Rev. Msgr. Albert Joseph Beck

Reverend Monsignor Albert J. Beck passed away on Friday, March 1, 2013, at St. Dominic Village in Houston. Monsignor Beck was born on March 27, 1924, in Beaumont, Texas, to Joseph C. Beck and Jennie Burns Beck. He attended St. Anthony's in Beaumont for both grade school and high school. He studied at Lamar Tech College and continued his education at St. Mary's Seminary, then located in La Porte, Texas. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 17, 1949.

Following his ordination, Monsignor Beck served as an Assistant Pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Freeport, Immaculate Conception in Liberty, St. Anne's in Beaumont, and St. Rose of Lima in Houston. He was the founding Pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish, and was also Pastor of All Saints Parish, both in Houston. He later served as the Chaplain for the Newman Center in Galveston and was Director of Holy Cross Chapel in downtown Houston. He was named a Prelate of Honor in 1994 and retired in June of 1999. At the time of his death, he was the longest serving priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

He was preceded in death by his parents and all nine of his siblings, including his brother, Monsignor George Beck and his sister, Sr. Hilary Beck, O.P.

A Visitation will be held on Monday, March 4, 2013, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Church, 8200 Roos Road, Houston, Texas 77036, with the Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Parkway, Houston, Texas 77002.

In lieu of flowers, Monsignor Beck requested donations be made to Casa Juan Diego, Post Office Box 70113, Houston, Texas 77270 or St. Mary's Seminary, 9845 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024.