Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion–in response to questions about the impact the US Supreme Court's ruling on marriage–that allows Texas county clerks and their employees as well as justices of the peace and judges to refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses if it would be contrary to their religious beliefs.

Bishop Michael Mulvey of the Diocese of Corpus Christi said that the US Supreme Court “ignored the reality that marriage is a union of one man and one woman in a permanent loving relationship.” He urged the faithful in his care to “pray more intensely for our country and its citizens.”

The U.S. Supreme Court decision, June 26, interpreting the U.S. Constitution to require all states to license and recognize same-sex “marriage” “is a tragic error that harms the common good and most vulnerable among us,” said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Walking among us, albeit in some of the most remote and farthest reaches of America, are true heroes who are living examples of Pope Francis's call to mercy. These selfless men and women, who have answered the pope's call to go out to the margins and serve others, are being recognized by Catholic Extension, a papal society whose mission is to build and strengthen the Catholic faith throughout the United States.

The Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), representing the leaders of the Catholic religious ongregations in the United States welcome the Holy Father’s call to embrace our moral responsibility to care for one another by caring for all of God’s creation. Men and women religious have a long history of standing with those most in need; today that includes those who suffer the consequences of environmental degradation and the destruction of God’s creation.

On Wednesday, June 24, Bishop Michael Mulvey blessed a new adoration chapel and altar at Our Lady of Assumption in Ingleside. It was the culmination of a dream of the parish pastor, Father Thomas Wellar, and the congregation.

The volunteerism of the Knights of Columbus and the fraternal organization's fundraising for charitable works fit right in with Pope Francis' emphasis on the idea of "a church of and for the poor," according to Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

Two sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, with ties to the Diocese of Corpus Christi, are celebrating Jubilees this year. Sister Margaret Quinlan, a native of Troy, New York, is celebrating her 60th anniversary in ministry, including teaching at St. John School in Robstown from 1962-64. Sister Richard Bussing, a native of Brazil, Indiana, is observing 75 years in consecrated life. She taught at St. John's from 1955-59 and from 1966-68.

Family members, friends, clergy and religious attended Mass and celebrated Msgr. Celestine Murray's 60th anniversary as a priest in the Diocese of Corpus Christi on June 19 at St. John Vianney Chapel.

National Cooperative Bank (NCB), a leading financial services company dedicated to serving cooperatives and housing communities nationwide, announced that it has provided a $4.8 million construction loan to the Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, Texas. The financing will be used for the construction of a new monastery and administrative offices on the sisters’ grounds.

Bishop Michael Mulvey has called the faithful in the Diocese of Corpus Christi to commit themselves to prayer and penance for the preservation of religious freedom during Fortnight for Freedom 2015, and on the two Fridays during the fortnight to voluntarily fast and abstain from meat. The bishop will open the Fortnight for Freedom 2015 with a Mass at the Corpus Christi Cathedral on Monday, June 22, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Saint Leo University Corpus Christi Education Center will hold commencement exercises at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi on Friday, June 26. NAS commanding officer, Captain Stephen E. Banta, will deliver the guest commencement address.

The Office of Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Corpus Christi is sponsoring a unique 3-on-3-basketball tournament on Saturday, June 13, at St. John Paul II High School Gym, located 3036 Saratoga Blvd. in Corpus Christi. A special half-time event will feature diocesan youth ministers challenging five Catholic priests for tournament bragging rights.

On Wednesday, May 27, Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmody celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass for eighth grade students from Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School at Most Precious Blood Church in Corpus Christi. Class Valedictorian of the 2015 eighth grade class was Joseph Afuso and class Salutatorian was Victoria Fuentes. The week prior to his finals Afuso participated in a grueling National Geographic Geography Bee National Finals, where he represented the state of Texas.

Incarnate Word Academy President and CEO Charles D. Imbergamo is leaving Corpus Christi after six years to become the president and CEO at Cristo Rey Tampa High School in Tampa, FL.

The Board of Directors is delighted to announce the election of Lee Gwozdz as the new President of the American Federation of Pueri Cantores. Frequently serving as a guest conductor, Mr. Gwozdz has been a longstanding leader of AFPC. He is the Director of Liturgy and Cathedral Music Director in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. He has served as a clinician and conductor for choirs of youth and teens in more than a hundred cities around the United States.