Bishop Michael Mulvey presided over the first Mass in the newly renovated chapel inside Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi on Dec. 7.

It is a saying Mary Sandoval did not invent, but uses often. “My job is to get them to heaven,” Sandoval said. “If they get into Harvard on the way there, it’s an added bonus.”

On Sunday, Oct. 23, Bishop Michael Mulvey joined parishioners at Sacred Heart in Sinton to celebrate 100 years as a parish. He told those gathered at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, “We can’t just live the past, we must learn from the past and be grateful, but we must live that same faith today and look forward to an eternal life with God.”

Bishop Michael Mulvey ordained Father Eric Gabriel Chapa to the priesthood at Corpus Christi Cathedral on Dec. 3. Father Chapa celebrated his first Mass on Dec. 4 at his home parish St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles.

During his 27-year pontificate, St. John Paul II spent a great deal of time talking about vocations. He was not only talking to young, discerning men and women, either. He had messages for parents too.

Cada año la Antorcha Guadalupana, una peregrinación/caminata organizada por la Asociación del Tepeyac, pasa por la diócesis de Corpus Christi. La destinación de la Antorcha, que tiene su origen en la Basílica de Guadalupe en México, es la Basílica de St. Patrick en Nueva York. Es interesante que la Virgen de Guadalupe y St. Patrick son co patrocinadores de la diócesis.

I want to wish a very blessed Advent and happy and holy Christmas to all of you. Over the past few years, and certainly over the past few months, we have witnessed a political, social phenomenon that has caused an unparalleled division among us as Americans—within families, communities, schools and yes even within the Church. At the end of Election Day last month I asked myself what effect this has had among children and young people in our country; what are they thinking? How will the behavior exhibited by adults affect them in the future as leaders in our communities?

Incarnate Word Academy varsity boys’ and girls’ cross country teams literally hit the ground running in Waco on Oct. 29 as they earned second place at the TAPPS 6-5A State Championship.

Incarnate Word Academy band and choir perform for residents at Mount Carmel Home Assisted Living Center on Dec. 1.

Incarnate Word Academy High School Level is excited to announce its theatre departments’ public performance of “Almost, Maine” — written by John Cariani. There will be one more public performance be on Thursday, Dec.1 at 7 p.m. in the IWA Chapel’s Dining Hall. 

Kelsey Moulder, a nutritional health coach from Natural Grocers, met with athletes at Incarnate World Academy on Nov. 10. Moulder discussed healthy eating choices and the importance of fueling their bodies.

Senior William “Billy” Teichman from Incarnate Word Academy signed a letter of intent on Nov. 14 to attend St. Edward’s University and will join the men’s golf team.

The student walked into the confessional and took a half step back as if he had walked in when he shouldn’t have. He walked back in and began to confess his sins to the priest. His hesitancy was due to the fact that there was no screen and he was sitting face to face with his confessor. The confessional, as it turned out, was an old broom closet and the room does not allow for much privacy.

On Oct. 16, 40 Altar servers and parents from Resurrection Catholic Church in Alamo, Texas drove up 169 miles to Immaculate Conception Church in Taft to join local devotees of St. José Sánchez Del Rio, the child martyr whom Pope Francis canonized that day. The Rio Grande Valley pilgrims came bearing generous and beautiful gifts of a Chalice and a Paten for the parish of Immaculate Conception.

The Diocese of Corpus Christi’s 10 new deacons wasted no time in following their bishop’s exhortation to “live the Word”. The day after his ordination, Deacon Shayne Katzfey, assigned to St. George in George West, found himself at the town’s Catholic cemetery blessing graves in a downpour.