Father Terencio (Tito) Mathew Ayo, a priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) died March 4, 2019.  Funeral services will be held at S. Joseph Church, located on 710 S. 19th St. in Corpus Christi on March 14 and 15.

Priests, sisters and laity distributed ashes in churches, nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, jails, and other institutions throughout the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

The Most Reverend Edward J. Burns, Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, announces the completion and dedication of the Cardinal Farrell Student Center at Holy Trinity Seminary, Irving. Bishop Burns presided at the dedication ceremony on March 3 where he offered a special blessing of the building.

Youth from the Diocese of Corpus Christi participated in the Middle School Youth Spectacular 2019, “ASH–Always Seek Him,” at Richard Borchard Fairgrounds on March 3. The day was dedicated to fun, faith, games and talks.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Portland celebrated 40 years of unity and charity at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on March 3.

Incarnate Word Academy hosted its second annual campus-wide S.T.E.M. Festival on Feb. 28. This year's festival showcased over 30 student-led exhibits focused on the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with students from first grade through twelfth. Art exhibits, drone demonstrations, and a green screen photo booth were also available for festivalgoers to enjoy.

St. Patrick students in Physical Education learn the Texas Two-Step and Cotton-Eyed Joe in honor of Texas Independence Day on Friday, March 1 –– one day before the actual celebration, March 2.

My title is a cliché to be sure. However, if a bronze statue in Washington, D.C.’s National Statuary Hall Collection could talk, it would beg to differ. Kneeling prayer, Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart, S.P., (1823-1902) is an image of the strength and determination of countless other religious sisters who dedicated their lives in active ministry in our nation.

Lent reminds us that we are pilgrims on the path of discipleship, living out the paschal mystery in our lives, each according to our own vocation.

March 19 is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary. It is an annual celebration as inconspicuous as the saint himself is. Recently, however, the name of “Joseph,” husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has been included in all of the Eucharistic Prayers of the Mass as a recognition of his place in the life of the Incarnate Word and Mary.

Joseph Afuso from St. Patrick’s Troop 162 presents a check to Delia Rosenbaum, Vice Principal of Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School.

Sister Marilyn Springs, IWBS, was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, but feels right at home in south Texas. Currently the principal at Holy Family School, she cherishes the responsibility of guiding the Catholic education of more than 100 school children on Corpus Christi’s Westside.

Located in the Encinos neighborhood of Corpus Christi, Nuestra Señora de San Juan de Los Lagos, Madre de la Iglesia Parish continues the tradition of changing of the dress of the miniature image of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos. Part of the tradition is to allow a padrino (sponsor) or family to change the Virgin’s new dress.

Why does Catholic advocacy matter? “It matters because truth has consequences. If we don’t fight and engage in our culture, it’s going to have consequences. Our culture is broken and in pain. It’s the fruit of the choices of action and inaction,” said Benjamin Nye, a theology teacher at St. John Paul II High School. Nye is leading a group of students to the Texas Catholic Advocacy Day this month. He fights every day to teach his students that morality matters – especially, in an ever-more-relative world.

City commissioners in McAllen, Texas have ordered Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV) to vacate their migrant respite center within 90 days, after complaints from neighbors.

St. Pius X fourth through sixth grade students created artwork based on their studies, incorporating Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering and Math (STREAM) curriculum and teamwork. The exhibit, entitled, “Sans Plastique,” was displayed at the Msgr. Richard Shirley Youth Center on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. 

During the “January 12th Summit” in preparation for the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, Bishop Mulvey addressed more than 100 summit participants on the topic of the Church as the Body of Christ.

Father Varghese Ethappiri, pastor at Our Lady of Consolation in Vattmann, was working to renovate Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Riviera, when the cost of construction and materials in south Texas suddenly doubled in price. He asked parishioners to put their heads together to come up with a solution.

Matthew’s Gospel speaks tellingly of the qualities and requirements for those seeking to serve God. In chapter 9 we are happy and challenged by the promise of an abundant harvest. The sobering counterpoint rests with the limited number of laborers able to bring that sweet harvest home. In chapter 20 the simile between the kingdom of God and a vineyard enlightens our understanding and suggests how we should proceed, “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” That is serious and necessary advice for anybody seeking to work “in the vineyard.”

Ss. Cyril & Methodius School ended National Catholic Schools Week with Mass and a Blessing of the school’s new temporary classrooms, computer room and library on Feb. 1.