South Texas Catholic

The Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group (CBDRG), along with its many partners, broke ground on "Tierra de Esperanza" (Land of Hope) on Sept. 23. Twenty-three new homes will soon be built on this 3.6-acre lot in Woodsboro's small town, in Refugio County.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many regions and most dioceses have not been able to hold their In-Services. This virtual event is a modified Diocesan In-Service, open to all dioceses in the country, to facilitate this phase of the process. It will take place on Friday, Oct. 9 from 6-9 p.m. CST and Saturday, Oct. 10 from 11:30-7 p.m. CST. During the event, there will be national webinar-style sessions and other sessions where participants will breakout by the diocese for discussion. On Friday there will also be a session specifically for a conversation between bishops and young adults.

Father John Riccardo and the team of the Detroit-based non-profit apostolate ACTS XXIX are calling for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting on Sept. 24.

Pope Francis said in his 2020 message that the period from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 -- the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi -- is being celebrated as a “Season of Creation.” In Part 4 of Pope Francis’ letter “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” he urges us to see this year’s Jubilee for the Earth as a time to restore the original harmony of creation and to heal strained human relationships.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation selected approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, who have an opportunity to continue the competition for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million.