100 Years of combined service for two sons of Ireland

Msgr. Morgan Rowsome retiring in June from his duties as pastor at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

As a teenager in his native Ireland, doctors told Msgr. Morgan Rowsome he would never become a priest.

Numerous bouts with rheumatic fever had caused permanent damage to his heart, they told him. However, believing “all things are possible with God,” he went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1961, praying his health would be restored. Just three years later, he was accepted into the seminary.

Next month Msgr. Rowsome will retire after 43 years of service to the Church, but retiring just means he’s slowing things down a bit. Handing over the reigns of day-to-day operations for the 1,500 families at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Parish in northwest Corpus Christi by mid-June, Msgr. Rowsome joked this is just a transition.

“I’m looking forward to becoming a ‘rent-a-priest’ in San Antonio,” he said with a laugh. “I love the priesthood and wish to stay active, but the energy level needed to keep up with such a large parish just isn’t there anymore. You not only minister to your community, but with 10 employees and 10 acres to oversee, you quickly become a carpenter, plumber, accountant and builder all rolled into one.”

Ordained in Ireland by 1970, Msgr. Rowsome was sent to Corpus Christi a few days shy of historic Hurricane Celia’s arrival. He served in Laredo for a short time, was transferred to Orange Grove and then moved to St. Peter, where he has remained the last 19 years.

A little more than 20 years ago, he had a synthetic aortic valve replacement in San Antonio. Despite his many health setbacks throughout his life, he’s remained a firm believer in the healing power of laughter.

Msgr. Thomas Mc Gettrick admires the landscaping skills of a parishioner for this tribute to St. Francis of Assisi. Msgr. Mc Gettrick retires as pastor of St. Andrew by the Sea after 57 years of service to the church. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

“There are miracles waiting to happen every day. I am one of them,” he said. “In today’s society we desperately need more faith. It’s simply not an option anymore. We need to ask God everyday for the strength to carry the cross.”

After a short trip to Ireland over the summer, Msgr. Rowsome will return to Corpus Christi to lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in November.

Parishioner Manuel Garcia, who relocated to Annaville from the Rio Grande Valley four years ago, said he’s come to rely on Msgr. Rowsome’s guidance over the years.

“He’s been so supportive, especially during my recent medical crisis,” said Garcia, who volunteers to tidy up the church before each mass. “I’ll miss him but hopefully he’ll have some time to relax. He stays so busy around here.”

Msgr. Rowsome added he plans to visit Corpus Christi often.

“I’ll deeply miss my community here at St. Peter,” he said. “Everyone has been so good to me. I’d like to thank the parishioners, staff, leaders of the various religious ministries and volunteers from the bottom of my ‘mended’ Irish heart.”

Meanwhile, across town on Padre Island, Msgr. Thomas Mc Gettrick at St. Andrew by the Sea prepares to retire from his 57 years as a priest this summer, as well.

Msgr. Mc Gettrick arrived in South Texas just five months after being ordained in Ireland, in October 1956. His first assignment was in McAllen, which was then still part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. He was moved to Laredo for a short time, eventually making his way to Ss. Cyril and Methodius in 1961.

He moved to a few other parishes over the years and then served at a mission in Saltillo, Mexico. In 2002, he landed at St. Andrew by the Sea, the only open air Catholic Church in the United States.

“Volunteering three years for our mission in Mexico was a great source of growth for me. Any priest who went would probably say the same thing. We served a total of 44 villages at one parish alone, so it required a lot of traveling through the mountains. It was beautiful. The people were wonderful to work with and so grateful to have us there. Until we took over, some villages only had Mass once a year,” he lamented.

Retirement does not mean doing nothing, Msgr. Mc Gettrick said.

“I feel God has blessed me with excellent health, so I plan to keep busy. I’m not going to just stop. I’ll just change my focus a bit,” he said. “I hope to spend more time at CHRISTUS Spohn South and will continue as a Vicar for Retired Priests.”

He also plans to continue to assist as needed at local parishes and remain available for the classroom.

“I’m a big believer in the importance of prayer. Retirement for me will mean more time for prayer,” he said.

Despite being a smaller church of just 400 families, parish activities–in addition to his off-campus commitments–keep him hopping sometimes 10-15 hours a day. He’ll miss celebrating Mass with his parish community and visiting with his parishioners, but the slower pace will be welcomed, he said.

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve. Over the years we’ve had great bishops and wonderful priests. I feel honored to have been a part of that,” Msgr. Mc Gettrick said.

The secret of his success at St. Andrew by the Sea is based in the talents and generous spirit of its parishioners.

“I’ve just had the good sense to get out of their way,” he said. “It’s their parish more than mine.”
Besides no longer working alongside his dedicated parishioners, Msgr. Mc Gettrick will also miss his daily sojourns with nature.

“Every morning at 6 a.m., I begin my day with a walk on the beach. I’ll miss that.”