Rev. Msgr. Joseph H. Crosthwait

MONSIGNOR JOSEPH H. CROSTHWAIT (Fr. Joe) was born March 8, 1922, in Mexico City, Mexico, and was registered at the U.S. Embasy as a U.S. citizen. Raised in Dos Estrellas and Puebla, Mexico, the family moved to Bonham, Texas, in 1935. He attended San Antonio Academy and Texas Military Institute, graduating in 1940 as valedictorian. Following his graduation, he enrolled at Rice Institute (now Rice University) in pursuit of a degree in mechanical engineering, but was deterred by WW II. He joined the US Army Engineer Corps for meteorology and weather recon training at UCLA, followed by two year's service as captain at Chaboa, India, until the end of the war. Returning to Rice as a junior in engineering, he paused one day during a laboratory experiment, reflecting that what he really wanted to do was to help people, as did the missionaries in India who so impressed him. Fr. Joe entered St. Mary Seminary in La Porte, Texas, in September 1947 and was ordained on May 30, 1953. He served as parochial vicar of St. Joseph Church, New Waverly (1953), St. Mary Church, La Porte (1953-1958), and Queen of Peace in La Marque (1958), and as pastor of St. Mary Cathedral Basilica (1958-1970), St. Rose of Lima Church, Houston (1970-1979) and St. John Vianney Church in Houston (1979-1996), until his retirement in 1996. He also served on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for the Spanish Speaking (1956-57) and traveled over thirty three states, addressing the plight of migrants and providing Mass from his car using a loudspeaker. During his pastorate at St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston, he served as secretary of the Galveston Ministerial Association and was instrumental in the restoration of the Bishop's Palace. He played an important role in the establishment of John Paul II Catholic School and Pope John XXIII High School.

Fr. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Jeunot Lee Crosthwait and Emma Ruffini Crosthwait. He is survived by his only sibling, Eugene Lee Crosthwait, sister-in-law, Louise, and niece and nephew, David Christopher and Loretta Anne Crosthwait Jepsom. Fr. Joe’s remaining years were in the loving, extraordinary care of St. Dominic Nursing Home.

Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m., Rosary at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and the Vigil at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, February 16, 2011, and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 17, 2011, all services at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX. Rite of Committal will follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.