Father Pat Doherty, known to his family as PJ, died January 23 at 87 years of age. He was born in Headford, County Kerry, Ireland on March 25, 1931 to Hannah and Timothy Doherty. He studied at St. Peter's Seminary in Wexford and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi on June 5, 1955. His first of many assignments in his more than 63 years of ministry was at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Aransas Pass. From there he came to the Rio Grande Valley in 1961 to serve at St. Anthony Church in Harlingen.
He would remain in the Valley the rest of his life, feeling quite at home because "the Mexicans are just like the Irish". He was one of the founding priests of the new Diocese of Brownsville in 1965. He served as pastor of several Brownsville parishes: Christ the King Church, where he bought the property for what today is Good Shepherd Parish; Sacred Heart Church, which he closed with Father Ron Anderson and moved the congregation to St. Mary, Mother of the Church; he then founded and built St. Luke Parish, from where he went to St. Ignatius Church in El Ranchito. He then served as pastor at St. Joseph the Worker Church in McAllen, and started the Guadalupe Mission which today is San Juan Diego Church in Balboa Acres. He asked for permission to serve in the Diocese of Matamoros and spent five years as pastor of Parroquia San Jose in Santa Apolonia. When he returned in 1992, he served as pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Progreso, and then St. Pius X Church in Weslaco. He then returned to Brownsville for a second stint in the city that was truly his home in the Valley and where he wished to be buried. He served as Vicar General of the Diocese for three years while pastoring first Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and then St. Joseph Parish. He was assigned to the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle in 2001 where he served the remaining years of active ministry. He, literally, heard hundreds of thousands of confessions during these years.
Father Pat was predeceased by his parents, his sister Chris Dennehy and her husband Paddy, his brother-in-law Bob Leary, and his sister-in-law Nancy Doherty. He is survived by his sister Joan Leary of Worcester, MA, his brother Gerald (Eileen) of Headford, Ireland, his brother Mike of Ballispittle, County Cork, his sister Mary Dunleavy (Eugene) of Salt Hill, County Galway, and his brother Tim (Liz) of Lutz, FL. He also leaves behind many nephews, nieces, and great nephews and nieces. Honored to serve as pallbearers are Fathers Jerry Frank, Amador Garza, Noe Mendoza and Jorge Gomez, as well as Tim Doherty, Ron Anderson, and Pablo H. Villescas.
The first Rosary is scheduled at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 26 at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle, National Shrine, with the viewing from to 2 to 5 p.m.On Sunday, January 27, the viewing is scheduled from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary, Mother of the Church Parish Hall, 1914 Barnard Rd., Brownsville, and the Rosary at 7 p.m. The Funeral Mass begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 28, also at St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Brownsville (1914 Barnard Rd.). The burial will follow at Buena Vista Cemetery.
Father Pat was a great supporter of the Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns in Alamo, both spiritually and financially. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Capuchin Poor Clares in Alamo (727 E Bowie Ave., Alamo, Texas 78516.
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