Father Raphael Chen

A builder of Castro County Catholic Churches and long-time pastor in both Dimmitt and Hart died May 4, 2011 in retirement in California at the age of 91. The Rev. Raphael Chen was the oldest priest in the Diocese of Amarillo and was especially known for his faithful shepherding from 1961 to 1984 of Immaculate Conception of Mary Catholic Church in Dimmitt and St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Hart. The present buildings that house the parishes in both Dimmitt and Hart were due to his guidance.

A Memorial Mass in honor of his life and ministry here in Castro County will be celebrated at the Immaculate Conception of Mary Church here in Dimmitt, Saturday, May 14th, at 10:00a.m. His Funeral Mass was celebrated May 7, in Artesia, CA. His burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Orange, Calif.

Raphael Chen was born Aug. 25, 1919 in Panama, Rep. of Panama. He attended Christian Brothers Elementary School for six years, followed by three years at Christian Brothers High School.

In 1940, Chen entered the Claretian Seminary in Compton, Calif., and was ordained to the priesthood on Sept. 20, 1952 in San Gabriel, Calif.

As a member of the Claretian Community, Father Chen served at St. Jude Seminary, Momence, Ill.; Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Colon, Rep. of Panama; Costa Bajo Missions, Republic of Panama; Mt. Caramel Church, Colon, Panama; and San Bliss Indian Missions, Panama.

Father Chen arrived in the Diocese of Amarillo in Jan. 1961, serving at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Lamesa (now in the Diocese of Lubbock). He was incardinated into the Diocese of Amarillo on April 26, 1962 and five days later, was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception of Mary Church, Dimmitt and St. John Nepomucene Church, Hart. He would serve those parishes until his retirement on Oct. 23, 1984.

After his retirement, he relocated to the Los Angeles area and returned to the Diocese of Amarillo on a number of occasions to participate in the annual Priests’ Retreat at the Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center.

Survivors include a brother, Man Fong Chen of Cypress, Calif.; and a niece, Marta Magdalena of Anaheim.

Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary (562) 425-6401

www.luybenfamilyd-m.com