Good evening. We are so blessed to be able to come together in person, with the Sisters and with our sister sponsored ministries, in celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation and Incarnate Word Day. We have not been able to celebrate Mass in this way for more than a year — and this fellowship has been sorely missed and greatly needed.

The pandemic has taught us much in the last year. Our time apart has affirmed what we have always known to be true — that we need each other and work best when we put our shared responsibility – our shared gift — to care for one another at the forefront of what we do. Allow me to provide a few examples:

• More than 1,000 members of our employee and student community had the opportunity to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. CHRISTUS generously provided the software for scheduling, validation, tracking and follow up and made technicians available, enabling us to have a smooth and successful drive.
• At the University, many of our students have grown personally and spiritually through their service at our sister ministries, like the Village.
• In addition, our fourth-year students at the School of Osteopathic Medicine recently celebrated Match Day, where students learned where they would be doing their residency, and some of our exceptional learners were thrilled to match with branches of the CHRISTUS health system.
• The Headwaters is a source of joy for all where we can reflect and enjoy God’s creation.
• And who would have thought a year ago that students at Campus Bajio in Guanajuato and students at UIW in San Antonio would study together virtually while students at St. Anthony Catholic High School in San Antonio and students at Instituto Miguel Angel in Mexico City would do the same with bi-lingual, multicultural classes?

This week, our undergraduate students held Pray-a-thon, a week-long event that invites the entire University community to unite in prayer, and which culminates on the Feast of the Annunciation. During this week, and especially today, we consider our heritage and the resilience, faith, perseverance and ingenuity of our founders. What better example for our students, and indeed for all of us, during this pandemic?

The Mission of the University and the spirit of the Sisters are at the heart of our every endeavor and central to our growth. In fact, strengthening our bonds with our fellow CCVI sponsored ministries is one of our Strategic Priorities and one that we have been blessed to see grow. On behalf of the University, we look forward to many more collaborations and partnerships, and to celebrating many more Incarnate Word Days together with the Sisters and with each other.

Happy Feast Day! Happy Incarnate Word Day! Praised be the Incarnate Word!

Dr. Thomas Evans