My vocation story is a simple one.  In 2008, I attended an ACTS Retreat   It was on this retreat when I first felt a call to serve.  I remember a strong pull to serve the Church.  I had turned down many invitations to attend an ACTS retreat because I did not want to give up my weekend.  Little did I know God was calling me to not only give him that weekend but five years of weekends, as well as the rest of my weekends.  This call, together with the influences at St. Patrick and Christ the King, led me to the diaconate program.  

My mother was the first, as most mothers are, to start to bring me up in the Church. I was a typical kid – not wanting to wake up for Mass, hoping that she would just go herself and leave me behind. But little did I know she would wake up extra early and make it seem like she was running late, drag me out of bed, and take my little brother and me to church. To my amazement, we always arrived on time. My mother laid the foundation of my faith even though I did not realize it at the time.

When I was about ten years old, my relationship with Jesus deepened during a three-day youth retreat. My parents and grandparents stressed that we should always help everyone in need. Helping people is a great joy and experience in my life. 

An early memory I have is going to Mass with my grandparents at San Jose Mission near Benavides. I remember all the elderly ladies singing loudly. What I remember most about the San Jose Mission was the humility of those attending Mass. These memories made an impression and helped form the foundation of my faith very early on. I believe these early memories have allowed me to remain connected to the Church.

My name is Joseph Ruiz, and I was born and raised in Kingsville. I am married to my beautiful wife, Elvira, and I have three children Jose, Vivian, and Nicholas. I am blessed to work at Del Mar College as the Director of Financial Aid Services, where I can help students finance their education and achieve their educational goals.

I was born in Corpus Christi. I grew up in a Catholic family, and my great uncle was a Catholic priest. At a young age, I served as an altar server and lector. I attended Little Rock Catholic High School in Arkansas, and it was tough, but it taught me more than I realized even back then. 

My story is not of an easy path, nor should I be looked at like a role model. I relate to Saints like Paul, Matthew and Augustine. My road to ordination was rocky, rough and took many turns to bring me here. 

My journey to the Permanent Diaconate began years ago without even realizing it, as later I learned I was being formed even before I was accepted into the diaconate formation.  I was raised Catholic and had been what some would call a cradle Catholic. When I was young, I attended church, what I considered by force because Mom said, “Get ready, let’s go.” 

While many may recall when news of the coronavirus made national headlines, no one predicted the toll it would take on American lives or how society had to adapt to protect their loved ones. For those discerning the priesthood or the newly ordained, it affected them in ways never experienced before. Mass restrictions meant the faithful, who once filled church pews had to watch a televised Mass from their homes. For many priests celebrating Mass without seeing the faces of their parishioners was the most difficult challenge.

Seminarians Carlos Tomas De La Rosa and Charles Andrew Silvas publicly declared their intentions to pursue Holy Orders and were officially accepted as candidates for ordination during the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders at a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Mulvey on Aug. 8. Bishop Mulvey presided and conferred candidacy to the two young men.

Eight seminarians from the Diocese of Corpus Christi are living out their pastoral summer assignments by accompanying parish youth ministers, volunteers, and teens in growing a personal relationship with Christ. The assignment includes hands-on small group ministry to teens.

Thirty-eight seminarians, including Raymond Pendleton from the Diocese of Corpus Christi, were installed to the ministry of acolyte in the Immaculate Conception Chapel at Pontifical North American College in Rome in a ceremony on Feb. 23.

As I discerned my vocation over the years, I asked myself, “Who could I learn from to be a good man?” In my pursuit of the answer, I joined the Marines, but did not find it there. So, I turned to academia to find the answer. In college, I learned much about the Church and our glorious history as Catholics.

Sister Annette Wagner was elected the superior general for a second term of four years during the Chapter of Elections held by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Dec. 22, 2019. Delegates met Dec. 20-23 for the general chapter’s canonical election of the leadership of the congregation.

The first time I realized our country’s current need for military chaplains was while reading a local Catholic newspaper where I saw an advertisement for the military chaplaincy. The ad depicted servicemen and women waiting in line to receive Communion, but there was no priest. The words at the top of the advertisement asked: “Who will serve them?”

Ruben Riojas was an altar server and regularly attended religious education classes, and was even selected to serve at the Christmas Mass despite having only one week’s experience. These experiences drew him closer to the Eucharist, which set in motion his current spiritual journey.

Carlos De La Rosa, 24, was a young child when he first thought about becoming a priest one day. As he grew older, the feelings waned and he didn’t think much more about it. But as a sophomore at St. John Paul II High School, he began reflecting on it again and then had a powerful experience in the sacrament of reconciliation.

On a Monday evening in a Corpus Christi Cathedral classroom, seminarian Charles Silvas is teaching the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for his first time. While many seminarians are studying away at college or seminary, Silvas is currently in his pastoral year of formation, wearing a Roman collar, but not yet ordained and embracing the challenges and rewards of parish life.

Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and the Schoenstatt Family of Texas hosted a celebration in honor of the 60th Anniversary of the Confidentia Shrine in Lamar on Oct. 19. The event included a welcome, information, games, barbecue and ended with Bishop Michael Mulvey concelebrating Mass with Father Ray Yrlas, pastor of Sacred Heart in Rockport, Schoenstatt Father Christian Christiansen and Our Lady of Corpus Christi priest, Father John Gaffney, SOLT.

Sister Anna Marie Espinosa (Anna Marie) was born on Oct. 21, 1947, to Ernest and Beatriz Espinosa. She graduated from Incarnate Word Academy, Corpus Christi in 1966, and then entered the congregation the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on Sept. 8, 1966, and made her first profession of vows on Aug. 1, 1969.