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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 25 th) with a reception at our church on the weekend June 9 th 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
