FATHER ISIDORO VICENTE, O.P.

1939-2017

The Reverend Father Isidoro Vicente, O.P., passed on to eternal life in the early hours of Monday, May 22, 2017. Father Isidoro lost his valiant battle against cancer at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Born in Martiago, province of Salamanca, Spain on March 28, 1939, to the late Felipa and Justo Vicente; early in his life he followed the footsteps of his brother Francisco and attended the Dominican Order Minor Seminary. He did his novitiate in Palencia, Spain, and on October 7, 1957, pronounced his first vows in the Dominican Order. He studied Philosophy at the Dominican Institute of Philosophy, Caldas de Besaya, Santander, Spain. He began his theological formation at the Pontifical Faculty of San Esteban, Salamanca, Spain and completed his studies at the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC, in 1965.

His fist ministry assignment was to Saint Dominic Parish, Miami, Florida, where he also began his lifelong ministry as a Hospital chaplain. He became pastor at Saint Dominic Parish in Miami in 1974. In 1983, after ending a very successful ministry in Miami, where he lead in the construction of the new church, he went to San Antonio, Texas where he began his ministry as CoDirector of Campus Ministry at San Antonio College. In 1987 he was made Pastor of Mater Dolorosa Parish, Independence, Louisiana, where he also ministered as Part-Time Chaplain at North Oaks Hospital, Hammond, Louisiana.

In 1993 he returned to Texas, where he ministered as Campus Minister at the University of Houston. In 1999 he became Chaplain at Saint Joseph-DUBUIS Catholic Hospital, while simultaneously being the Chaplain to the Houston Dominican Sisters.

In 2002 he was briefly assigned as Pastor in Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, New Orleans, Louisiana, before receiving his new and final ministerial assignment as Parochial Vicar at Holy Rosary Parish, Houston, Texas. Here he fulfilled his priestly duties until the moment when his health did not allow him. Deeply involved in the parish ministry, with special concern for the sick and the poor, he became the face of Christ for many of the sick members of the parish, while visiting and consoling them with priestly devotion. He was instrumental in reestablishing the Saint Vincent the Paul ministry in the parish, motivating many to a generous service to the poor of the area. For years his commentaries to the Sunday readings of the Mass enriched the spiritual life of many.

He is greatly missed by his confreres at Holy Rosary Priory and by the members of Holy Rosary Parish. May he rest in peace!

Visitation will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 3617 Milam Street on Wednesday, May 24, beginning at seven o’clock in the evening with a Vigil of the Office for the Dead at eight o’clock. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Rosary Church on Thursday, May 25 with a visitation beginning at nine o’clock in the morning followed by the mass beginning at ten o’clock. Internment will follow at the Dominican Friars Plot at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery.