Priest challenged Holy Cross Catholic Church to improve community

By Matthew Sturdevant Caller-Times
April 11, 2004

Monsignor Patrick Higgins will be remembered by Bishop Edmond Carmody as a priest whose sermons never had "fluff," a well-prepared leader who challenged his parish, and a golfer who always placed in the Irish golf tournament in San Antonio.

Higgins, 74, died Friday after suffering from bone cancer. He was scheduled to celebrate 50 years in the priesthood April 18, and had been a priest in South Texas since June 1954. He was most recently the pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1109 N. Staples St., for the past 10 years.

"He was always prepared, and he never took anything for granted," Carmody said of Higgins. "He was quite successful in all the parishes he served. . . I would classify him as a one of those gifted leaders who you don't find very often."

In his sermons, Higgins challenged his parish to go out and improve their community, Carmody said.

In his free time, Higgins loved golfing, Carmody said. He used to organize a tournament for the clergy that was scheduled for the week after Easter, and had this year's tournament on his agenda despite a worsening illness, Carmody said.

Higgins was born March 11, 1930, in Athenry, Ireland. During his years of service, he served as pastor of St. Anthony's in Violet, and Ss. Cyril and Methodius and St. Patrick parishes in Corpus Christi. He also served as parochial vicar at Christ the King parish in Corpus Christi, St. Anthony's parish in Harlingen and Our Lady of Sorrows in McAllen.

Aside from his pastoral duties, Higgins was actively involved with organizations across the diocese. At one time or another he served on every board and commission of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, said Marty Wind, a spokesman for the diocese.

Visiting hours begin 11 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Cross Catholic Church and will continue all day for those associated with the parish with a Mass at 6:30 p.m. Visiting hours for the general public begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Corpus Christi Cathedral, 505 N. Upper Broadway. A special farewell by the Cursillistas will take place Thursday afternoon. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the cathedral.

Higgins' remains will be flown to Athery to be buried.

Contact Matthew Sturdevant at 886-3778 or sturdevantm@caller.com

Message of Thanks from Father Richard Higgins

Monday, April 19, 2004-Church of the Assumption, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland-Msgr. Patrick Higgins Funeral Mass

I first want to say a few words on behalf of the family.  It is well we remember when Paddy left these shores in 1954 to begin his priestly life in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.  We were conscience of the loneliness we felt as we thought of him going so far away.  That span of 50 years is well documented in the Diocese of Corpus Christi and we are in no doubt that he left his mark and touched the lives of so many people.

But he never forgot his roots.  Only one year did he not return in that period.  His interest in home, the GAA, the Golf Club, and the Parish of Athenry never diminished.  How proud he was at the great achievement of Athenry hurling.  It was always his wish to be laid to rest in his native Parish with his own family and among his own people.

As you all observed, he did not enjoy good health over the last few years and was gradually on the decline.  It was a privilege to be at his bedside when he died and to be with him in the last weeks of intense pain.  He was resigned to die and passed away peacefully.

I want to thank the many people who cared for him in these last years particularly Dolores, Bill and Lacey Sparks and Rebecca and we want to thank you for accompanying him on his final journey home.  Thank you very much to the many nieces and nephews who went to see him in Corpus Christi.  In fact the last words he spoke were Slan agus Beannacht.

Thanks to all our friends and neighbors who were so kind in the generous help and support in arranging different aspects of the funeral.  Particularly those involved in the catering and welcoming visitors.  We are indeed indebted to Eileen and Nano for their great support.

I want to thank the many people who made this Liturgy so meaningful both today and yesterday.  The choir who sang so beautifully, the amount of effort put into it, we are all so grateful to you.  Thanks to Johnny Carroll who will play The Fields of Athenry as we leave the church.  It was certainly a fitting tribute.  To all those who took part in the Liturgy, I want to thank the Priests of Galway and Tuam Diocese, those who traveled from America and Scotland and many from other parts of the Diocese including his classmates.  We are ever so indebted to the Priests of Athenry, Fr. Tony King, the Parish priest was in Corpus Christi for his final farewell.  Fr. John O'Gorman and Kieran Blake have been a tower of strength and support.  Fr. O'Groman has made the organizing of Paddy's homecoming as easy for us in all the arrangements and ensuring that his wishes were carried out.  So we thank you John and Kieran for that generous giving of your time and talents.

Thanks also to Fr. Molloy and Sean McHugh for the booklet they produced.

I come finally to thank Bishop Carmody of Corpus Christi Diocese, a Kerry man and a great sportsman in his day.  His friendship and acknowledgement of Paddy's talents are unreal.  His support for him in his last weeks we are all well aware of.  We thank you alone all of you riding in the hearse with him from Corpus Christi to San Antonio at 6 o'clock last Friday morning and then accompanying him with us to Atlanta and Shannon to arrive on Saturday morning.  Here today to officiate at Paddy's funeral Mass and memorable tribute you paid to him for his work in Corpus Christi.  Our very sincere thanks and I want you, the people of Ireland, to show your appreciation for his having graced us with his presence here today.  How Paddy would have loved it.

Our very sincere thanks to all.

We want to invite all friends and relatives to the Oranmore Lodge to join us for lunch after the burial.

Thank you all

Father Richie