caption:
Among the attendees at the Friends of Padua June Jamboree were residents of Padua Place, above, and right, Sister Mary Ann Domagalski, MSSA, and Sister Lucelia Sanchez, MSSA.
Padua Place June Jamboree honors service of retired bishops and priests
The Padua Place Home for Retired Priests held its annual June Jamboree at Pedrotti’s North Wind Ranch on June 2. The event, sponsored by the Friends of Padua, featured the music of the Cactus Country Band, as well as a live and silent auction.
A highlight of the evening was a gift presentation to Sister Mary Ann Domagalski, MSSA, by Sandra Murphy and Ray Neumann.
The gathering also honored two residents of the home, Father Henry Heese and Father Charles Doherty.
Father Heese was born on Jan. 26, 1934 in Robstown to Ben and Hildegard Heese. He had nine siblings and was the fifth child in the Heese family. He attended school in Robstown and entered the Benedictine Order in Corpus Christi after high school. After several years as a Benedictine brother, he discerned that he wanted to be a priest and studied at the Benedictine Abbey in Kansas.
He was ordained on May 27, 1961. His first assignment was teaching Latin and English at St. Benedict Academy and served in various parishes as assigned to him. He ministered in Corpus Christi, Beeville, Laredo, and Alice.
At a later stage in his journey, he discerned that he wanted to continue his priesthood as a diocesan priest in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. His request was granted and he continued his ministry in the Corpus Christi Diocese. His last assignment was as chaplain to the Schoenstatt Sisters’ Convent and Retreat Center in Rockport. He retired in 2015 and joined the residents of Padua Place.
Throughout his priestly life, Father Hesse has been blessed with the knowledge that his sister Margaret, who is a religious Sister of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods, Ind., has prayed and continues to pray for him as he does for her.
Father Doherty was born on Oct. 27, 1927, in Terryrone near Moville, County Donegal, Ireland, to Mary and Daniel Doherty. He was born into a hardworking farming family and was the 10th of 11th children.
He was ordained on June 24, 1958, in Glasgow, Scotland. After he came to America, he first ministered in Kingsville and later at St. Patrick’s Parish in Corpus Christi as the diocesan CCD director. As CCD director he implemented the first diocesan CCD program in the diocese. He was also involved with the development of humane living conditions for the poor living in low income housing.
In 1962, Father Doherty began his service at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ingleside, where he built classrooms for the school and a new parish hall. In 1970, Hurricane Celia destroyed the church. In 1974, a new church was built and was completely paid for by the parish before the foundation was poured. It was the only church in the United States designed to be hurricane proof.
In the 1980s, Father Doherty organized the construction of a community swimming pool for the citizens of Ingleside — the Charles Doherty Swimming Pool — which is still enjoyed by residents and visitors today. While living in Ingleside, he could often be seen driving down the road on his motorcycle to serve the needs of his people.
From Ingleside, Father Doherty went to St. Mary Star of the Sea in Aransas Pass, where he eventually retired. Father Doherty has many friends and a large family of nieces, nephews, and cousins in Ireland, England, Canada, and the United States. His younger sister, Teresa Kelly, lives in Scotland.