St. Joseph School in Alice will celebrate their 75th anniversary next year, but plans for the monumental occasion are already underway.

El Domingo 7 de Febrero en la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de San Juan de los Lagos, Madre de la Iglesia, se llevó a cabo la ceremonia de el cambio de vestido de la Virgen en su cuarto aniversario de haber llegado a esa iglesia.

Sister Mary Anselm Till, IWBS celebrated 75 years of profession of vows on Feb. 25 as a Sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. “Sister Anselm exemplifies the happiness and commitment of someone ready to follow Jesus and serve others,” Sister Mary Juliane Kuntscher, IWBS, Secretary General for the order, said.

There were many smiling faces before and after the Mass at Corpus Christi Cathedral on Feb. 2, World Day for Consecrated Life. Fourteen sisters celebrating their jubilees were recognized and honored by Bishop Michael Mulvey, who thanked them for their multiple years of service to God.

In 2013, parishioners from the Diocese of Corpus Christi contributed $215,540 to special collections in support of national campaigns, such as Catholic Relief Services, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and support of various mission churches throughout the world.

For the good of the people of God in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, after thoughtful prayer and consultation with the Diocesan Priest Personnel Board, Bishop Michael Mulvey has appointed Father Alphonsus Z. M. Abainza, SOLT, as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Corpus Christi, effective Jan. 24.

From August 2014 to October 2015, St. John’s/Assumption Seminary in San Antonio will celebrate its 100 years of leadership in educating and preparing men for priestly ministry for dioceses in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and California.

Almost two weeks after the national March for Life rally in Washington, the Guttmacher Institute reported a 13 percent drop in national abortion rates from 2008 to 2011—making for the lowest rate since 1973 when abortion on demand was legalized in the U.S.

The movie “Son of God,” now showing in theaters, should be seen as “a love story,” according to two of its executive producers, the husband-and-wife team of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.

When Pope Benedict XVI announced, on Feb. 11, 2013, that he would become the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign, speculation was as varied as it was excited about the long-term consequences of his historic act. But one common line of thought held that, for better or worse, his decision might leave the papacy a less exalted and powerful office, bringing the supreme pontiff closer to the level of other bishops, clergy and faithful.

The Third Annual St. Mary’s 5k Run/Walk Event will be held at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. The run will help kick-off St. Anthony’s Parish annual Fiesta Mexicana celebration and will coincide with St. Anthony’s Centennial Celebration.

Celebrating Mass with the newest members of the College of the Cardinals one day after their elevation, Pope Francis urged them to regard their new role not as one of worldly honor but of humble service and sacrifice.

Several Incarnate Word Academy students placed in the 2014 Visionarios Youth Art Contest, sponsored by the Art Museum of South Texas and Flint Hills Resources.

Incarnate Word Academy held their annual Montessori Family Night on Feb. 19 for families currently enrolled in the elementary level’s Montessori program.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Alice will present a parish mission entitled “To Serve is to Reign.” The mission will be presented over five consecutive days from March 9-13 beginning each evening at 7 p.m., followed by a 15-minute Benediction prayer service.

Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmody celebrated Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alice on occasion of his episcopacy's anniversary and his birthday. A reception followed at the Parish Hall. See photos here.

St. Gertrude School in Kingsville held a number of activities for National Catholics School Week. Among the activities were the St. Gertrude 5K Run/Walk on Feb. 8, a Book Character Day, a Western Day and receiving a proclamation for Catholic School Week from the city of Kingsville.

Bishop Michael Mulvey made a pastoral visit to Sacred Heart School in Rockport on Friday, Feb. 14. He celebrated Mass at 8 a.m. with Father Ray Yrlas, pastor. The bishop joined students for breakfast, followed by visits to all of the classrooms.

Campaign 2014, the annual on-air fundraiser benefiting 89.5HD KLUX will take to the air on Monday morning, Feb. 24. The five-day event is the primary fundraiser for the local non-commercial station licensed to Diocesan Telecommunications Corporation.

Bundled for warmth, more than 250 of Corpus Christi’s area homeless were treated to hot slices of mouth-watering pizza from Little Caesars Love Kitchen at the Mother Teresa Shelter on Feb. 11.