Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament (IWBS) Immigration Action Group in Corpus Christi hosted a Zoom meeting with Sister Norma Pimentel, a Missionary of Jesus (MJ) and executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV). Sister Norma and CCRGV volunteers have led the effort to provide humanitarian assistance to immigrants and refugees through the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen.

A 20th-century German composer once went on an extended mountain climb in the Alps during which it stormed quite strongly, and he got soaked to the skin. When he returned home from this adventure, he sat himself down at the piano and improvised a piece based on the experience. Over time, he composed “An Alpine Symphony,” a musical mountain-climb up an Alpine mountain to the summit, a moment of exhilaration on the top of the mountain, and a return down to the base with a storm along the way.  

We should look at Lent as a self-imposed time of sacrifice with the intention of redirecting our life to God. The image of the desert is appropriate to Lent and the spiritual life. The “desert” is a place and time to go in search of God as Jesus did throughout his life on earth. 

Two young professionals on staff at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have been chosen by the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communications to be part of a unique digital media project. As the Catholic Church seeks to embrace new and effective ways of communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, social media and mobile applications have been utilized as key tools in communicating the Gospel message.

“Campaign 21”, the annual Spring On-Air fundraiser benefiting 89.5HD K L U X is on the air.  The 5 day event, which launched today, is the primary fundraiser for the local non-commercial station.  Local dignitaries, guests, station personalities and volunteers will be making appeals and manning the phones, taking pledges from listeners during each of the three daily segments during the campaign.  The Campaign will conclude at 6:30 PM on Friday, 

Most Rev. Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD invites the Diocese to participate in a Day of Prayer, Fasting and Adoration every Wednesday. He will lead a Holy Hour and Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Corpus Christi Cathedral at 6 p.m. Because of Social Distancing there will be limited seating. However, the Holy Hour and Adoration will be live-streamed via, Facebook (Diocese, Cathedral), Diocesan website (diocesecc.org), GoCCN.org, and YouTube (Diocese of Corpus Christi).

As part of National Catholic School Week Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School students took time to recognize Healthcare Heroes by creating beautiful thank you cards.  

Sarah Urbanovsky, age 15, has been singing since she was six-years-old. She began singing in the children's choir at St Pius X School in the first grade. 

The Knights of Columbus Assembly 1097 who in partnership with other local Assemblies and Councils will be presenting a $41, 572.50 check to Corpus Christi Pregnancy Center as part of a successful completion of their Ultrasound Initiative.

"You have but one teacher and you are all brothers" (Mt 23:8) is the title of the message issued by Pope Francis for the World Day of the Sick.  In his message the Holy Father encourages a trust-based relationship with the sick and the nurturing of the integral human healing.

From February 1-5, Incarnate Word Academy participated in National Catholic Schools week to celebrate Catholic education.

During National Catholic Schools Week, students at St. Elizabeth School in Alice honored first responders. Sixth-grade students marked the names of all first responders in Alice on the back of Pray signs. They then walked from the school to the fire department and covered the yard with Pray signs, praying on-site for their safety. 

One of the most hidden and vulnerable populations our Church is called to accompany and protect are women, men, and children subjected to human trafficking. Also referred to as modern-day slavery, this illicit industry generates over 150 billion dollars a year by compelling human beings to perform backbreaking labor or engage in commercial sex acts. Contrary to public perception, these brothers and sisters of ours are not only trapped through physical force, yet also many times by insidious schemes such as fraud and coercion.  In other words, traffickers’ prey upon the vulnerable with false promises of a better life, threat of harm or death against their loved ones, withholding identify documents, tricking them into thinking they owe more debt, and more.

Each year, National Marriage Week USA and World Marriage Day provide an opportunity for the Catholic Church to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family. This year, National Marriage Week USA will be celebrated February 7-14 and World Marriage Day which is commemorated on the second Sunday of February will be celebrated on Sunday, February 14.

Sacred Heart School in Rockport kicked off National Catholic Schools Week with Mass at Sacred Heart Church on Sunday, Jan. 31. Events featured throughout the week included Monday’s Religion Bowl, Tuesday’s Spelling Bee, Wednesday’s Hats off to Catholic Education, Thursday’s Grandparent’s Day, and Friday’s Appreciation Mass and Student Talent Show. 

The Incarnate Word Academy Middle Level invited local first responders to campus on Feb. 4 in celebration of Celebrate Our Nation day during National Catholic Schools Week.

Yesterday, President Joe Biden issued three migration-related Executive Orders related to removing barriers and restoring due process in the legal immigration system.

On Jan. 31, Margaret Karram, from the Holy Land, was elected President of the Focolare Movement with more than two-thirds of the votes cast among the participants in the General Assembly of the Movement, composed of 359 representatives from all over the world. She succeeds the founder Chiara Lubich and Maria Voce who was in office for 12 years (two terms).

St. Pius X has kicked-off National Catholic Schools Week (NCSW) with a parade. Since 1996 the school has traditionally established the parade on the Monday of NCSW. This year, a pandemic year, was a bit different because children, staff, teachers, neighbors and spectators wore masks. But their joy and excitement were evident as they waved while walking, riding, and marching to the beat of the music provided by the St. John Paul II High School band.

One of my favorite expressions has taken on new meaning during the COVID pandemic: “There’s a silver lining to every cloud that sails about the heavens if only we could see it.”