The Incarnate Word Academy boys’ varsity soccer players and coaches gathered for an awards banquet on March 25 honoring the teams’ All-District and All-State Academic accomplishments for their 2017-2018 season. The team also took the time to offer their well-wishes to six senior players who will be graduating this May.

The charism of the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration is glorifying God by living a life totally dedicated to the contemplative life in a permanent enclosure. They keep adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, sing the praises of God seven times a day in their divine office and offer prayers and sacrifices, especially for priests and missionaries.

Incarnate Word Academy's High School Level band, choir, and piano students competed at this year’s TAPPS State Music Championships on Wednesday, March 28 at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

Ask a religious educator how much they love the Diocese of Corpus Christi’s new online formation program, and they will give an enthusiastic answer. “I’d call it Catechism 101. It’s all good, useful information and it’s very easy to use,” said Lori Katzfey, a director of religious education at St. George Church in George West.

Three sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament celebrated 70 years in consecrated life on March 29. Observing this landmark of service to the Lord and his Church are Sister Mary Stella Barrientes, Sister Mary Christina Bradley and Sister Mary Lucy Garcia.

As many of our readers know first hand, grandchildren can easily tug at your heartstrings. That has indeed been the case with my wife Genie and I. Our daughter Christina and her husband Bobby, blessed us with our first grandchild, Joseph Isaac, in August. My son Matthew and his wife Jes are scheduled to bring our granddaughter Aurora Jeane into our lives on July 4. Our heart is made full of joy by the fact that our daughter Monica and her fiance Ryan will enter into the holy sacrament of matrimony in September. Genie and I want to be an active part of our children and grandchildren’s lives so by the time you read this column we will be comfortably living in retirement learning to spoil grandkids.

Throughout the life of the Church, for more than 2,000 years, the Holy Spirit has given extraordinary graces to be shared with the entire Church. Usually, these graces come through a founder or groups of people who initiate a spiritual life centered around a charism. For example, St. Francis understood the gospel as poverty. His charism was to live with and care for the poor. Thus the entire Franciscan movement began. Around St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, the Carmelite charism of prayer was given as a richness for the entire Church. In our day, several charisms have emerged before, during and after the Second Vatican Council.

Movido por la intención de atender las preocupaciones de la feligresía de la diócesis de Corpus Christi y por iniciativa del obispo Michael Mulvey, se inició recientemente preparación para un plan pastoral. Se inició con una serie de encuestas realizadas por un equipo de facilitadores profesionales que pertenecen a una empresa de consultoría muy bien conocida a nivel nacional.

Tony Valverde had a heavy weight on his heart. As a parishioner at Christ the King, he had recently experienced the closing of their school. Seeking to share his opinion on the matter, he attended the Town Hall meeting hosted by the Diocese of Corpus Christi at Ss. Cyril and Methodius in late February.