St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont, was packed as Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, presented honors from Pope Benedict XVI to 12 Southeast Texas priests and women religious during a Pontifical Mass for Papal Honors at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont, Nov. 23.
The message of the night was service.
“You have used your gifts well for the common good. In loving service you have empowered people to use their talents,” Bishop Guillory said to the honorees.
Before presenting the honors, Bishop Guillory spoke on the various ways the 12 have ministered to the Southeast Texas community.
He presented 8 Southeast Texas priests with framed documents from the Vatican appointing them as Prelates of Honor to His Holiness with the right to the title of Reverend Monsignor.
Two religious order priests and two religious sisters received one of the highest honors the Pope can give to a Catholic, the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Cross for the church and Pontiff). Religious order priests, because of their vow of poverty, cannot be appointed prelates (Monsignor) and therefore have been given the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
Pope Benedict XVI conferred the honors on the group for their years of dedicated service to the Church and the larger Southeast Texas community.
- Father Urriza is the senior priest of the diocese at age 87. In June he celebrated the 65th anniversary of his ordination as a priest for the Augustinian Fathers of the Castilian Province. He is currently pastor of Cristo Rey, Beaumont.
- Msgr. Dempsey was ordained 53 years ago. He is officially retired, but continues to assist with sacramental ministry in the parishes of the diocese.
- Msgr. Montondon, also retired, served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army for 23 of his 52 years as a priest.
- Father Blanco, a member of the Augustinian Fathers, is pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Port Arthur. He has been a priest for 49 years.
- Msgr. Golasinski, ordained 47 years ago, is pastor of Immaculate Conception, Groves.
- Msgr. Malain is pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Nederland, and a priest for 43 years. He was also honored as being chosen Mr. Nederland.
- Msgr. Manger, pastor of St. Anne, Beaumont, has been a priest for 47 years and was a co-founder of Southeast Texas Hospice.
- Msgr. McGrath is rector at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont. He was ordained 29 years ago and has been part of the Diocese of Beaumont for 20 years.
- Msgr. Patillo was ordained 42 years ago. He is pastor of St. Elizabeth Church, Port Neches.
- Msgr. Vanderholt is pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist, Silsbee. He has been a priest for 52 years.
- Sister Dunegan is chancellor of the Diocese of Beaumont. She professed as a sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in 1972.
- Sister Bordages teaches French and is campus minister at Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School, Beaumont. She has been a member of the Dominican Sisters for 55 years.
