Joann De Los Santos stood by the side of the road and her breath caught in her throat. There, humbled and burdened, carrying a cross in a slow and painful procession was her son, Justin. He had volunteered to play Jesus in the living Stations of the Cross this year. “I put myself in Mary’s position,” De Los Santos said. That afternoon, both mother and son were in tears, contemplating God’s divine plan of salvation.

Dr. Osbert Blow tried to ignore that nagging voice telling him that he was going to be a doctor. He really tried. He started rowing as a student at Columbia University and wanted to free up a little more time for exploring the sport, but he just could not get the “doctor stuff” out of his system. He decided he needed to take care of it once and for all.

Msgr. Michael Howell, 70, is full of joy, life and love. You can hear him singing long before he enters a room. This native of the Corpus Christi Westside says his vocation to the priesthood has been very rewarding. “Sometimes you end up closer to parishioners than your own family,” he said. In fact, the most challenging part of his priesthood was being reassigned to a different parish. 

After giving as many as 50 years of ministering and caring for others in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, three priests are now retiring, Monsignors Michael Howell, Lawrence White and Marcos Martinez. They have baptized sons and daughters, celebrated the sacrament of Matrimony, presided at funeral Masses of loved ones and listened and absolved sins. They have brought Jesus to us in the Eucharist, and by their actions reflect the love Jesus has for his Church.

Newly ordained priest, Father Richard Gutierrez, celebrated his first Mass, a Mass of Thanksgiving, on the Solemnity of Pentecost on June 9 at his home parish, Holy Family Church in Corpus Christi. 

Newly ordained priest, Fathers Ramiro “RJ” Regalado, Jr. celebrated his first Mass, a Mass of Thanksgiving, on the Solemnity of Pentecost, June 8

"The dreaming is over, now is the time to get to specific points,” Bishop Michael Mulvey said of the Pastoral Plan Development Days on May 30 and 31. “We need to present to the world the face of the Church through its different ministries.” "El sueño ha terminado, hemos llegado al momento de obtener puntos específicos”, dijo el Obispo Michael Mulvey sobre los días de Desarrollo del Plan Pastoral del 30 y 31 de mayo. “Necesitamos presentarle al mundo el rostro de la Iglesia a través de sus diferentes ministerios”.

Mons. Marcos Martínez, de 86 años, dice de las personas a las que ha servido y amado: “Soy como un hermano para ellos. Cuando te conviertes en sacerdote, ya no te perteneces a ti mismo, perteneces a la gente. Es lo mismo, en el matrimonio, uno se pertenece al otro. No pienses en ti mismo, ni un solo momento. El sacerdocio no es una profesión; es una vocación Tienes que pensar y hacer para el otro y no pensar en ti mismo, nunca ”.

Michael Winterroth and two of his fellow seminarians, Mark Valdez and Matthew Martin Kyle, are currently spending their summer working for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. While in Corpus Christi during their break from St. Joseph College Seminary in Louisiana, most of their time is spent working at Mother Teresa Shelter.

“And I found delight in the human race.” We read these words of God in the Book of Proverbs on Trinity Sunday. What a profound reality to hear that God finds delight in us. Let’s take a moment to ponder this: we can be the delight of God.

Msgr. Marcos Martinez, 86, says of the people he has served and loved, “I am like a brother to them. When you become a priest, you don’t belong to yourself, you belong to the people. It is the same, in marriage, you belong to one another. Don’t think of yourself, not one moment. The priesthood is not a profession; it’s a vocation. You have to think and to do for the other and don’t think of yourself – not ever.”

Deacons Richard Gutierrez and Ramiro Regalado, Jr. were raised to the sacred order of the priesthood on June 8 at Corpus Christi Cathedral. During the Liturgy, Bishop Michael Mulvey laid his hands on their heads. He then took holy oil and anointed their hands – hands that will hold the Lord in the consecration.