VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Leading a penitential liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis surprised his liturgical adviser by going to confession during the service.

KLUX 89.5HD and CCN Radio 89.5-2 will team up to carry all of the evening Holy Week Liturgies live from Corpus Christi Cathedral as well as special Good Friday programming. Any programming available on KLUX 89.5HD will also be available simultaneously online as streaming audio at KLUX.org and by way of the KLUX Smartphone APP.

WASHINGTON—The 2014 Catholic Home Missions Appeal will be taken up in many dioceses the weekend of April 26-27. The appeal supports isolated, challenged parishes and missions in dioceses and eparchies across the United States and in several U.S. territories in the Caribbean and Pacific islands, including Samoa Pago-Pago, St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

The Blessed John Paul II High School theatre arts program invites the public to come watch their production of “Seussical the Musical." The performance will take place at the school’s Fine Arts Room on April 28 at 6 p.m.

WASHINGTON—En su reunión del 13 de marzo, el Subcomité para la Iglesia en América Latina de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos, aprobó fondos para 127 proyectos por un total de más de $1.7 millones. Los fondos serán distribuidos como subvenciones para ayudar con la labor pastoral de la Iglesia en la región del Caribe y de América Latina.

Bishop Michael Mulvey was among 65 bishops from throughout the world who traveled to Castel Gandolfo, the location of the pope’s summer residence, on Feb. 24-28 to take part in the 37th international meeting of bishops and friends of the Focolare Movement. Pope Francis granted the group an audience on Feb. 27.

For the good of the people of God in the Diocese of Corpus Christi Bishop Michael Mulvey appointed Father Edgardo Barrameda, SOLT as Administrator of Christ the King Parish in Corpus Christi, effective March 10.

Father Peter J. West speaks to students on the meaning, history and worldly travels of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa in the chapel on Blessed John Paul II High School campus Feb. 24. Father West is on an “Ocean to Ocean” Pilgrimage for Human Life International. He accompanied the traveling icon to Corpus Christi and concelebrated Mass with Father Ogie Rosalinas at St. Joseph Church in Corpus Christi. Many people from around the diocese gathered to see the traveling icon. The following day some of the faithful processed to Crosstown and Morgan to pray the rosary in the icon’s presence outside the abortion clinic.

To Celebrate the Feast Day of St. Katharine Drexel and to give the parishioners a better understanding of the historical significance of the creation of the Holy Cross Parish, Msgr. Michael Howell gave a history of the origination of the Holy Cross Church and buildings and how St. Katharine Drexel was so instrumental in the purchasing of these buildings.

Hace 14 años en la ciudad de Corpus Christi que se formo el grupo Caminando en la Fe, un grupo de oración que surge como respuesta a un llamado que siente su fundadora Gaby Pinedo de “evangelizar y enseñar a las personas a conocer a Jesús para que pasara de ser algo disperso a algo concreto.”

When Mary told the angel at the Annunciation, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word,” she became the patroness of every priest and religious until the end of time. Her acceptance of God’s invitation to become his mother made her the mother of all vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

In June, Catholic men and women between the ages of 18-35 will have a unique opportunity to support each other in their quest to discover God’s plan for them. The Vocations Office of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, assisted by a volunteer committee of women religious, is hosting the first Diocesan Vocation Awareness Retreat the weekend of June 20-23 at the Pax Christi Liturgical Retreat Center.

Sister Mary Catherine Brehony, IWBS is not just a math teacher, she teaches people. White-haired now and standing at all of 5’2”, she may be overlooked not just for her stature but as described by former student, Sister Annette Wagner, IWBS, “as humble and self-effacing, but with a delightful sense of humor which she can dish out with a twinkle in her eyes.”

Sister Barbara Bluntzer, SP, who this year celebrates 65 years of living a consecrated life, finds God not only in the church, but also “on the shores of Oregon and in the Rocky Mountains of Canada.” She loves to travel but she keeps God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit uppermost in her mind throughout every day.

For more than 25 years, St. Pius X School has offered an Enriched Program for children who need an extra challenge in the classroom. Today, it still stands as the only program of its kind, offering parochial students in grades 1-6 a unique opportunity to excel in the classroom.

From the moment Pope Francis, dressed simply in a white cassock, stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time and bowed, he signaled his pontificate would bring some style differences to the papacy.

In 1953, 33 Catholics came together in the Diocese of Corpus Christi to organize a Serra Club to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life in their diocese. After celebrating 50 years of successful ministry, many members began to age or pass away and a few years short of its 60th anniversary the Serra Club became inactive.