Falling tree misses Virgin Mary statue

News Story from abc13.com

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX -- A weather-related incident in Corpus Christi over the weekend is getting lots of attention on social media websites.

A storm Saturday blew over a large tree in a woman's yard, but it missed a statue of the Virgin Mary.

The statue was left standing upright next to the tree trunk.

The homeowner is calling it a miracle that the tree didn't hit the statue or her house. She's now working to get the tree removed and her fence repaired.

Joe Melendrez, Texan dedicated to spreading the Gospel through rap

The following news story and video is from RomeReports.com:

At the tender age of 11, Joe Melendrez wrote his first poem. His Puff Daddy album inspired him to put the words to a beat. At school, he would “break it down,” like Michael Jackson or Usher.

Then in 2001, at 15-years-old, he was invited to a spiritual retreat, where he decided his verses would praise God.

Since then, he has published two rap albums, and has toured throughout the United States. He's also breaking ground abroad, participating in World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, and in Uganda, where he volunteered at several orphanages.

JOSE MELENDREZ
Rapper
“Notorious BIG, a big time rapper said you always gotta rap about what's real to you. And God is real to me, and that's all I wanna rap about it. I wanna rap about what's real to me. I'm gonna rap about things or topics that can encourage people to live better lives, to know Christ. Because I know it's so necessary, and God it's everything to me.”

Above all things, Joe Melendrez enjoys his concerts. It allows him to get closer to his fans and explain to them his verses.

He goes on to say that much of today's music is dominated by superficial messages. He aspires to something greater. Melendrez explains that some of the greatest rappers also talk about their faith in their verses because God is still a relevant topic. However, he recognizes there's a lot of work.

JOSE MELENDREZ
Rapper
“A lot of time people have negative ideas of rap, and they're like 'oh you can't do that.' And rap is a literally a style, it's poetry with rhythm. I call mine spiritual poetry. And so once you get past it, once you see the fruits of the rap, once they see people going deeper into prayer... Moms come up to me and say 'Hey my kids wanna rap the rosary every morning when it's time to go to school.'”

Music, performing and helping those in need define the life of Joe Melendrez, since that retreat in 2001. Nearly 12 years later, he now helps organize similar retreats in California to help young people there find their way to God.

Father and son become Catholic priests... as their wives watch

Father and son become Catholic priests... as their wives watch | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

The following excerpt is from WFFA.com:

By DEBBIE DENMON

KELLER, TEXAS — "Charles Albert Hough the III."

Bishop Kevin Vann's historic words rang out at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller as he called first the father... and then the son.

"Charles Albert Hough the IV."

Both answered the call before a big congregation during a one-of-its-kind ordination.
"Oh, this is a great moment in the life of our family — a great moment in the history of our faith," said the elder Hough.

The father-and-son duo — who both go by "Chuck" — are among six Episcopal priests who became Catholic priests at the Saturday morning ceremony.

The Vatican started to let married Episcopal priests be ordained in the Catholic church 20 years ago.
The wives of both Chuck Hough III and IV both proudly looked on during the service.

"It's been a blessing... a miraculous blessing to be ordained with my son," said the elder Father Chuck. "The first time in the history of the United States a father and son has ever been ordained at the same Mass."
It was a special ceremony for more reasons than one. The political rift between Anglicans and Catholics is on the mend.

"It's a day in great history, because really — in some ways — it's sort of mending the break that occurred in the reformation years ago," Bishop Vann said. "It's very historical."

Read More: Father and Son become Priests

Family credits Virgin Mary statue for saving their house from wildfire

Family credits Virgin Mary statue for saving their house from wildfire – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

From CNN.com:

Wildfires are raging in Texas. At the Garcia's home in Montgomery County, Texas the fire line comes right up to a statue of the Virgin Mary.  The family tells CNN affiliate KTRK they believe the statue helped saved their home.