Incarnate Word Academy President's Letter

The Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, celebrates the announcement of the Incarnation by the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, and the conception of Christ in her womb. Told in Luke's gospel, the story of the Annunciation begins when the angel appears to Mary and announces to her that she will conceive a Son, and his name will be Jesus. His greeting, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you" has echoed down through the ages in our prayer, the "Hail Mary."

Mary is initially confused as to how she will bear God's Son, knowing that she is a virgin. So the angel explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her. The Apostles Creed affirms that Jesus was "conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit." When we recite the Nicene Creed we say "by the power of the Holy Spirit, [Jesus] was born of the Virgin Mary and became man."

Mary's response to the angel, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word," is a statement of humble faith, and an example for how we are to respond when God calls us to do what seems impossible. This response is called Mary's fiat, from the Latin word meaning "let it be done."

This Feast of the Church is our feast day as Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, and it is the school’s feast day also. The Incarnation is the mystery of the wonderful union of the divine and human natures in the one person of the Word. Jesus became one of us in all things except sin to teach us of the Father’s unconditional love for us.

We will celebrate the occasion with a campus wide Mass at 10 a. m. in the Gunning Gymnasium. Father Dennis Zerr will preside. Our feast day brings special blessings this year as it is the day that Bishop Elect Michael Mulvey will be ordained a bishop and installed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. We will offer our Eucharistic celebration for Bishop Elect Mulvey’s intentions and pray that he receives the graces necessary to be a strong herald of faith, steward of grace and shepherd of souls for all of us.

The Diocese of Corpus Christi provided the following information regarding the ordination:

• It will be broadcast live on KLUX (89.5 FM) radio station.
• It will not be televised live. However, a recorded version
will be aired on KDF-TV station at 7:00 p. m. on Thursday evening, March 25th.
• A recorded version of the ordination/installation will be aired on KIII-TV station on Saturday, March 27th, at 12:00 p.m.
•During the afternoon hours on Friday, March 26, video of the ordination/installation can be viewed via the internet www.diocesecc.org

Sr. Anna Marie Espinosa has served as Incarnate Word Academy President for eight years. Prior to her tenure as president, Sr. Anna Marie was the IWA Development Director from 1992 to 2001. With a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Texas A&I University and a Master's Degree in Non-Public Administration from University of St. Thomas of St. Paul Minnesota, Sr. Anna Marie has worked as an educator and in education administration for nearly 40 years. Sr. Anna Marie is also a proud IWA graduate of the Class of 1966.