Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament celebrated the Anniversary of Religious Profession on April 14 at St. Patrick Church. Bishop Michael Mulvey concelebrated Mass with many priests throughout the diocese.

We have come through another Lenten season, and in the process have striven to become closer to our Lord. We have been blessed once more to celebrate Easter Sunday in all its splendor and hope for God’s people. We continue now to practice habits newly formed or renewed and strengthened during Lent.

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.

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.

St. Faustina writes that she pleased Jesus best “...by meditating on his sorrowful Passion…by such meditation much light falls upon my soul,” she said. “He who wants to learn true humility should reflect on the Passion of Jesus…I want to resemble you, o Jesus—you crucified, tortured and humiliated. Jesus, imprint upon my heart and soul your own humility. I love you, Jesus (Diary of St. Faustina, Sec. 267).”

Mother Teresa Santoyo founded the Pax Christi Sisters on July 19, 1969, in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The Pax Christi Sisters are a contemplative-apostolic religious institute that serves as an instrument of peace, which leads each member in the pursuit of the attainment of perfect love and oneness with God.

Father Ralph O. Jones died Feb. 13, after a seven-year fight against cancer. Father Jones served as priest-In-charge of Stella Maris Chapel in Lamar.

Fifteen young men attended the annual St. Andrew’s Dinner at St Pius X Parish on Jan. 26. The dinner is an invitation to young men who might have an interest in the priesthood.

"Goodbye, Sister Barbara!” “God bless you.” “We will miss you, Sister.” All these greetings I heard recently as I took leave of friends and relatives after 31 years of ministry in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. In late December, I returned to the motherhouse in the midwest, thus ending 71 years of service to the Diocese of Corpus Christi by my community, the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

James Akin, the Senior Apologist for Catholic Answers, defines Lent as the 40-day period before Easter, excluding Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. Lent is a period of prayer and fasting which we observe in imitation of Christ using a 40-day period of prayer and fasting “to prepare for the celebration of his ministry’s climax, Good Friday—the day of the crucifixion—and Easter Sunday—the day of the resurrection.”

Esai Lozano was just 10-years-old when a career day assignment at school helped him realize what he wanted to do when he grew up. In his heart, he knew he wanted to become a Catholic priest someday. The fourth grader did not mind being the only priest, among a sea of police officers, doctors and teachers.

The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) is an international missionary community composed of priests, consecrated sisters and brothers and lay members serving together on ecclesial family teams in areas of deepest apostolic need. SOLT was founded in 1958 by Father James Flanagan (1924-2016), then a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston. The principal seat of SOLT is the Diocese of Corpus Christi, under the authority of Bishop Michael Mulvey.

The beginning of a new year brings opportunities to strengthen and renew spiritual ties to the Holy Family, to our own family and to those whose paths cross ours. Jesus has been given to us by Mary; the shepherds have found and venerated him; and the Holy Family has become the model for all families to follow. These beautiful events serve to inspire us to seek holiness, to “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:16-17),” for Jesus loves you and me.

“We need it to have it more often, not just one visit.” And what was the “it” Elda Olvera, ministerial assistant at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Alice, was referring to? Sisters Rock, of course. “It” was the brainchild of Sister Gloria Rodriguez, Director of Consecrated Life and Women’s Vocations for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and her vocation team.

In a spirit of simplicity, joy, availability and generous self-giving, the Missionary Sisters of Jesus, Mary and Joseph follow Christ, who abandoned himself to the will of the Father. We strive to reflect his image spreading the good news of salvation to the poor and most in need with merciful love and compassion. The Missionary Sisters of Jesus, Mary and Joseph have served the Diocese of Corpus Christi for 61 years.

Father James Vasquez told a banquet crowd at the annual Religious and Clergy Appreciation Dinner held at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Nov. 2, that his vocation story was boring. “God called me to be a priest so I am one,” Father Vasquez said.

Father Romeo Salinas, Vocation Director for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, celebrated Mass at Incarnate Word Academy Sophomores Retreat held at the Spirit Center on Monday, Nov. 6. During his homily Father Salinas spoke to them about “answering God’s call,” which was the theme of this year’s retreat.

Joseph and Mary’s journey mirrors the daily journey of our own lives, often filled with struggles, worries, stress and even despair; but, we continue to move toward finding Jesus, toward finding peace and joy in him. Little Jesus is always with us, as he was with Joseph and Mary. He waits on our coming to him, as did the angels, the shepherds and the Magi on the night of his birth.

The charism of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in the Church is to live and proclaim the Incarnation of the Word. The Spirit calls them in a special way to represent the Incarnate Word before the world as perfectly as possible. They strive, therefore, to achieve the complete self-emptying of the Word made flesh, the simplicity and graciousness of Jesus with all, especially the children and the poor, his virginal chastity, his strength and obedience at Gethsemane, his total love, culminating on the cross. The sisters work to radiate Jesus as the warm, gracious, loving person who walked with people and lived in communion with them.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we turn our thoughts to loved ones, to shared family gatherings and most of all to the graces we have received from God for which we are most grateful. Peace, joy and salvation are graces received through prayer, and we must work diligently to attain them. We must let go of the worldly things around us and turn our thoughts, hearts and perseverance in prayer to the Lord from whom all graces come and to our Blessed Mother who is the mediatrix of all graces.