BALTIMORE—One hundred and sixty-three dioceses have engaged in the Fifth National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry. The USCCB V Encuentro initiative is a process of evangelization, consultation and mission that was officially launched last year to discern ways for the Church in the United States to better respond to the ever-growing Hispanic presence, and to help Hispanic Catholics to strengthen their Christian identity and their response as missionary disciples for the entire Church.

On Monday, Nov. 13, at the Alice KC Hall, nearly 1,000 community members came out for the Sixth Annual Alice Community Meal sponsored the city’s three Catholic churches and a Christian community church. “It was a beautiful display of Christian unity,” Father Julian Cabrera, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe said.

More than 250 people, including bishops, priests and religious, attended the Second Annual Celebration of Charity benefit fundraiser on Nov. 9. The event, held in a warehouse where some non-perishables were still being stored in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, is the largest fund-raising event for Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi.

Bishop Michael Mulvey of the Diocese of Corpus Christi asked pastors in all parishes and missions in the diocese to read a letter from him at all Sunday Masses expressing a message of condolence and hope regarding the tragic loss of life at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs onon Nov. 5. A lone gunman killed 26 people and wounded 20 others in a senseless act of violence.

La semana pasada, con gran conmoción y pena, nos dimos cuenta de la tragedia masiva que ocurrió en La Primera Iglesia Bautista del poblado de Sutherland Springs, Texas. Sucedió en el Día de Nuestro Señor cuando los pacíficos parroquianos de la iglesia se reunían para alabar a Dios. Nuestros corazones sufren especialmente por las víctimas inocentes y sus familias. Lo que nos hace tomar a pecho esta tragedia en particular es que este triste hecho sucedió solo a una corta distancia de nuestra diócesis. Estos son nuestros vecinos. Son nuestros amigos. Son nuestros hermanos en Cristo.

In observance of Veterans’ Day, Incarnate Word Academy invited veterans of the armed forces as well as active-duty military members to celebrate an honorary Mass on Nov. 9 in the school’s James R. Dougherty Jr., Center.

Incarnate Word Academy welcomed guest speaker Katherine Mason Young, vice president with JDW Cotillions and executive director of Executive Social Presentation, to speak to Middle Level students about business etiquette and professional social skills on Nov. 9.

St John Paul II High School students held a Special Olympics Bowling Event with friends with special needs at the Bowlero Bowling Alley on Nov. 3-4. The event was sponsored by John Paul II High School's Voices that Care Club sponsored by Sherri Davis, a teacher from St. John Paul II High School.

Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Ingleside celebrated Father Charles Doherty’s 90th birthday with a Mass and reception on Oct. 15. Father Doherty, who is presently living in San Antonio, was the pastor when Our Lady of the Assumption was elevated to a parish in 1970.

Father James Vasquez, Sister Delphine Alpinjoh, SSA and Deacon Armando Leal were the keynote speakers at the annual Religious and Clergy Appreciation Dinner held at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Nov. 2. The annual event is hosted by the Knights of Columbus.

Catholic Charities USA has given a major gift to Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi to be used for those financially devastated by Hurricane Harvey. The funds must be used by Dec. 31, so there is only a limited time to apply and receive aid.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has acquired the Catholic.Bible domain name that will serve as the home base for resources for National Bible Week. This year’s National Bible Week celebration takes place Nov. 12-18.

The Diocese of Corpus Christi has announced the establishment of the “Institute for Parish Leadership and Ministry Formation”. The mission of the Institute is to form laity for parish ministry as authentic witnesses to the Gospel for the New Evangelization.

Catholics in the Diocese of Corpus Christi will have the opportunity to “give to those who have given a lifetime” as part of the collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious, to be held in parishes Dec. 9-10. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington, D.C., the annual appeal benefits 32,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose religious congregations lack adequate retirement funding.

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will deliver a keynote address for the third Hindu-Catholic meeting to be held on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Maryland. The theme for the gathering is “Love of Neighbor in the Catholic and Hindu Traditions: Reflections on Nationalism, War & Poverty.”

After at least 26 people were killed when a gunman opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, the local Catholic archbishop offered prayers and solidarity for the victims. Bishop Michael Mulvey of the Diocese of Corpus Christi also extended his prayers and sympathy to First Baptist Church.

The Coastal Bend Day of Giving is a 24-hour online opportunity to raise funds for nonprofits at the forefront of assisting the neediest. Prescheduling for this year's community give-together began on Nov. 5 with a minimum gift of only $10. All prescheduled donations will be processed on Nov. 14.

Joseph and Mary’s journey mirrors the daily journey of our own lives, often filled with struggles, worries, stress and even despair; but, we continue to move toward finding Jesus, toward finding peace and joy in him. Little Jesus is always with us, as he was with Joseph and Mary. He waits on our coming to him, as did the angels, the shepherds and the Magi on the night of his birth.

More than 5,000 abused or neglected Texas children were adopted from state care last year, but the need has not diminished for more families willing to provide safe, loving homes. Every day, more children enter foster care in Texas. Some won't be able to go home again and will need adoptive families to start new lives that are free from abuse or neglect.