Dear Friends in Christ,

On Monday, Sept. 19^th, Archbishop Emeritus (retired) Joseph A. Fiorenza died at the age of 91.

Born:  January 25, 1931 in Beaumont, TX

Ordained a Priest:   May 29, 1954

Ordained the Bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo, TX 

     on October 25, 1979

Installed Bishop of Galveston-Houston:  Feb. 18, 1985

President of the USCCB (United States Conference of 

     Catholic Bishops):  1998-2001

Became an Archbishop:   December 29, 2004

Granted retirement:   February 28, 2006 

Died:  September 19, 2022

When he was ordained a priest, he served our diocese as a priest in various roles (as a parochial vicar, pastor, chaplain to St. Joseph’s Hospital in downtown Houston & in administration of the diocese).  When he reached the required age of 75, he was granted “official retirement”.   Though he was no longer responsible for the administration of the Archdiocese, he continued to work actively as a retired bishop, especially on those projects & events closest to his heart.  He went into the Chancery Office every weekday.  He went out to various parishes & diocesan events.  He celebrated Mass & other Sacraments regularly until his health began to fail in recent months.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, the successor of Archbishop Fiorenza, stated: “Archbishop Fiorenza was known to be a champion of civil rights & a tireless worker in overcoming the presence of racism in our community.  He was also known as a great promoter of genuine renewal in the Church, and in making the teachings of the Second Vatican Council known.”

Archbishop Fiorenza was a humble man, always remembering his roots coming from a very ordinary family.   His father immigrated at age 10 from Sicily.  His mother was a daughter of Sicilian immigrants.  He never liked attention on himself, though he was a very public person.

As we celebrate Priesthood Sunday this Sunday, Archbishop Fiorenza once commented: “The joy of being able to serve as a priest of the church is the important thing and to be able to bring the saving message of the gospel to people and to do that during times of great sadness and sorrow, but also times of great joy and happiness, that’s what makes the life of a priest meaningful.”  What a wonderful statement of truth for a man who served the Church as priest for 68.3 years and a bishop for 42.9 years!  When I was the Pastor / Rector at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 2008-2020, Archbishop Fiorenza was a celebrant for one of the Masses almost every Sunday.  I would acknowledge him as my “parochial vicar.”  He enjoyed to banter with me & others.  He ordained me a priest.  I view him as my bishop, a mentor & a father to me!

Archbishop Fiorenza, the late Rabbi Samuel Karff & the Rev. William A. "Bill" Lawson (pastor emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church) were known as the “Three Wise Men or Three Amigos.”  They worked tirelessly in Houston to do their best “to humbly answer the call in Isaiah (1:17) to do good, seek justice & defend the oppressed.  They worked to de-segregate Houston's schools & businesses, created alliances to provide solutions for Houston's homeless, committed to increase Harris County's responsiveness to the legal needs of the indigent & even labored to create a vision for age-friendly care which supports seniors who need geriatric services.”  As the Rev. Lawson stated this past week: “Joe spoke in a quiet voice, but he was a strong presence wherever he went.”

I truly believe Archbishop Fiorenza can echo St. Paul’s words (2 Tim. 4:7): “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”  May the Lord bless him now and say “Well done, my good and faithful servant…Come, share your master’s joy. (Mt. 25:23)”

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us! 

Fr. Lawrence W. Jozwiak

Pastor 

—St. Maximilian Kolbe