South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, January 19, 2001 Page: 3 of 20
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January 19, 2001
diocese
South Texas Catholic
x Please send
~ If "* photos ttiuUor
' ^ write-ups on your
monthly parish events to the
South Texas Catholic PO,
Box 2620, Corpus Christi,
Texas 78403-2620. Please
submit items within two
weeks of the event. Include
names of people in
photographs and a self-
addressed stamped envelope
if you would like your
photograph returned.
Reverend Jerome Zurovelz, has been
appointed Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel Parish in Portland, Texas,
elfeciive immediately.
Reverend Hubert
Hosanna, SDB, has been
appointed Parochial
Vicar at St- Paul the
Apostle Parish, and
Chaplain IO the Reli-
gious Missionaries of 5t-
Dominic at Holy Rosary
Convent in Corpus Christi, effective
immediately.
Diocesan RCIA
retreat scheduled
for Jan, 27
The diocesan Rite of Christian Initia-
tion or Adults (RCIA) Steering Committee
and the Office of Pastoral Services is
sponsoring its Eighth Annual Diocesan
RCIA Retreat for atl catechumens,
candidates, sponsors and catechists on
Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.nv till 1 p m. at
the Schoenstatl Retreat Center in Lamar,
Texas,
This year's theme is "Moments of
Epiphany” and will focus on God's grace
and manifestation in out lives as we
continue our journey of faith. Msgr,
Daniel Flores, chancellor of the Diocese of
Corpus Christi, will the lead the retreat
and guide the reflection process based on
three Gospel readings.
The day will begin with a short gather-
ing lime followed by opening remarks and
morning prayer, The three Gospel
Readings are: The Magi's Visit (Ml. 2:1-
12), The Baptism of the Lord (Ml. 3:13-
17, and The Wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-
12), Each reading will be followed by a
reflection led by Msgr. Flores and a time
of sharing with sponsors.
The sharing lime will relate the read-
ings to practical life/faiih issues. The
Terreai will conclude with group sharing
and a closing prayer
The cost is S5 per person. Spouses of
RCIA participants are invited to attend
hut there will be no childcare provided.
Snacks Will be provided
For more information and ro register
for the retreat, contact your parish RCIA
coordinator or the Office of Pastoral
Services at 882-6191
Sister John Baptist was great educator, model to many
Sister John Baptist Lyons, 93, a Sister of
the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament,
passed away at Incarnate Word Convent,
Corpus Christi, Texas, on January'8, 2001.
Sister John Baptist helped introduce
Catholic education in Becvillc, Rockpon,
Sinton. and Vattman. She was also active in
leaching and administrative duties in
elementary schools in Corpus Christi,
Brownsville. Port Isabel and Kingsville.
She volunteered as a reading tutor at
Central Catholic Elementary during recent
years until she was no longer able to leave
the convent due to health reasons.
She was bom Mary Agnes Lyons on
August 24, 1907, in Rivcrslown, County
Sligo, Ireland, the daughter of James j.
Lyons and Kate Conlon Lyons.
She entered the Sisters of the Incarnate
Word and Blessed Sacrament November 24,
1922. made her first profession of vows
September 9, 1924, and her perpetual
profession of vows August 4,1930. She
received a Bachelor's degree from Incarnate
Word College. San Antonio.
For many years Sister conducted summer
catechetical programs to prepare students
for the reception ol the Sacraments in local
areas as well as in Ancaga, Mexico She also
served as Sister-in-Chatge in many of the
convents where she lived, spent many hours
in sacristy work, and created exquisite
hand-sewn altar linens. Sister John Baptist
was awarded the Bishop Thomas J, Drury
medal in recognition of exceptional service
Sister John Baptist tutors Central
Catholic students.
io the Catholic Church and the community
and received many awards for her leaching
apostolate In 1994 Mayor Mary Rhodes
proclaimed a “Sister John Baptist Lyons
Day," commending her seventy years of
teaching service in South Texas,
On the occasion of her 70-year anniver-
sary ol consecrated life, Sister John Baptist
was interviewed by her cousin. Sister
Kathleen McDonagh, also a Sister of the
Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.
OF her time in Arteaga, Sister John Baptist
said, “I taught religion to little people and to
big people There was no electricity so I
could not use a book, but anyway, it was
more important with those simple people io
be able to talk to the heart,"
In the interview, Sister Denise Cassidy,
principal of Carnal Catholic, spoke ol
SisterJohn Baptists example for the
students. "Just by her presence, she
enriches the children. She has a fresh
outlook on life, is exited about things new,
Her being there teaches children respect
and love for the elderly"
And Sister Kathleen remembered the lime
a young SisterJohn Baptist, her father's first
cousin, came to her home for a 10-day visit.
"SisterJohn Baptist came to Dublin cliy to
visit her cousin, Frank .his six children
dearly loved this happy, laughing Sister-
cousin, who came out io the backyard to
play with them The third oldest, an 8-year-
old girl, watched and listened.. The
young gul was Sister Kathleen, who was
inspired to religious life after her elder
cousin's visit,
SisterJohn Baptist is survived by her
brother, John Lyons, and her sister, Greta
Quinn, of Co. Sligo, Ireland; by her sisters.
Bee Lyons arid Kathleen Toms, of England;
by five cousins at Incarnate Word Convent;
Sister Mary Philomena McCormack, Sisler
Catherine Brchony, Sister Kathleen
McDonagh, Sister Maria Elizabeth Brchony,
and Sisler Colette Brchony; and by numer-
ous nieces and nephews,
Reception of the body and Evening
Prayer was held Jan. 11 at Incarnate Word
Convent Chapel, as well as visitation for the
public The Wake Service was held Jan. 11
and the Mass of ftesuiTection was on Jan. 12
Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Read the Bible and pray, says keynote speaker
Bv Juan Cardenas
Participants of the Jan. 13 Diocesan
Pastoral Ministries Conference were
challenged and enthused by keynote
speaker, Father David Knight, and his
presentation entitled “Evangelization in
the New Millennium,"
“If you have not read the Bible and
Vatican II Documents, you are not
educated to be a Catholic today," said
Father Knight, an internationally recog-
nized authority on both religious life and
the spirituality of the laity.
His worth were di reeled to nearly 1,000
participants at the annual event held at
the Bayfronl Plaza Convention Center and
sponsored by the Diocese of Corpus
Christi.
He urged his audience to buy a paper-
back version of the Bible and read a line
from it every evening. Those who do so
will be apt to read three lines most nights,
he said, adding that if the reading begins
with the book of Matthew, the whole New
Testament can be read in time for next
year’s 13ih annual Pastoral Ministries
Conference.
Father Knight, currently the pastor of
Sacred Heart Church and spiritual
director of the Hispanic community of
Memphis, Tenn_, also recommended that
at least 15 minutes be set aside each day
for prayer.
"If you don’t have time to pray, God’s
going to ask, "What have you got lime
for?’ If you don’t have time to pray, you’re
saying you don’t have lime for God."
Prior to receiving a standing ovation,
the author of 32 books, including the
landmark book on the spirituality of the
laity, “His Wray," issued his greatest
challenge,
‘Are you yourself willing to stand
before God and say you're willing to try to
be perfect? The only way God can love is
with his whole heart. The only way we
can respond to that is to respond totally."
Father Knight said one could pledge to
systematically start working toward
Estella Conzalez and Guadalupe Martinez of Sacred Heart Parish in Corpus Christi
and Cecilia Suarez of St. Mary, Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass. Inset, Father Knight
perfection “to grow into the fullness of
grace."
Following the keynote address, confer-
ence attendees had a variety of workshops
to choose from in two afternoon sessions.
Bishop Edmond Carmody presided at
the opening Eucharistic Liturgy and said
he hoped people would leave the confer-
ence ‘feeling that they're not tti this
ministry alone." Ideally, they are now
“better able to transmit the knowledge
they have received to others and to have
the courage and skills to carry on the
work of Jesus.”
Dr, Frank Lucido, diocesan secretary for
education and director of religious
education, said the conference was
attended by people who are very dedi-
cated to their ministries.
"They were inspired by Father Knights
presentation They were all very en-
thused. We had a large representation
from many parishes. The numbers have
been increasing year after year, and we
hope that it will continue to increase."
Lucido said the conference is pan of the
“continuing efforts to train those that are
in leadership in ministry so that they can
be well prepared to present the Gospel
message with enthusiasm and zeal, and to
live out their Catholic Christian life."
Rene Gonzalez, diocesan superinten-
dent of schools, said, "Ilk a good way to
bring us together to help US get revitalized
to be able to continue 10 serve people who
through our ministries we are responsible
for,"
This is the fourth conference attended
by Sara Perez, 14, of Our Lady of
Guadalupe Parish in Alice, She said the
event made her feel that she needs to
focus more on her faith “and start reading
the Bible a lot more. That way I can learn
more about the faith ”
Joseph Goynes of Sacred Heart Parish in
Sinton said the conference was wonderful.
"We've got a lot of information and a lot
of ideas that we needed to take back to
our church ”
Darlene Myers, St. Peter, Prince of the
Apostle Parish in Annaville, said, “It
verified my own prayer life, sort of like a
confirmation to go forward, to take
action. It serves its purpose. It's absolutely
vital- It is very life-giving. It helps keep
me in love with the Lord."
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Espitia, Paula. South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, January 19, 2001, newspaper, January 19, 2001; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth855647/m1/3/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .