The Catholic history of Corpus Christi, Texas:
Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda (1494-1520) was a Spanish conquistador and cartographer who was the first person to map parts of the Gulf of Mexico and the coastline of what would later become Texas. His 1519 expedition mapped the American Gulf coast, creating the very first document of Texas History. Among his discoveries, in 1519, was a lush, semi-tropical bay on what is now the southern coast of Texas. His arrival coincided with the Feast of Corpus Christi, which had been established in 1246, so they gave the city that name.
Catholic places of interest in Corpus Christi, Texas:
The Diocese of Corpus Christi encompasses the counties of Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, and a portion of McMullen County.
Since there are so many Catholic churches in Corpus Christi, we are highlighting just one of them, plus one retreat center.
Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center: retreat Center with priests from the Society of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity (SOLT).
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church: large collection of relics in an historic church.
Saint Andrew by the Sea Catholic Church: outdoor church in a slightly more casual atmosphere…great for visitors to Padre island.
Secular tourists places in Corpus Christi include the USS Lexington Museum (a WWII aircraft carrier), the Texas State Aquarium, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the Selena Museum and Padre Island National Seashore.
Traveling to Corpus Christi, Texas:
Corpus Christi (population about 300,000 as of 2020) is on the Gulf Coast, about 130 miles southeast of San Antonio and 208 miles southwest of Houston. It is part of the Padre Island National Seashore, an interesting wildlife habitat. As the world’s largest remaining natural barrier island, this spectacular expanse includes 70 miles of uninterrupted national seashore.
Corpus Christi has an airport, Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP), served by several airlines with mostly regional flights to cities such as Dallas and Houston. It is called an international airport due to some flights to Mexico, but that is the only other country served from Corpus Christi.
Efforts have been made by the city to get some cruise lines to use the port, but so far they have not succeeded. The nearest cruise port is Galveston, 250 miles away.