"The Mother Church of the Diocese"

Father Pete Elizardo has a special relationship with the Corpus Christi Cathedral. And it started well before his ordination, even before he started his journey in the seminary: “It was in 1990, I was an altar server, and we celebrated the funeral of our parish priest.” Bishop Gracida asked, “What has Odem [his hometown] given to the Church?” and this question echoed in then-17-year-old Pete.

It was the first sign of his vocation, which matured over the following years. When Fr. Pete was ordained in 2001, he was assigned to the Cathedral and stayed there in different roles until he became A Pastor in Alice. And he returned in 2019, again as Rector of the Cathedral.

Now he will leave the Cathedral to become the Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Beeville and Sacred Heart Mission in Pettus, as well as Vicar Forane of the Beeville Vicariate.

In 2002, Father Pete became Director of the Office of Divine Worship and Master of Ceremonies for the Bishop. “I’ve always loved the liturgy,” he shares. He sees it as a service so that people attending Mass can experience what they are meant to experience.

“There’s so much beauty in liturgical celebrations,” he says. And while the words of the Mass are universal, the Church allows us to incorporate local culture to some extent.

After so many years, it is not easy for him to leave, but since he will maintain his commitments in the chancery, he will often return for celebrations and ceremonies. “The Cathedral is meant to be the Mother Church of the Diocese,” he says. Whoever walks into the Cathedral should feel welcomed into a mother's open arms. That is why he always started the Sunday Mass, which has been broadcasted since the pandemic, with the words, “Welcome to your home far away from home.”

On July 1st, after the 5:30 pm Mass at the Cathedral, there will be a farewell for Father Pete. His successor as Rector of the Cathedral will be Very Rev. James G. Stembler.