Give online Nov. 18 and double your donation

November 15, 2014

Thanks to the generosity of South Texas foundations, 35 local organizations will be eligible to receive matching funds for financial gifts of at least $10 that are donated online via major credit/debit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) at www.coastalbenddayofgiving.org during the sixth Coastal Bend Day of Giving.

Bishops OK liturgy items; endorse sainthood cause

November 12, 2014

by Catholic News Service

Though there were no actions on the U.S. bishops' agenda in Baltimore dealing with immigration, poverty and other public policy issues, the president of their conference said Nov. 11 that he hopes to meet with President Barack Obama and House and Senate leaders soon on several topics.

IWA band and choir serenade patients at Driscoll Hospital

November 12, 2014

by Dominique Damian, IWA

Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) is pleased to team up with Driscoll Children's Hospital, and the downtown Optimist Club of Corpus Christi, to celebrate a Thanksgiving dinner for pediatric cancer patients at the hospital.

IWA High School students place at Texas Renaissance Festival

November 12, 2014

Incarnate Word Academy high school level art, band, and choir students competed and placed at the Texas Renaissance Festival on Nov. 4 and 5. Three art students placed in different art categories. In the high school photography", Caitlyn Martinez, "Girl with a Pearl Earing won first place and Jessica Bang, "Same Faith," won second place. In the high school digital art class Lois Pierce, "Decline of Spring", won first place and the IWA band won second place

Garza and Havel make commitment as Providence Associates

November 11, 2014

by Jason Moon

Falfurrias resident Diane Garza and Corpus Christi resident DeAnna Havel recently deepened their relationship with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Garza and Havel participated in a ceremony in the Owens Chapel at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, to become Providence Associates and pledged ?to honor Divine Providence and further God?s loving plans through works of love, mercy and justice in service among God?s people.?

One-in-five Americans share their faith online

November 10, 2014

by Caroline Klibanoff, Pew Research Center

In an average week, one-in-five Americans share their religious faith online, about the same percentage that tune in to religious talk radio, watch religious TV programs or listen to Christian rock music, according to a new national survey by the Pew Research Center.

Diocese offers

'Advent Study Guide'

November 10, 2014

Advent is just around the corner and the Diocese of Corpus Christi's Office of Religious Education has published a new "Advent Study Guide" that includes daily reflections that the faithful can use to ground themselves in prayer during Advent.

A Texas Catholic heads

to the governor's office

November 10, 2014

by Jeffery Patterson, Texas Catholic Conference

The curiosities of Texas historians have been piqued of late by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s election as governor. Is it true that Abbott is the state’s first confirmed Catholic to hold the Governorship of Texas?

Archbishop Lucas,

Bishop Flores highlight Gospel mission of Catholic schools

November 10, 2014

by Don Clemmer, USCCB

Catholic schools provide “lasting faith formation, vocations to the religious life and priesthood, high educational attainments and communities of the New Evangelization,” and should reach out to Latino communities and other underserved populations as part of the Church’s mission to preach the Gospel, said two U.S. bishops in a presentation to the Fall General Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Nov, 10.

St. Joseph in Alice

honors veterans

November 10, 2014

Father Pete Elizardo, pastor at St. Joseph Church in Alice, honored veterans at the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Nov. 9, with ROTC from Alice High School participating. A moment of silence was observed followed by taps.

Texas bishops will play prominent roles at USCCB

Fall General Assembly

November 10, 2014

by Patrick Ryan, Texas Catholic Conference

The bishops of Texas, including Bishop Mulvey of Corpus Christi, are in Baltimore this week to take active roles in the 2014 Fall General Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Liturgical matters will be on center stage of the event?s agenda, with five items up for consideration.

Vocations essay

contest announced

November 5, 2014

The Office of Vocations and the Office of Youth Ministry is sponsoring an essay contest in celebration of the Diocese of Corpus Christi Annual Ministry Conference. The contest is open to all Catholic students in the diocese, whether they attend public or Catholic schools. The deadline for all essay entries is Dec. 19.

St. Joseph celebrates All Souls Day with visits to cemeteries

November 4, 2014

St. Joseph Parish in Alice celebrated All Souls Day with parishioners lighting candles in memory of loved ones. Father Pete Elizardo, pastor, celebrated Masses at the church with the Corpus Christi Cathedral Men's Choir providing the Liturgical music. After the last Mass, Father Elizardo went to the city's cemeteries and blessed them and the deceased's final resting places.

Annual collection benefits 35,000 sisters, brothers, priests in religious orders

November 4, 2014

by Beth Kennedy

The 27th national collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious will be held Dec. 13-14 in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The annual, parish-based appeal is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington and benefits more than 35,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.

Volunteer takes on a food distribution project for

the poor of Falfurrias

November 4, 2014

by Sister Pam Buganski

I am slowly but surely getting to know the folks of Falfurrias. A couple of weeks ago, Lucinda came to the office of the South Texas Human Rights Center, and I finally got to put a face to her name. Actually, we bonded instantly! She calls us kindred hearts.

In Memoriam

Deacon Alfonso Luis Ramirez April 12, 1964~Nov. 2, 2014

November 4, 2014

Deacon Alfonso Luis Ramirez passed from this life to eternal life on Nov. 2. Deacon Ramirez spent more than 30 years serving the youth and young adults at St. Patrick's, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the Diocese of Corpus Christi, mostly as a volunteer, and the last eight years full time.

Antorcha Guadalupana arrived in Diocese at Falfurrias

November 3, 2014

by Sister Pam Buganski

The South Texas Human Rights Center and friends welcomed The Antorcha to Falfurrias on Oct. 31. The procession of The Antorcha of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a 16-year-old tradition in honor of Our Lady. The Antorcha left the Bascilica in Mexico City on Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace, and will arrive in New York City on Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

HUD recognizes Catholic Charities' Yiyi Dean

November 3, 2014

Doreya ?Yiyi? Dean, Director of Housing Counseling Program and Grant Writer/Administrator for Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, has been named as a Champion of Service by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

New Extraordinary Ministers

of Holy Communion

November 1, 2014

The 2014 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at St. John Paul II High School were commissioned on Oct. 15 and were able to distribute communion for the first time at the Freshman Retreat on Saturday, Nov. 1. Pictured, from left, are Sarah Salas, Ricky Villarreal, Olivia Hinojosa, Lexi Perez, Benjamin Gomez, Nicole Rodriguez, school principal Perry LeGrange and Father Patrick Higgins, chaplain at the school.