Corpus Christi, TX

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Fr. Jay Hooks, S.J. celebrates the Vigil Mass at the retreat

The Hearts on Fire mission band has had a busy two weeks, journeying to Corpus Christi, Texas on the Gulf Coast. The team stayed at the campus of the SOLT community, which operates a retreat centre there, alongside their novitiate and the shrine of Our Lady of Corpus Christi. 





A good crowd of students and young professionals attended...




We said goodbye to Fr. Anthony Wieck, S.J. who had to return to Dallas and welcomed Fr. Jay Hooks, S.J. onto the team. Fr. Jay had been ordained a priest a mere three weeks, and is still busy giving out first blessings, including one in the local Walmart requested by a shopper (when five young men in clerics enter a store looking for supplies, it is always an unusual, if festive, sight).


The retreat was well-organized by the Adam Koll, director of the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Corpus Christi.


Adam Koll


We did our usual musical compenent of praise and worship and hymnody during the retreat...


The mission band band

During the hour of contemplative prayer, some retreatants took advantage of the beautiful shrine chapel of Our Lady of Corpus Christi, with its beautiful golden high altar...



Fr. Jim Kubicki's new book is selling at every retreat.



We are pleasantly surprised when unexpected talent emerges from the crowd. This time, it was the talented duo of rapping brothers, Christian and Jeremy Puente, aka Uncut Diamondz.

Good job, guys!

Inspiring lyrics and you got the crowd clapping!



After the retreat, we customarily invite the young adults to join us for dinner at a local restaurant. This time it was called Rudy's, and specialized in meat sandwiches. Fr. Phil caught on camera the moment of my biting down on a hot pepper of some kind to the great delight of our new friends...





Thank you Corpus Christi, well-named after the body of Our Lord, and the fathers, brothers and sisters of the SOLT community, for helping us put on this retreat and welcoming us so generously.

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 14, 2012 at 1:11 PM

    Happy Birthday John from your family on Francois Lake. Enjoying your blog today as we are in Smithers.

    ReplyDelete

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