RENOVATION OF ADORATION CHAPEL

recounts how God is communicating his mercy in our day and age through the lives of saints, apparitions, and historical events from the last century. Join us to watch the series and experience the power of God’s mercy in a new way. February 10th (Monday) through April 13 Religious Ed. Conference Room—7:00 pm For more information contact: David Calderon 361- 443-1674 davecalderon@hotmail.com or Roy Ornelas 361-15-7903 or daf@olmcportland.com Workbooks can be downloaded free from www.formed.org or purchased for $19.95 at http://catholic.store/programs/divine-mercy Additionally, for those going to Poland this summer, consider this as a personal invitation to see the sites before your trip.

New to OLMC: Team Gridiron Men’s Group wants to invite all men to take part in the series “Crossing The Goal”. The first spiritual workout is Tuesday, Feb 4th. Game time is 7:00 pm sharp in the Religious Ed conference room. Visit www.crossingthegoal.com for more information on the series.

Our parish has an active homebound ministry to serve those in our parish family who:  Are sick or elderly and unable to attend mass on the weekend, but would like to receive the Holy Eucharist  Have a temporary illness or are recovering from an injury or surgery and cannot attend mass This ministry is different from the Eucharistic Minister ministry in our parish in that the Eucharist is leaving the church. We have permission to minister only to those who are IN OUR PARISH and we need to have a record of who is receiving the sacrament out of the church. Nancy Fairchild, in the parish office, is the Coordinator. If you or a family member needs communion brought to them, please contact her and make that request to her. She will arrange for someone to visit and distribute Communion. If you are a Eucharistic Minister and would like to begin serving in this ministry or if you have any questions please call Nancy. Please do not accept requests directly from someone without speaking to Nancy. Thank you, Father Piotr

There will be a Catholic Married Couples Shared Prayer Retreat at the Pax Christi Retreat Center. This is a Catholic lay retreat presented by parishioners like yourself to provide an opportunity to strengthen your spiritual prayer life and increase intimacy with your spouse. The retreat will focus on having Christ at the center of your marriage. Registration begins: Friday, February 14th at 5:15 pm Pax Christi Retreat Center Cost: $250 per couple Please contact Ben Polasek 222-1508 or Kim Polasek 222-1509 if you have any questions or need an application. The theme is “ A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

Trunk or Treat was a great success with many goblins and ghost walking around. Many thanks to all the great volunteers in making this event a successful one! If you dare, you may watch video! Download all pictures on OLMC Flickr.

Catholic Choral Pilgrimage Tour "In the Footsteps of Pope John Paul the Great" June 1 - June 10, 2020 8 nights/10 days Approx. $3400 With visits to Czestochowa / Zarki-Letnisko (Father Piotr's hometown), Auschwitz, Krakow and Prague. For more information, please email Cynthia Longoria at musicdirector@olmcportland.com

God is calling you to the privilege of serving at the mass.  You are invited to serve as an EM (Mass and Homebound), Lector, Usher or Greeter.  Contact Deacon Robert at deaconrobert@olmcportland.com to find out how you can serve. “The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!” St Pope Paul VI

Hurricane Harvey victims need your help. Deacon Richard Longoria is coordinating volunteers for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. He can help you organize your parish group and get you in touch with relief coordinators working in the “Harvey Zone” of south Texas. Call or email Deacon Richard at 361-446-2291, rlongoria@diocesecc.org

Dear Parishioners, Friends and Family of Father Mark, An Honorary Endowed Scholarship in Father Mark’s name has been established at Incarnate Word Academy.   In order to qualify for Endowment, the balance of the fund must reach $10,000.  Once established and funded, it becomes a permanent fund, from which a portion of the investment earnings is distributed annually to a scholarship for an IWA student. The IWA Foundation was established in 1989 by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.  Its purpose is to provide adequate funding for scholarships and educational development for IWA in Corpus Christi into the future, by providing assistance to students of the school I know that many of you have been generous to Father Mark during his time at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and continue to bless him with your prayers and gifts in his retirement.  We will be honoring him in June for his Golden Jubilee Anniversary (May 25th) with a reception at our church on the weekend June 9th and 10th.   I am hoping that many of you would be interested in contributing to this scholarship fund in honor of Father Mark, when considering gifts to him at that time or any time.  He is excited about this honor and has indicated that he would be honored to receive gifts for this purpose.  He is always very appreciative of gifts given to him.  When I contacted Sister Martha Ann Snapka about this scholarship, she was very excited to hear that one would be established for Father Mark.  He has always supported Incarnate Word Academy by providing assistance with retreats, talks, masses, confessions, as well as financial assistance, to the school and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word.  Because of his generous heart over the years, he is a very beloved priest to the Sisters.    In the nineteen years that I have known Father Mark, I have been personally aware of his generosity to others by giving to those in need who came to our parish and by assisting parishioners often with personal financial needs.  He was always available to listen to, counsel, and visit those who were sick, lonely, grieving or needing healing.   He was instrumental in providing pastoral support in the establishment of a solid, meaningful program for the youth of our parish through TGIF and ACTS retreats.  Many of us have a personal appreciation of his contributions to the Catholic community at large as well as to our parish. Msgr. Mark Chamberlin was ordained at Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 25, 1968 by Bishop Thomas J. Drury.  He served as parochial vicar at SS Cyril & Methodius, St. Patrick and St. Pius X parishes in Corpus Christi.  He was appointed pastor at St. Paul the Apostle Church, Flour Bluff in 1977, pastor at St. Theresa Church, Corpus Christi in 1987 and pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 1997.  In addition to these parish assignments, he served on the Presbyteral Council, Personnel Board, as a Diocesan Consultor and Dean, and as a judge on the Marriage Tribunal.  Since his retirement in July, (hasn’t had much time to practice retirement!) he has served as Administrator at St. Joseph Parish in Port Aransas for a few months, filled in for priests in many parishes, and continues to be available to former parishioners and friends for counseling from his “home” at the St. John Vianney Residence for Priests in Corpus Christi. If you would like to make a gift to the “Msgr. Mark Chamberlin Scholarship Fund”, please send payments to: Incarnate Word Scholarship Foundation 5201 Lipes Blvd. Corpus Christi, TX 78413 Attn: Msgr. Mark Chamberlin Scholarship Fund If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (361) 215-9468. Thank you and God Bless, Nancy Bridger

OLMC 4th Degree Assembly #2781 proudly presents Portland Pregnancy Center Executive Director Jana Pinson a check for $16,100. Early this year the 4th degree assembly setout through donations and fundraisers to raise their goal of $15,000 needed for a new sonogram machine for the Portland Pregnancy Center. Not only did they raise their goal but surpassed it by $1,100 and denotations are still pouring in, thanks to the many area churches, women’s groups, etc. that have donated. The state KofC will match the money raised by OLMC 4th degree council #2381. Many thanks to all of you who made this possible by your donations! Pictured: Portland Pregancy Cneter staff: Jana Pinson-Executive Director, Kathy Weirich-Financial Administrator, Melinda Bottino Peer Counselor, Janet Carwin-Peer Counselor, Beverly Moore-Volunteer and JoAnn Luehring-Volunteer. Knights: Ervey Martinez-OLMC Grand Knight, OLMC Larry Kuehring Faithful Navigator, OLMC Brad Warner Treasure, Sir Knights from Ingleside Tony Bernal, Brian Thibodeaux and Scott Robinson.

Three high school students and one adult from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church participated in this year’s Music Ministry Alive summer institute held at St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lauren Copeland (Junior), Caitlyn Martinez (Senior) and Samuel Guzman (Junior) each completed applications and submitted recordings in order to be accepted into the 5 day program. Applicants also had to be actively involved in their church’s music program and have a desire to deepen their commitment. An Adult Track was also offered for adult leaders who are involved in mentoring young people in leadership roles in the church. Paula Smith attended the Adult Track Program this year lead by Fr. Ricky Manalo. The daily routine in the program consists of daily prayer, workshops and special events where the youth participants learn more about the aspects of music leadership such as liturgy planning, ministry and scripture study. There are many opportunities for the participants to sharpen their musical skills. Many are invited to sing solos, participate in liturgical dance and to play and take private lessons in their designated instrument. “The goal of MMA Youth Track is to help each participant grow as an individual so that they can better serve as leaders and ministers in the Church.” Team members and guest artists over the years have included Fr. Ray East, Kate Cuddy, Tony Alonso, Stephen Petrunak, Bobby Fisher, Fr. Michael Joncas, Marty Haugen, Bob Hurd, Joe Camacho, Tom Franzak, Jesse Manibusan, Steve Angrisano, Sr. Kathleen Harmon S.N.D., Jaime Cortez, and many more leaders in the areas of liturgy, music, and youth ministry.

Worthy Officers, as you now stand you form a living Cross. May the cross ever be a reminder to you that you must be renewed in Christ and that your administration must show that Catholic lay leadership among the people of God flows from this renewal. Invoking God’s help to fulfill this mission, I will now impart each His Blessing. 2016-2017 Installation of Officers: Grand Knight-Ervey Martinez Deputy Grand Knight-Mario Solis Chaplin-Msgr Mark Chamberlin Chancellor-Dempsy “Butch” Rowe Recorder-Daniel Estrada Treasure-Brad Warner Financial Secretary-Alvin Saathoff Advocate-Bill Reeves Warden- Inside Guard-Al Argijo Outside Guard-Eddie Rojas One-Year Trustee-Matthew Perales Two-Year Trustee-Edward Garcia Three-Year Trustee-Thomas Sutherland Lecture-Kyle Nohavitza

Allyson Sturgeon, a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Portland, just returned from a medical mission trip to Costa Rica that tended to more than 120 patients in the communities of Alajuela and San Jose. Responding to Sturgeon's appeal, the parish provided donations of hygiene items and children’s coloring books, crayons, etc. Sturgeon is a fourth year undergraduate student at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi where she is pursuing a degree in biomedical sciences. She hopes to become a surgical physician's assistant. The medical team that she was working with consisted of 16 volunteers from different parts of the United States. She earned a spot on this mission trip through a scholarship that was presented the Rotary Club of District 5930. The mission ran from May 28-June 10. "I would like to thank all of those who helped to contribute the donations that were collected for the families in Costa Rica. The joy that those donations brought these families was overwhelming and touching," Sturgeon said in a letter to the parish community. "There was not one patient that did not have a huge smile on their face when they received proper medical care and the donations that this church provided I am extremely thankful for all the support that had been given by this wonderful community. Your donations brought the Lord’s light into many hearts." Pastor Msgr. Mark Chamberlain said the parish was "very proud of Allyson and so many of our young people in this parish who show a genuine spirit of caring for others and helping to spread God’s love by their generous service and involvement in the parish." "Much credit goes to the spirit and example of adult leaders of our faith formation programs for young people, and the parents who support their efforts," Msgr. Chamberlain said.

On Friday, the 27th, a ceremony was held at the Cathedral where Bishop Mulvey recognized people from many parishes in the Diocese with the presentation of the Evangelii Guadium plaque for exceptional service to the Church in the local parishes. The name of the recognition plaque is translated as “The Joy of The Gospel” -the title of Pope Francis’ encyclical. Each parish was invited by the Bishop to present the name of one individual or one couple to be recognized in this ceremony. The recipients from our Lady of Mount Carmel this year were Greg and Andrea Young The Young’s have been extraordinary volunteers in serving OLMC is ways too numerous to count, always willingly and always with a smile. They have never done anything to seek recognition or thanks – they simply demonstrate the best in willingness to serve wherever and whenever they can. The Bishop emphasized in his talk at the ceremony of Friday that the presentation of the Evangelii Guadium plaque was a recognition, not an award. It is a means to recognize exemplary service given with joy to the building up of the local church community by example. As a community we are thankful to Greg and Andrea Young for their continued joyful service.