St. Mary’s University has become the first institution of higher education in Texas to achieve Fair Trade University status. Fair trade is a social movement that helps producers in developing countries work in safe conditions, improve the lives of their families and earn extra money to invest in their communities.

Bishop Michael Mulvey celebrated the fifth anniversary of his installation as bishop on March 25 at the Corpus Christi Cathedral. The thanksgiving Mass was followed by a reception on the grounds of the Cathedral sponsored by the Bishop's Guild. A complete story of this special occasion will appear in the May issue of the South Texas Catholic.

Obispos católicos y evangélicos luteranos visitaron a madres jóvenes con sus hijos que han huido de la violencia en sus países y se encuentran recluidos en el Centro de Detención Dilley, en Dilley, Texas. La visita se realizó el 27 de Marzo. Los líderes religiosos hicieron un llamado al gobierno federal a ponerle fin a la práctica de las detenciones familiares, citando los efectos dañinos en las madres, niños y en el carácter moral de la sociedad.

Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran bishops visited with young mothers and children who have fled violence in their home countries and are now incarcerated at Dilley Detention Center in Dilley, Texas, on March 27. The faith leaders called upon the federal government to halt the practice of family detentions, citing the harmful effects on mothers, children and the moral character of society.

On Tuesday, March 31, the priests of the diocese will join Bishop Michael Mulvey at the Cathedral to celebrate the Chrism Mass. This Mass manifests the unity of the priests with their bishop.

St. Martin of Tours Parish in Kingsville responded to the desire of the community to feel and live the spirituality of the Lenten season by promoting a spiritual journey that centered on several retreats in preparation for the mysteries of the salvation, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Today, March 24 Catholics from across the state united for the Texas Catholic Conference's 2015 Texas Catholic Faith In Action Advocacy Day. This bi-annual rally is hosted by the Texas Bishops to promote the Church's values of Life, Justice, Charity and Religious Freedom to members of the 84th Texas Legislature.

More than 4.5 million children and all those who work in Catholic ministries serving youth have been trained and educated in the prevention and reporting of child abuse. The Church continues to strive to be one of the safest institutions in the country.

St. Joseph Parish in Alice celebrated the Feast of St. Joseph on Thursday, March 19. Several area priests concelebrated Mass with Father Pete Elizardo, pastor of St. Joseph and Father Juan Fernando Gamez associate pastor.

Mary Arnolds, a sixth grader at St. Pius X School won the Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest marking the 125th anniversary of Ellis Island as an immigration station. The annual American History Contest Essay 2014-15 was "A Child's Journey Through Ellis Island." Students had to imagine passing through Ellis Island in 1892.

Bishop Michael Mulvey, in conjunction with the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, will begin recruiting prospective aspirants to enter formation to become permanent deacons. The inquiry period will begin with a meeting in August 2015, with future meetings being held every other month.

Incarnate Word Academy senior Katie Duncan will be honored by the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter at a reception on March 27 at 2 p.m. after she was named the chapter’s scholarship essay contest winner.

Women's Cursillo #269 presented an English Women's Cursillo on Feb. 26-March 1 at the Bishop Drury Cursillo Center. The Cursillo is held biannually, usually two for men and two for women. The primary purpose is a small course in Christianity, promoting the Catholic Faith, through small group sharing.

The Texas Senate will honor the 2014 Lumen Christi Award recipients, the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (ICM), for their dedication to serving the poor in the most impoverished areas in our nation. For residents of the border town of Penitas, Texas, these Sisters represent hope to the people in their communities.

In observance of its patron St., St. Joseph Church in Corpus Christi held a novena from Wednesday, March 11, through Thursday, March 19, that concluded with a special Mass and celebration for the Feast Day of St. Joseph. Every evening, parishioners recited the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a prayer to St. Joseph and celebrated Mass honoring St. Joseph with a different theme.

Incarnate Word Academy eighth grader Gabriel Rauen has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2015 Texas Geography Bee after passing a qualifying test.

Two state agencies that work to protect the health and safety of Texans have teamed up on an analysis of child abuse deaths and a plan to help prevent them. The agencies used research data to develop a plan to target communities with unusually high numbers of sleep-related deaths, deaths related to motor vehicles and deaths of children who were physically abused.

The Incarnate Word Academy Band and Choir performed for residents at the Esplanade Assisted Living Center on Feb. 24. Throughout the school year, middle and high school level students from the IWA Band and Choir have performed at a number of locations and events such as Mount Carmel Home assisted living center, Dr. Hector P. Garcia’s birthday celebration and the Spirit Center’s celebrity dinner.