its mother church in Woodsboro, St. Therese of the Little Flower, were closed to traffic. Power lines, fallen trees and debris peppered roads throughout the counties of Aransas and Refugio. While St. Therese fared well, its rectory faces demolition and will have to

TGIF teens, from left, are Jaclyn Maldonado, Annika Sacky, Matthew Hogan, Matthew Perales, Grace Nohavitza.

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 21

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Bishop Mulvey visits with Bradford Boehme (at left) and John Paul Woitena with the San Antonio Fire Department. The two men were deployed to Refugio County for two weeks as part of a saw team with the Alamo Area Wildland Strike Team. Hundreds of volunteers poured into the area to assist victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Father James Stembler, VG for South Texas Catholic

be rebuilt.

Parishes in Refugio—Our Lady of Refuge and St. James— suffered water and wind damage. St. James is not operational and parishioners are attending Mass at Our Lady of Refuge.

St. Catherine Mission in Blanconia suffered a gaping hole in its roof causing water damage. A similar fate befell St. Anthony of Padua Mission in Austwell where the church’s cupola was ripped off by strong winds and water entered the church. At nearby Tivoli, at Our Lady of Guadalupe, the rectory suffered extensive water damage.

Throughout the horrific winds and rains, the local Catholic

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Call 1-877-571-9748 22 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

radio station KLUX remained on the air—the only local radio station that continued to provide hurricane related information from local authorities to the public. General Manager Marty Wind, Director of Broadcast Operations Russ Martin and Production Manager Richard Luna literally made the station their home for 48 hours.

The diocese’s insurance agent with Catholic Mutual quickly went out to visit parishes to assist pastors to assess the damages and to warn them of unscrupulous companies that will come in after a disaster. Bishop Mulvey designated Deacons Mark Arnold and Richard Longoria to head up a Diocesan Relief Team that includes Linda McKamie with Catholic Charities, Superintendent Henry with Catholic Schools, Stephanie Bonilla with Office for Safe Environment and Child & Family Resources, Deacon Michael Mantz of the Diaconate Office and Zepeda with Building Construction.

Bishop Mulvey said he established the relief committee to help pastors and the people. He asked pastors to take care of their parishes, but if they needed help or if they had no damages and wanted to help another parish, to coordinate through the committee by contacting Deacon Arnold.

“Our desire is to reach everyone, as many as possible,” the bishop said, explaining that the diocese was in a position to know the needs throughout the affected area and thus in a better position to coordinate the relief effort. “The view I have is everyone,” he said.

Manpower and supplies came in fast and in great quantities.

The long-term recovery would take a longer more concerted effort, the bishop said. “It is massive destruction. It is going to take a long time to recover,” he said.

The long-term needs, such as rebuilding, would require a major infusion of funds. Here too, Bishop Mulvey anticipated, the help would be there. The diocese set up a link on its website where people could donate funds. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called on all bishops in the country to hold a disaster relief collection to assist diocese affected by Hurricane Harvey.

“Our desire is to reach everyone, as many as possible,” Bishop Mulvey said. Not just church buildings or school buildings but the people that are suffer- ToTosee seemore more photos go to: photosofofthis thisevent event go to ing. Not only South Texas those who go to church, but even those who don’t go to church, or SERVING THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI who don’t have a Southtexascatholic.com/news/DCCHarvey church.”

Catholic

Nora Contreras, parishioner at St. Joseph in Alice, hands lunch to National Guard soldiers stationed in Aransas Pass. Alice in Wonderland, a food truck based in Alice, cooked almost 2,000 tacos and gorditas for anyone in Aransas Pass seeking a hot meal on Labor Day. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

Local parishioners answer the call for help with disaster assistance Rebecca Esparza

W

Correspondent

hen Father Pete Elizardo asked his parishioners at St. Joseph Parish in Alice for donations urgently needed for survivors of Hurricane Harvey on the Sunday after the

storm, they answered the call for assistance within hours.

“The response was overwhelming and the parish hall was fully stocked by later that Sunday evening,” explained parishioner Michelle Ortiz. “We went out to several church communities that week, with several teams from St. Joseph, including

the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Daughters, Altar Servers and other volunteers, to help our neighboring communities in need.”

Parishioners offered hurricane survivors in the communities of Woodsboro, Refugio, Bayside and Tivoli food, water, ice and cleaning supplies.

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 23

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“There was such a need and we all felt we had to go back out,” Ortiz said. “As we returned to the parish hall, we were surprised to see it was full of supplies all over again. So we decided to go out again the next Saturday and continue our efforts. “ This time, the parishioners went out prepared to work: armed with gloves, shovels, chainsaws and other supplies.

“We decided to prepare 400 pork steak tacos for the communities of Bayside and Tivoli, so that they could have something warm to eat,” she added. ‘The team in Tivoli cleaned the church grounds at Our Lady of Guadalupe. We left supplies at Immaculate Conception in Taft, Immaculate Conception in Gregory, and with the Schoenstatt sisters in Lamar. In giving of our time, talent and treasure to our neighbors in need, we wanted to leave them with a little glimpse of hope.”

At St. Mary Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass the hurricane caused major damage to the roof at the church and parish offices. Some 50 volunteers from Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph in Alice, St. Pius X and Christ the King in Corpus Christi and St. Mary Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass helped clear debris, cut down trees with chainsaws, sort boxes of clothing donations, clear damaged sheet rock, among many other chores on the Labor Day holiday.

“It has been a true blessing to have so many volunteers from throughout the community assist in the clean up.

Many hands make lighter work for everyone,” parish administrator Father James Vasquez said.

The “Alice in Wonderland” food truck from Alice donated their time and food to serve residents and first responders, eager for a home-cooked meal.

“We fed the community, fellow volunteers, firefighters, National Guard and FEMA workers, serving close to 1,000 gorditas and 750 crispy tacos,” Ortiz said.

Father Julian Cabrera, pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Alice, said it was important for parishioners throughout the diocese to help because we are all connected and One Body of Christ.

“When one hurts, we all hurt and when one is in need, we are all in need,” he said. “I try to remember I should never ask of others what I myself am not willing to do, so I pitched in to work in the clean up, as well. We serve Christ not only at the altar, but out in the world, too.”

Father Cabrera and his parishioners took water and other items to a donation station in Rockport and also assisted the sisters at the Schoenstatt Shrine in Lamar.

“We cleaned up the grounds, moved furniture and cut fallen trees. We also

Parishioners from Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph in Alice teamed together to sort the overwhelming amount of clothing donations received at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass.

Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 24

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went inside the shrine to pray the rosary with the sisters,” he said.

Disaster Relief Coordinator for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Deacon Mark Arnold, said the diocese is in communication with municipalities of each affected city to assess their needs. From there, it is determined where the need is greatest. Volunteers and supplies are then dispatched to the area.

“It was overwhelming to see such devastation in so many small communities.

The hardest hit areas will need our help for many months to come,” he said.

Nora Contreras, a parishioner at St. Joseph in Alice, is an active volunteer back home, but it was important for her to share her Labor Day holiday giving back to those suffering from the wrath of Hurricane Harvey.

“I realize this could have been us in Alice,” she said. “I know they would have

been out at our parish if the hurricane had hit us.”

Contreras understood what the survivors in Aransas Pass needed: a hot meal and a smiling face.

“When people experience a disaster like this, sometimes they just want to hear from someone else that everything is going to be alright,” she explained.

“Volunteering makes me a stronger person in my faith. It is a way of life to help someone who is struggling or to help our faith community.”

Martin and Alicia Benavidez, both 62 and lifelong residents of Aransas Pass, waited patiently in line for gorditas and tacos on Labor Day. It was their first hot meal in several days, as their home had limited power.

“The hurricane has been overwhelming,” Alicia Benavidez said. “But everywhere we turn, there are people to help

and that has been a great comfort. We know it will take some time to regain a sense of normality, but having hot meals like this helps.”

Her husband Martin said their home suffered damage, but it was still livable.

“We have each other. Everything else can be replaced or repaired. Having people here who care how we are doing makes a huge difference. We are just thankful to be alive,” he said.

seemore more photos go to: ToTosee photosofofthis thisevent event go to South Texas

Catholic

SERVING THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

Southtexascatholic.com/news/ParishHarvey

Parishioners from throughout the diocese gathered on Labor Day to help clean up the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass. Pictured from left (back) Mirella Ortiz, 12, of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Alice, Liam Holden, 18, of Christ the King, Julian M. Ortiz, Sr., of St. Joseph in Alice and Ninfa Jacobs of St. Mary Star of the Sea. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 25

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Robstown Knights of Columbus Council # 3110 fed Refugio evacuees at the Tuloso Midway Red Cross FEMA dome, in Annaville. From left are, Alfredo Garcia, Grand Knight Edward Mireles, Joe Verastegui, Alfredo Castaneda, Mike Cano, Father Mark Whelan, SOLT and Johnny Esquivel Jr. David Ybarra for South Texas Catholic

Knights aid those devastated by Hurricane Harvey Rebecca Esparza

W

Correspondent

hen the St. Charles Borromeo Knights of Columbus Council #13238 in Tacoma, Washington learned about the catastrophic hurricane that hit the Coastal Bend area of Texas on Aug. 25, they did not hesitate to swing into action. Within hours, leaders with the Tacoma Knights of Columbus had mobilized to gather cash donations from their generous parishioners so they 26 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

could purchase items most in need by the communities in South Texas hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey.

“We wanted to ensure our donations got to those in need quickly,” said Deacon Mark Shine, with St. Charles Borromeo Parish. “We wanted to supply donations that were exactly what they needed. There was little overhead, so our funds went entirely to the benefit of those in need.”

Deacon Shine and fellow parishioner Harry Phillips flew to Dallas, where they purchased the items needed.

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The plan was to drive the items down themselves, but first, they checked with locals to ensure useful items were being purchased.

“It was important that the local Knights of Columbus councils in Texas help us understand what was not needed. For example, our list started with four pallets of water and by the time we got to Dallas, other relief agencies had delivered plenty of water. Likewise, clothing was not needed, other than fresh socks,” he said.

Items specific to the cleanup effort were purchased, including: mosquito repellent, sunscreen, bleach, surgical masks, gloves, pallets of toilet paper, paper towels, personal hygiene products, feminine hygiene products, dog and cat food, diapers in many sizes, baby formula and treats for children.

Every Knights of Columbus region around the world has an Emergency Response Team and according to Ron Alonzo, Texas State Council and Charity Director for the Knights and a member of Council #1202 at St. Patrick Parish in Corpus Christi, his region had been preparing for an event like this one.

“One of the things we as Knights do best is organize. We come together in times of need,” he said. “As soon as the hurricane had cleared, we called a meeting of the 52 councils in our diocese.

We started planning specific areas we could assist,

including providing water, food and shelter.”

The Diocese of Corpus Christi includes 4,000 Knights of Columbus members. In the state of Texas, there are more than 100,000 Knights. Worldwide, there are 1.9 million Knights of Columbus.

It is the world’s largest Catholic fraternal men’s organization.

Within days of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Knights of Columbus councils from Corpus Christi, Beeville, Alice, San Antonio, Wimberley, the Rio Grande Valley and other communities began serving citizens of Annaville, Woodsboro, Tivoli, Ingleside, Austwell, Refugio, Ingleside and Rockport.

“In the first four days after the hurricane, we served meals to 8,000 people,” Alonzo said. “A lot of that food was donated. We also received funds from our national Knights of Columbus organization. Brother Knights from across the country and across the world, contributed funds to help us provide hot meals for a one-day event in Ingleside and in Refugio, we served 4,000 people at just one event alone.”

Alonzo said he continues to receive trailer loads of supplies from all over the country.

“When the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) deemed Rockport residents needed to evacuate from the hurricane,

Deacon Mark Shine and fellow parishioner Harry Phillips from St. Charles Borromeo Knights of Columbus Council #13238 in Tacoma, Washington did not hesitate to swing into action after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Within hours, leaders with the Tacoma Knights of Columbus had mobilized to gather cash donations from generous parishioners to purchase items most in need by the communities in South Texas hit hardest.

Contributed photo

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 27

†† HURRICANE HARVEY

Grand Knight Reyes L. Resendez of Refugio Council # 1651 at St. James Parish, unloads box from trailers of supplies brought from Roma, Texas. Also pictured is Rosevel “Ross” Pruneda from Roma Council # 3367, as well as several law enforcement personnel that helped deliver these supplies from Starr County.

The supplies where distributed to those in need in Refugio and the surrounding area.

displaced residents were sent to Carrizo Springs.

Our Knights of Columbus Council #8142 in Carrizo Springs, out of the Laredo Diocese, fed those residents, regardless of their faith,” he said.

Being part of something that gives back to the community inspires Alonzo, reenergizing him for the work yet to be done.

“By volunteering their time, my brother Knights are spending time away from their families and their jobs. I’m extremely proud of the dedication of these men, including some wives.

It has been a family project for many,” he said.

Joseph Hernandez, General Agent and Chapter President for the Knights of Columbus Contributed photo Council #11567 at St. Pius X Parish in Corpus Christi, said Knights never work alone.

“Between Ron Alonzo and myself, we set everything in motion, encouraging our members, supporting our councils, providing guidance and helping in whatever capacity they needed us,” he said. “It was these men, from all of the local councils and those councils outside of our diocese that made it happen.”

Hernandez said the inspirational stories that have arisen out of this tragedy have been impactful.

“Our Grand Knight in Refugio lost his home due to the hurricane. Despite his personal tragedy, he went to work in his community, ensuring people were fed and received much needed supplies,” he said.

Tirelessly moving supplies to affected

28 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

communities throughout the Coastal Bend, he never once complained about his own personal loss, but instead saw his community was in need and put their needs first.

“He thanked God he was okay and had his family,” Hernandez said. “As he told me, ‘I have people I can stay with, how many don’t? How many don’t know where their next meal will come from?’”

Deacon Shine from Tacoma sums up how his Catholic faith reinforces the brotherhood of all people, no matter geographic distance or political backgrounds: everyone deserves a helping hand.

“The Christian community is at its best when it sets aside ecumenical boundaries and collaborates to be the presence of the Risen One to those in need. You can count on the Knights of Columbus for anything you need. They will rally. When the Church needs something done, call the Knights,” he said proudly.

seemore more photos go to: ToTosee photosofofthis thisevent event go to South Texas

Catholic

SERVING THE CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

Southtexascatholic.com/news/KOCHarvey

Luisa Scolari

L Corresponsal

a revista del South Texas Catholic, preocupada por brindar un mejor servicio a toda la congregación perteneciente a la Diócesis de Corpus Christi, a través su espacio de VIDA CATOLICA se ha puesto el objetivo de servir de una manera mas efectiva a la comunidad hispanoparlante. Para ello, está ofreciendo información oportuna en su sitio web de los eventos y servicios que ocurren y se ofrecen en todas las parroquias de la diócesis.

Con el propósito de dar un mejor servicio, el South Texas Catholic ha actualizado el sitio de internet con un nuevo formato que a través de su espacio VIDA CATOLICA, ofrece una mayor disponibilidad y facilidad de uso. Fieles pueden acezar y obtener desde un teléfono celular, tableta o computadora la información que necesitan.

Este nuevo formato ofrece la facilidad de informarse de todos los eventos que estén ocurriendo y estén por venir en la diócesis como: conferencias, horarios de misas y confesiones, misas de sanación, visitas de la Virgen peregrina, cursos bíblicos, celebraciones y festividades parroquiales, conciertos católicos, retiros espirituales, asambleas y congresos católicos,

carreras Guadalupanas, peregrinaciones, Jamaicas, ministerios, lugares de voluntariado y donaciones, mensajes de nuestro Obispo, etc.

También con el objetivo de cubrir el mayor numero de eventos posible, la

pagina ofrece una liga o enlace a través del cual se puede enviar información y fotografías de eventos que ocurren o están por ocurrir en parroquias y así estar mas informados y actualizados.

South Texas Catholic, consiente de la importancia de estar siempre bien informado y actualizados de todo lo que ocurre en el mundo católico, busca ofrecer un mejor servicio con noticias católicas en español al nivel local, nacional y mundial. De esta manera laicos pueden encuentran actualizado noticias católica ocurriendo a través del mundo, como son las actividades de nuestro October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 29

†† VIDA CATÓLICA

Su revista esta dispuesta a servirle a lo máximo

†† VIDA CATÓLICA

Papa Francisco y noticias del Vaticano.

El objetivo es ser un medio eficaz y oportuno de información y comunicación entre todos los hispanos de la Diócesis de Corpus Christi, con todas las noticias actualizadas, pero sin limitarse solo al acontecer de la diócesis, sino en todo el mundo narrados en la idioma español.

Busca ser una fuente de información fidedigna y a la mano, mejorando cada día, y esto incluye a la publicación del formato impreso de la revista, que seguirá llegando mensual y gratuitamente a todos los hogares que lo soliciten, suscribiéndose por el método que mas le convenga: • Llamando al: (361) 882-6191.

• Enviando un fax al: (361)693-6701.

• Dirigiéndose a nuestras oficinas en: 620 Lipan en Corpus Christi.

• Enviando un correo electrónico a: stc@diocesecc.org.

• Inscripción por internet en el sitio: www.southtexascatholic.com/subscribe.

Todos estos sitios están al disposición de la comunidad hispana para atenderle lo mejor posible. Para cualquier duda o

información que necesite, contacte a el South Texas Catholic, quien desea seguir en contacto con sus lectores y brindarles un mejor servicio, agradeciéndoles de antemano el permiso de entrar a sus hogares mes atrás mes.

“Con Permiso”

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

Siéntase dispuestos a compartir esta información con cualquier persona que lo necesite o pueda estar interesada.

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

Si usted o alguien que usted conoce está en necesidad de estos servicios, llame a Stephanie Bonilla, Director de la Oficina de un Ambiente Seguro y de Servicios para Niños y Familia: (361) 693-6686 (oficina) ó (361) 658-8652 (celular) para asistencia inmediata.

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

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

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

Todas las investigaciones serán tradas inmediatamente y discretamente.

Personas que llamen tienen el derecho de mantenerse anónimas.

Llamada 1-877-571-9748 30 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

Mary Rezac

I

Catholic News Agency

n the 1620s, while the pilgrims were landing on Plymouth Rock and having the first Thanksgiving, the Jumano tribe in Texas (before it was known as Texas) was said to be having mysterious encounters with someone they called the “Lady in Blue.” A young, ethereal lady, dressed in a habit with a blue cape, they said appeared to them numerous times during these years, speaking to them in their native language and instructing them in the Christian faith.

Thousands of miles away, in a cloistered convent in Spain, Sister Maria de Agreda was reporting mystical visits—that occurred during prayer, often during Mass after receiving communion— to a tribe of native people in what was called New Spain at the time.

“She would have these prayerful, mystical experiences of coming here to the

New World and visiting these people and evangelizing them, sharing the faith with them,” Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas said. “And when she came, she encouraged them to go to the missions where the Franciscan priests were and request baptism.”

Recently, the Vatican re-opened the cause for canonization of Sister Maria de Agreda, who besides her mystical experiences and apparitions was a prolific writer, particularly on the topic of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She has been declared Venerable, and her body was also found to be

María de Jesús de Ágreda converting the Jumano Indians of Texas/ and New Mexico. She is said to have bi-located from her convent in Agreda, Spain to the Southwest of the United States to evangelize among the native populations. www.mariadeagreda.info/ October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 31

†† NATIONAL NEWS

Did this Spanish nun bi-locate to Texas? Vatican aims to find out

†† NATIONAL NEWS

incorrupt when it was exhumed in 1909 and is now resting in view in her convent in Spain.

In August, Father Stefano M. Cecchin, the vice postulator of Sister Maria de Agreda’s cause for canonization, spent a week in San Angelo where Sister Maria reportedly appeared to the Jumano natives, investigating the devotion to her that still exists today.

“This is an important story that needs be told,” Father Cecchin told the San Angelo Standard Times. According to records kept by the missionaries in the area, Sister Maria’s promptings led as many as 2,000 Jumano natives to be baptized.

Most of their ancestors in the San Angelo area are still Catholic, and still have a strong devotion to the “Lady in Blue” who brought them the Catholic faith, Bishop Sis said.

Regarding her possible bi-location, Father Cecchin said, “There is a lot of proof that the Lady in Blue appeared to the Jumano Tribe.”

The Vatican has never ruled definitively on whether her apparitions to what is now present-day western Texas and eastern New Mexico constitute a true instance of bi-location. However, there are some remarkable connections between Sister Maria’s mystical experiences, and the Lady in Blue that the Jumano people saw, Bishop Sis said.

She earned the name “Lady in Blue” because the Jumano natives reportedly saw a woman wearing a blue cape. Sister Maria belonged to a Franciscan order of nuns called the Conceptionistas, who wear a white habit with a blue cloak. The order still has convents in Spain and Latin America today, including Sister Maria’s convent in Agreda.

From her cloister, having never traveled to the New World, Sister Maria was able to describe the new plants and animals there, as well as the way the people dressed and painted themselves. She described the landscape as a place where two rivers meet—and in San Angelo, the South Concho River joins the Middle Concho River.

Especially remarkable, Bishop Sis said, is that she described meeting a leader with one eye, while the Franciscan missionaries in the area at the time also reported meeting a Jumano leader with one good eye and one bad eye.

“So that’s a fascinating detail, that shows 32 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

a concrete connection between this place and her descriptions of the people,” the bishop said.

According to the Texas Almanac, Friar Alonso de Benavides of the Franciscans in New Mexico was the first to confirm the story of the “Lady in Blue.” He reported the incidents of her appearances to the Spanish court in 1630, and shortly thereafter was able to interview Sister Maria de Agreda at her convent, where he was able to cross-reference the details of the apparitions from both Sister Maria and the Jumano natives’ perspective.

“The first time she went was in the year 1620. She had continued ever since... She gave me all their signs and (declared) she had been with them,” the friar wrote at the time.

“She knows Captain Tuerto (the oneeyed captain) very well, having given me his personal characteristics and that of all the others. She herself sent the messengers from Quivira (the Jumano village on the Plains) to call the missionaries.”

Reportedly, the bi-locations of Sister Maria de Agreda ceased after her goal was accomplished—that the Jumano native people were able to receive the sacraments.

If Sister Maria de Agreda truly bi-located, it would not be the only time this phenomenon was reported. While it is more common to have Jesus or Mary or saints in heaven appear to people in apparitions, several saints have reportedly bi-located while they were still alive on earth.

Perhaps one of the best-known bi-locating saints in recent times is St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, a mystical Capuchin priest who reportedly appeared to numerous people throughout the world while he was living in Italy.

During World War II, numerous American pilots said that a mysterious friar appeared to them in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo, which was occupied

by Nazis at the time. When the American pilots tried to bomb the Rotondo, the friar appeared and stretched out his hands, and their bombs dropped on open plains nearby.

After the war, a pilot visited the friary and immediately recognized Padre Pio as the one who had appeared to them over the city. Questioned about the strange incidents of his bi-location, Padre Pio once said that they simply occurred “by an extension of his personality.”

Unlike apparitions of Mary or Jesus, which the Vatican heavily investigates, instances of bi-locations or apparitions of saints are typically not formally investigated by the Vatican, said Michael O’Neill, a Catholic miracle researcher who recently published a book on miraculous apparitions in the Church.

O’Neill said that apparitions or bi-locations of saints simply “adds to the story of the saint, their reputation of holiness, and the devotion that arises around a saint,” O’Neill said.

Those stories can be a part of establishing a saint’s reputation for holiness, and in Sister Maria’s case “to show that there’s a great devotion to her even outside of Spain,” he said.

“She has been declared Venerable,” Bishop Sis said, noting that the next step in her cause would be beatification.

“The question of her being beatified or canonized doesn’t really rest on the experience of these apparitions...what’s most important is the virtue of her life and her writings,” he said.

Her best-known work is “The Mystical City of God: Life of the Virgin Mother of God,” in which she writes about details of Mary’s life that she said came to her in prayer. It is no mistake, Bishop Sis added, that the vice postulator of her cause is a theologian and Marian expert who also serves as the president of the Pontifical Marian Academy in Rome.

“So that’s his main goal at this time, to study her mystical Marian theology,” and to do a thorough investigation of her other writings and her life, he said.

The “Lady in Blue” continues to be a central figure of the history and devotion for Catholics in Texas. A historical marker shows where the Franciscan mission once stood. The “Lady in Blue Committee” is especially active in promoting her story and legacy, and is in the process of building bronze statue of Sister Maria de Agreda with a Jumano native.

Sister Maria de Agreda would have appeared “before Junipero Serra, before the Alamo, that was the time of the first Thanksgiving,” Bishop Sis said.

“So it’s a beautiful, historic experience of evangelization, and it shows our rich Catholic history in this part of the world, and is a great testament of faith,” he said, both of the Conceptionista sisters, and the Jumano ancestors who have kept their faith.

†† VATICAN

Pope Francis speaks to reporters on his return flight to the Vatican from a papal visit to Columbia. He said he was not too familiar with the way DACA was enacted but urged President Trump, as a pro-life man, to keep families intact.

Alan Holdren, Catholic News Agency

Pope hopes President Trump will ‘rethink’ DACA decision Hannah Brockhaus and Elise Harris

D

Catholic News Agency

uring a press conference Sunday aboard the papal plane from Colombia to Rome, Pope Francis said that though he is not familiar with how the decision to end DACA was made, he hopes it will be reconsidered as part of a pro-life ethic which defends the unity of families.

“I hope that it will be rethought a little, because I have heard the President of the United States speak as a pro-life man. If he is a good pro-life man, he understands that the family is the cradle of life, and unity must be defended. This is what comes to me,” Pope Francis said Sept. 10.

“I have heard of this law. I have not

been able to read the articles, how the decision was made. I don’t know it well,” he said. “Keeping young people away from the family is not something that brings good fruit.”

Asked if he thought that ending DACA would cause youth who benefited under the program to lose their joy and hope in the future, he said that when youth feel exploited, whether in this case or others, they are robbed of hope.

Dependency on drugs and other substances, as well as suicide, also provoke hopelessness, he said, which happens when youth are disconnected from their roots.

“Uprooted young people today ask for help, and this is why I insist so much

on dialogue between the elderly and the youth. That they talk to their parents, but (also) the elderly,” he said.

The pope spoke aboard the papal plane Sunday evening on the return flight from Colombia. He made an apostolic visit to the country Sept. 6-11 to promote peace and reconciliation in the country, which has suffered from violence and a decadeslong civil war.

In the 40-minute long conference, the pope also spoke about the crisis in Venezuela, corruption, climate change and whether Colombia could provide a model for the peace process for other countries.

The Trump administration announced Sept. 5 that it would be taking steps to end the Deferred Action for Childhood October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 33

†† VATICAN

Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA, which has benefited hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as minors.

Under the program, eligible immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as minors by their parents could receive a two-year stay on their deportation. In that time period, they could be eligible for work permits and Social Security.

The program was announced in 2012

by President Obama and implemented by the Department of Homeland Security, in the memorandum “Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children.”

Congress has several times tried and failed to pass the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or a version of it, that would help young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally before the age of 16 to lawfully remain in the U.S. and even have a path to citizenship.

The most recent version has been introduced this year by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and would grant permanent legal status to more than a million eligible persons.

DACA was expanded to include eligible parents who brought their children illegally to the U.S. in a program called “Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents.”

In 2016, the Supreme Court upheld a halt on that program going into effect, and U.S. Secretary of State Jeff Sessions warned Tuesday that DACA could get struck down in court.

The Trump administration said it would end DACA by phasing it out.

Sessions said that it was an “unconstitutional” overreach of executive power, especially since Congress refused several times to grant such benefits to undocumented immigrants.

However, the decision has been met with harsh criticism, including from U.S. bishops, who said ending the program was a “national tragedy” for all parties and argued that it is unfair to deport young people who did not make the choice to come to the U.S., but who nevertheless have contributed to the country by holding down jobs, going to college and even serving in the nation’s armed forces.

34 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

Pope Francis greets locals at the Cross of Reconciliation in the Parque de los Fundadores in Villavicencio, Colombia on September 8, 2017.

L’Osservatore Romano

Parents cherishing their children is a sign of hope

Catholic News Agency

On his return flight from Colombia, Pope Francis said that seeing parents’ devotion for their children gives him hope for the country’s future.

Concluding his press conference aboard the papal flight back to Rome, Pope Francis said, “I would like to conclude with an image. What most struck me about the Colombians in the four cities were the people in the streets, greeting me. What most struck me is that the father, mother, raised up their children to help them see the pope and so the pope could bless them, as if saying, ‘This is my treasure, this is my hope. This is my future’.”

“This struck me,” he continued. “The tenderness. The eyes of those fathers, of those mothers. Precious, precious.”

Seeing this devotion of parents for the children, he said, is “a symbol of hope, of future.”

“A people that is capable of having children and then showing them to you,

helping them see as well, as if saying, ‘This is my treasure,’ is a people that has hope and future.”

The pope spoke aboard the papal plane Sunday evening on the return flight from Colombia. He visited the country Sept.

6-11 to promote peace and reconciliation in the country, which has suffered from the violence of a decades-long civil war.

During his trip, Pope Francis met with religious and civil leaders, visited a children’s home and a homeless shelter, and spoke at a prayer gathering for national reconciliation. He visited the Colombian cities of Bogota, Villavicencio, Medellín and Cartagena.

In the 40-minute long press conference aboard the papal flight, the pope also spoke about the phasing out of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), corruption, climate change, and whether Colombia could provide a model of the peace process for other countries.

Father Frank X. Martinez, STL is pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual help parish in Corpus Christi.

he or she may just say ‘sure’

Father Frank X. Martinez, STL

W Contributor

hatever happened to simply inviting a family member, friend, co-worker or neighbor to Mass? According to the Pew Research Center, an invitation to church is still an effective way to reach those who do not attend Mass. Sixty-seven percent of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church.

The Center also reports that: • 63 percent say a personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church; • 63 percent are willing to receive information about a local congregation or faith community from a family member; and • 56 percent are willing to receive information about a local congregation or faith community from a friend or neighbor.

So, people ARE open to an invite from church, particularly if it is from someone they know. However, one simple visit to Mass is not going to result in visitors being a part of a church family. Neighbors, family and friends may come because of an invitation; however, they will stay for welcoming, inviting and beautiful Mass celebrations, in which they receive God’s Holy Word with a glimpse into the sacred.

Why do you think many of our friends and family members are ready for an invitation to come to Mass? Mathew Kelly (“Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic”), Dan Ebener (“Servant Leadership Models for Your Parish”), along with other Catholic writers, have recently offered a similar observation. In our post-Christian nation, people who are skeptical of faith and authority are often attracted to the Christian community before they are attracted to the

Christian message. Therefore, inviting people into our parish family becomes an important aspect of their journey of the faith.

Being in a community church family of hope, love and respect is what we should offer to our visitors and more. As beings created in the “likeness and image of God,” we need to be in relationship with each other. We reflect the face of God, the communion of persons, with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in perfect fellowship with one another. This necessitates our innate need for community.

The personal invitation is an effective way to break down any real or perceived barriers one might have to walking into a church building or being willing to engage in a new circle of people. We cannot underestimate the power of a personal invitation.

We live in a world where people are more connected than any previous generation, and yet are lonelier than ever before. Social media may allow us to keep up with other people, but invitations to join a church, small church community or relational circles are the only way for people to truly connect with others in a world that is so disconnected.

We cannot mistake information for intimacy.

We cannot mistake communication for community. Virtual relationships are not complete.

To put it another way, community is not truly experienced apart from actual relationships in physical time and space.

St. John Paul II pointed out that our culture is driven by individualistic, hedonistic and money-centered lives. We honor the person who goes their own way and values self-reliance. This pattern has resulted in an individualistic spirituality that has fragmented our families, country and Church. We are erecting barriers for people connecting in churches and cannot allow our culture to influence our love for our Trinitarian God, which calls us to be relational.

Far too often, individualism not only October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 35

†† OUR FAITH

Invite a friend to Mass

†† OUR FAITH

➤Your simple, loving and kind invitation to our Church family could radically change someone’s eternal life with Jesus! becomes the silent killer of community with in the Body of Christ, but also the hindrance to seeing spiritual growth in our Church.

Therefore, the question is: how can people be added to our church family unless they experience the “welcoming and inviting” nature of our vision and the presence of God within our Church family? And how can they experience our Church family unless someone invites them?

If many of our un-churched friends and family members are ready for an invitation to church, what are we waiting on?

I invite you to pray for family members or friends that need God in their lives. Begin by praying right now for someone you would like to bring to Mass. Speak to your family member or friend. Talking to people about “religion” can be a fearful

thing; however, I figure if Jesus could open his arms on the cross for us, then I can open my mouth for a friend. This does not have to be mechanical or weird. Just kindly say, “Hey, would you like to come to Mass with me Sunday?”

This may seem kind of scary since Catholics rarely do this; however, you just might be shocked and surprised! Because of one point—God is already working and softening the heart of that person. So, decide right now—WHOM will you invite to Mass? Team-up with other friends.

Chances are that you and other Catholic friends, especially those who have made an ACTS retreat, been through the RCIA program, attended The Encounter, Bible classes or youth group, know the same lost discouraged persons.

Perhaps all of you can invite this

person or people and then take them to lunch after Mass or invite them to attend your ministry. Some parishioners have started small church communities and you can invite them to visit your community.

There are a lot of ways to be creative and courageous. There are open doors and opportunities all around us. The question is will we be too busy today to do the things that could have the single greatest eternal impact on a person?

Your simple, loving and kind invitation to our Church family could radically change someone’s eternal life with Jesus! Do not be anxious over “how” to do it. Just rest in him, be yourself, and trust him to do the hard stuff.

I pray God will richly reward your desire to bring a guest to Mass with you.

October Liturgical Calendar 1 | SUN | TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | green Ez 18:2528/Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5/Mt 21:28-32 (136) Pss II 2 | Mon | The Holy Guardian Angels | white | Memorial | Zec 8:1-8 (455)/Mt 18:1-5, 10 (650) Pss Prop 3 | Tue | Weekday | green | Zec 8:2023/Lk 9:51-56 (456) 4 | Wed | Saint Francis of Assisi | white | Memorial | Neh 2:1-8/Lk 9:5762 (457) 5 | Thu | Weekday | green/white [USA: Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, Priest] Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12/Lk 10:1-12 (458) 6 | Fri | Weekday | green/white/white [Saint Bruno, Priest; USA: Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, Virgin] Bar 1:1522/Lk 10:13-16 (459) 7 | Sat | Our Lady of the Rosary | white | Memorial | Bar 4:5-12, 27-29/Lk 10:17-24 (460) Pss Prop 8 | SUN | TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | green

Is 5:1-7/Phil 4:6-9/Mt 21:33-43 (139) Pss III 9 | Mon | Weekday | green/red/white [Saint Denis, Bishop, and Companions, Martyrs; Saint John Leonardi, Priest] Jon 1:1—2:2, 11/Lk 10:25-37 (461) 10 | Tue | Weekday | green | Jon 3:110/Lk 10:38-42 (462) 11 | Wed | Weekday | green/white [Saint John XXIII, Pope] Jon 4:1-11/Lk 11:1-4 (463) 12 | Thu | Weekday | green | Mal 3:1320b/Lk 11:5-13 (464) 13 | Fri | Weekday | green | Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2/Lk 11:15-26 (465) 14 | Sat | Weekday | green/red/white [Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr; BVM] Jl 4:12-21/Lk 11:27-28 (466) 15 | SUN | TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | green Is 25:6-10a/Phil 4:12-14, 19-20/Mt 22:114 or 22:1-10 (142) Pss IV 16 | Mon | Weekday | green/white/ white [Saint Hedwig, Religious; Saint

36 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin] Rom 1:1-7/Lk 11:29-32 (467) 17 | Tue | Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr | red | Memorial Rom 1:16-25/Lk 11:37-41 (468) 18 | Wed | Saint Luke, Evangelist | red | Feast | 2 Tm 4:10-17b/Lk 10:1-9 (661) Pss Prop 19 | Thu | USA: Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, | red | and Companions, Martyrs | Memorial | Rom 3:21-30/Lk 11:47-54 (470) 20 | Fri | Weekday | green/white [USA: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest] Rom 4:1-8/Lk 12:1-7 (471) 21 | Sat | Weekday | green/white [BVM] Rom 4:13, 16-18/Lk 12:8-12 (472) 22 | SUN | TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | green Is 45:1, 4-6/1 Thes 1:1-5b/Mt 22:15-21 (145) Pss I 23 | Mon | Weekday | green/white

[Saint John of Capistrano, Priest] Rom 4:20-25/Lk 12:13-21 (473) 24 | Tue | Weekday | green/white [Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop] Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21/Lk 12:3538 (474) 25 | Wed | Weekday | green | Rom 6:12-18/Lk 12:39-48 (475) 26 | Thu | Weekday | green | Rom 6:1923/Lk 12:49-53 (476) 27 | Fri | Weekday | green | Rom 7:1825a/Lk 12:54-59 (477) 28 | Sat | Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles | red | Feast | Eph 2:19-22/Lk 6:12-16 (666) Pss Prop 29 | SUN | THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | green Ex 22:2026/1 Thes 1:5c-10/Mt 22:34-40 (148) Pss II 30 | Mon | Weekday | green | Rom 8:12-17/Lk 13:10-17 (479) 31 | Tue | Weekday | green | Rom 8:1825/Lk 13:18-21 (480)

Three-Day Mission Program begins Oct. 3 at 5:30, followed by Rosary Fest 2017 on Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Church (1123 Main Drive) in Corpus Christi. Each night of the Mission program will begin with Rosary, Mass, followed by a talk with Father Pedro T. Elizardo, Jr. On Friday, Oct. 6 there will be a rosary procession at 5 p.m., Mass, followed by refreshments. Send in your petitions, prayer requests and donations. For more information call the parish Office at (361) 241-2004.

Joseph Celebrates the 3 St. Transitus of St. Francis

p.m. at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center (1200 Lantana).

Register deepprayer.org or call (361) 289-9095, ext. 321.

Living Rosary and Our 13 Global Lady of Fatima Procession Oct. 13 at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Perpetual Adoration Chapel (1200 Lantana). Prayers and talk in the Adoration Chapel in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima. Reception following in Cafe Veritas. For more information call (361) 289-9095, ext. 301.

Marriage 14 Diocesan Preparation

Oct 14–15 at Pax Christi Liturgical Retreat Center. It is designed to inform couples of the spiritual and practical aspects of Catholic marriage and facilitate couple dialogue on these important issues. For more information or to register go to diocesecc.org/marriageprep.

Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish (412 Lantana St.) in Port Aransas.

3

Bible Study at St. Patrick Church

Oct. 3, and every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at St. Patrick Church, Our Lady of Knock Hall (the corner of S. Alameda and Rossiter Street.) For more information call the parish office at (361) 855-7391.

5

Holy Hour followed by a healing Mass

7

Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference

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

Oct. 7 from 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. at Most Precious Blood Church (3502 Saratoga Blvd.) Early Bird Registration is $10. Tickets for ages 8 and up includes new youth tract and concert. Tickets are available from parish prayer groups in the diocese.

Tickets will be available at the door for $20. Register and pay online at CCR-CorpusChristi.org.

5 Divine Mercy Retreat

Oct. 5-8. Begins Thursday 5:30 p.m. and ends Sunday 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center (1200 Lantana). Register at deepprayer.org or call (361) 289-9095, ext. 321.

12 Men’s Retreat at OLCC

Oct. 12-15. Begins Thursday 5:30 p.m. and ends Sunday at 1:30

15 Waffle Breakfast at St. Pius X

Oct. 15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at St. Pius X Parish Hall (5620 Gollihar Rd.) in Corpus Christi. Waffles (all you care to eat) will be served with sausages, fruit toppings, coffee and orange juice.

Dine in or to go plates. Donation $7.

Hosted by Catholic Daughters Court #2460. For more information call (361) 992-1056.

Annual 17 28th Celebration for Life

Oct. 17 beginning at 7 p.m. at Mansion Royal in Corpus Christi.

This year’s speaker will be pro-life activist Ramona Trevino, former manager of the Planned Parenthood referral facility in Sherman, Texas. Her resignation in 2011 led to the clinic’s closure. The event benefits Birthright, Corpus Christi Hope House and the Gabriel Project.

18

IWA Campus-Wide Fall Open House For Prospective Families

Oct. 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Incarnate Word Academy’s Angel Avenue Student Center. The Fall Open House is for prospective families (age 3-12th grade). The school will be raffling three $1,000 tuition vouchers to prospective families at each campus level. Visit iwacc.org

for more information.

20 Healing Retreat at OLCC

Oct. 20-22. Begins Friday 5:30 p.m. finishes Sunday 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center (1200 Lantana).

Register at deepprayer.org or call (361) 289-9095, ext. 321.

in Truth 21 Grounded at OLCC Adoration

Chapel/Cafe Veritas

Oct. 21. An hour of Adoration with praise and worship in the OLCC Perpetual Adoration Chapel from 7-8 p.m., followed by music and fellowship in Cafe Veritas/Bookstore from 8-9:30 p.m. Call (361) 289-0807 for more information.

27 Marian Devotion Retreat

Oct. 27-29. Begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. and ends on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center (1200 Lantana).

Register at deepprayer.org or call (361) 289-9095, ext. 321.

the Rite Words - A 28 Singing Workshop for Cantors and Leaders of Song

Oct. 28 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m at St. Joseph Parish in Beeville. Presented

by Lee Gwozdz, Director of Music for the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

This workshop will focus on introductory materials and skills for people who are cantors and leaders of song in their parish. This workshop will be of value to those who are beginning to serve in the role of cantor as well as those who have had some experience. There is no charge due to a grant from the Kenedy Memorial Foundation.

For more information visit diocesecc.org/singingtheritewords.

See Fall Festivals on the following page ➞

▼

To see more calendar events go to:

SouthTexasCatholic.com Click on Calendar

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 37

†† OCTOBER. CALENDAR

Fest 2017 + 3-Day 3 Rosary Mission Program

†† OCTOBER CALENDAR

FALL FES VALS

IN THE DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

All fundraising events will include a variety of food, games, entertainment and fun. For complete details visit www.SouthTexasCatholic.com/events.

Open 7 Days A Week Prizes now up to $750 Sponsored by:

Lost Pet Hotline, Peewee’s Pet Adoption World & Sanctuary, Inc., & Dobie Haven, Inc. Big Brothers, Big Sisters

9840 B Leopard Street, Corpus Christi (between Rand Morgan & McKenzie)

(361) 241-8153

Our Lady of Guadalupe Tivoli Annual Parish Festival | Oct. 8 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Katherine Hall (501 Williams St.) in Tivoli.

Holy Family Catholic Church & School Fall Festival 2017 | Oct. 8 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Holy Family (2509 Nogales St.) in Corpus Christi.

Jamaica at Our Lady of Pilar | Oct. 8 from 12-8 p.m. at Our Lady of Pilar (1101 Bloomington St.) in Corpus Christi St. Joseph Church 17th Annual Parish Festival | Oct. 14 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on the church grounds (801 So. Reynolds St.) in Alice.

Family Fun Day BBQ in Ingleside | Oct. 14 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption (2414 Main St.) in Ingleside.

Oktoberfest at St. Anthony’s Church in Violet | Oct. 15. The festivities begin at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony in Violet (3918 County Rd.–off Highway 44).

St. Joseph’s Fall Festival | Oct. 15 from 1-7 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish (710 South 19th Street) in Corpus Christi.

St. Patrick Catholic School 55th Annual Halloween Carnival | Oct. 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick School (3340 South Alameda) in Corpus Christi.

St. Pius X Halloween Carnival | Oct. 27 from 5:30-10 p.m. on the school and church grounds located at 737 St. Pius Drive in Corpus Christi.

St. Joseph - Kingsville Fall Festival | Oct. 28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the parish grounds at St. Joseph Church (1400 Brookshire Dr.) in Kingsville.

St. Theresa’s Spoof-Fest Luau | Oct. 29 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at St. Theresa Church (1212 Lantana St.) in Corpus Christi.

St. Patrick School 55th Annual

Halloween Carnival Food ted Haun

e

Hous

Friday, October 20th, 5:30-10:30 p.m.

At 3340 South Alameda sic Ra Live Mu ffl e Carnival Games Silent Auc and Rides tion

For more information, call St. Patrick School at (361) 852-1211 38 South Texas Catholic | October 2017

Hay R

ides

October 2017 | South Texas Catholic 39

October 2017 Issue SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 620 Lipan St. Corpus Christi, TX 78401-2434 (361) 882-6191

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OUR VISION To Become An Image Of Christ Within Our Community

OUR MISSION To Reflect Jesus The Teacher

OUR CORE VALUES Faith • Dignity • Compassion • Integrity Dedication • Gratitude • Service