Diocese dedicates home for priests

Thanks to the generosity of parishioners from the Diocese of Corpus Christi who donated and continue to donate to the Legacy of Faith, Future of Hope Capital Endowment Campaign, retired priests in the diocese have begun moving into their new homes at the St. John Vianney Residence for Priests.

On May 29 diocesan priests and members of the laity joined Bishop Michael Mulvey in a Mass to dedicate the new complex and consecrate its chapel. Bishop Mulvey with the assistance of Msgr. Thomas McGettrick, Vicar for Retired Priests, blessed the facility.

At the beginning of his homily Bishop Mulvey joked that Msgr. McGettrick could return all the architectural renderings to Gordon Landreth from CLK Architects, who designed the project. “Put them on a shelf…get rid of them–they’ve been sitting in our room for 15 years. It’s now a reality, so you can take the renderings, put them away and we can look upon the beauty of this wonderful complex that has been given to us,” Bishop Mulvey said.

Bishop Mulvey was referring to the Priest Retirement Home committee, which Bishop Roberto Gonzalez, OFM formed 16 years ago. The committee had done their research and had come up with architectural renderings developed by Cotton and Landreth (now CLK). The project, however, was shelved due to other pressing concerns. When Bishop Mulvey suggested the Legacy of Faith, Future of Hope campaign, a survey was taken and the priests residence was the laity’s number one concern.

“Currently, the duplexes can house 18 priests with one unit designated and equipped to serve a priest and a 24-hour caretaker,” Orlando Zepeda, Diocesan Construction and Property Manager, said.

Each residence comes equipped with a kitchen, living room, bathroom, walk-in closet, garage and laundry room. Besides the residence, also included in the lease are two meals a day, housecleaning, laundry service (not dry cleaning), linens and basic cable.

Zepeda said the architects and site supervision representing CLK Architects did an outstanding job in the development, design and construction of the project. They were instrumental in keeping the project on budget.

According to Vicar General Msgr. Louis Kihneman III, nine priests are expected to be in residence by the end of the summer and two more by the end of next summer.

Msgr. McGettrick has already moved in many of his belongings. He is stocking the library with a variety of books he has accumulated over the years and has been looking forward to living in a community of priests since his retirement last year.

“It is such a beautiful facility–everything a priest needs is here for his ministry of prayer. A beautiful chapel is here. If he wants to read or study or prepare a homily, there’s an excellent library. If he wants to exercise, there is an exercise room,” Msgr. McGettrick said.

The challenge for every priest is “to be a great support group for each other and hopefully, we will not be forgotten by the other priests in the diocese. I hope they would feel welcome to come here, that they would want to come here and share a meal with us. Retirement years can be pretty lonely if a priest has no support group,” Msgr. McGettrick said.

“If anyone needs special medical attention they will be taken care of–there will be a staff hired for meals–it’s important to have a good cook,” Msgr. McGettrick said.

Chaplains can live in the priest’s residence. Father Arularasu Mathias, who is studying to become a chaplain at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital-South, said he is looking forward to living in St. John Vianney residence.

“I am so happy the bishop is allowing us to live here. I’m very excited. I will have more chances to connect with another priest… it will be more like a family here,” he said.

When the Legacy of Faith, Future of Hope Capital Endowment campaign began two years ago, “all the stars were aligned. Everything was just in the right place at the right time,” Cande DeLeon, Director of Parish Stewardship and Development said.

“Parishes and priests have been generous and continue to give, Marc Cisneros and his staff from the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Foundation have been the guardian angels through all this, not just morally, but also by backing us financially,” DeLeon said.

The buildings are complete, but the diocese is still paying for it.

“It’s important that parishioners continue to honor their pledges. When people give to the campaign, they’re giving to the entire campaign. There are still two to three more years of giving to all of the projects. It’s not over yet,” Dave Wyrwich Legacy of Faith Development Specialist said. “The pledged amount has to be realized. It’s only a name on paper and without the continued commitment of parishioners the campaign is in trouble.”

Bishop Mulvey explained in his homily that a home is not just a structure; it’s a place to belong, a place to be loved and a place to be wanted. St. John Vianney Residence for Priests represents an effort by the Diocese of Corpus Christ, laity and religious to become that kind of home.