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More than 35 to be honored in Feb. 20 Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral

   

   SAN ANGELO — Pope Benedict XVI, at the recommendation of the Most Rev. Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, Bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo, has bestowed special Papal Honors on priests, nuns, deacons and lay people serving in the Diocese and beyond. Bishop Pfeifer received official word from Most Rev. Carlo Maria Vigano, Papal Ambassador to the United States, about these unique awards on Jan. 10, 2012.

   These Papal medals and honors will be bestowed on the priests, deacons, women religious and lay people in ceremonies to be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, located at 19 S. Oakes in San Angelo, Texas on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 7 pm during the celebration of Mass.  The public is invited to attend the event, which will be presided over by Bishop Pfeifer.

    Pope Benedict XVI has bestowed the highest Pontifical Medal “Pro Ecclesiae et Pontifice” (“For service to the Church and Pope”) on one priest and three women religious who are members of religious orders working in the Diocese of San Angelo, and on deacons and lay people of the diocese and others. The medal is given to those who have served the Church and the Pope many years with loyalty and in an exemplary manner. The honorees include:

 

Oblate Father Eddie de Leon, OMI, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Midland.

Sister Mary Grace Erl, O.Carm., Superior of the Carmelite Sisters in Christoval.

Sister Regina Javier, OND,Oblates of Notre Dame Sister serving churches of South Odessa.

Sister Esperanza Razura Villarreal, ASC, of the churches, South Odessa.

Deacon Roy Ibarra and Minnie Ibarra, of St. Mary’s Church, San Angelo.

Deacon Jesse Guajardo , of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Midland.

 

The following are the lay people receiving the highest Papal honor are:  

Dr. Jim and Mrs. Kathy Webster of Holy Family Parish, Abilene.

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Castillo, of St. Margaret’s Parish, San Angelo

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burgess  of Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Angelo

Margaret Matthiesen of Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Angelo

Louis Fohn, Diocesan Attorney and member of St. Ambrose Church, Wall.

Deborah Michalewicz, a member of St. Therese Parish, Carlsbad, and a Peace

   Ambassador

Joy Hoelscher, of Holy Angels Church, San Angelo.

 

Those receiving the special Papal award of Knights and Dames of the Order of Pope St.

   Silvester:

Frank Chappa of Holy Family Church, Mereta  

Anne Hermann of Holy Angels, San Angelo

Ernest Blanco of St. Margaret’s, San Angelo           

Geraldine Fischer of St.Therese, Carlsbad

Manuel and Maria Elena Molina of St. Ann Church, Colorado City

Teresa Figueroa of Good Shepherd Church, Crane

Emma Kruppa of Sacred Heart Cathedral,  San Angelo

 

Those receiving the special Papal award of Knights and Dames of the Order of St. Gregory the

   Great:

Eddie and Sylvia Noriega of Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Angelo.

Howard and Penny Pope of Holy Family Church, Abilene.

Doris Helen Block of Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Angelo.

Carol Ann Hunt of St. Ann Church, Midland.

Nelly Diaz of St. Vincent Pallotti Church, Abilene.

Anita Diaz of Holy Redeemer Church, Odessa.

Delia Samaniego of St. Ann Church, Sonora.

Dolores Gully of St. Ambrose Church, Wall.

 

Others receiving the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award are:

Oblate Father Louie Lougen, OMI, present Superior General of the Missionary Oblates of

   Mary Immaculate.

Tom and Gayle Benson of New Orleans, La., and San Antonio.

  

   Bishop Pfeifer nominated all of the recipients for the honors. In his letter of nomination, he asked the Holy Father to bestow the papal medal on the religious order priests, women religious, deacons and lay people for their many years of dedicated service to the Diocese of San Angelo.

   Bishop Pfeifer requested the high Papal honors for Very Rev. Louie Lougen, OMI, for his long and outstanding missionary service with the Oblates in Brazil and his great leadership as Provincial of the Oblate community of the USA and now as Superior General in Rome.

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Benson of the New Orleans Saints have been long time friends and great generous benefactors of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, especially in San Antonio, Texas, for more than 50 years.

   Bishop Pfeifer points out that he requested the highest Papal honors of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for all honorees, but the Vatican limits it to a certain number of people and then bestows other Papal honors.