Beaumont, Texas, Oct 7, 2021 / 17:19 pm
A centenarian priest in Texas has been recalled to his religious community in Spain, to the dismay of his longtime parishioners.
“It kind of hurts our feelings,” said parishioner Jacqueline Hernandez, in an interview with 12NewsNow of Southeast Texas. “It really does because he is a figure in so many people's lives that he is family to us. He spends more time with us than he has with his own family."
Father Luis Urriza has served in the United States since 1949, with the majority of his time spent in the Diocese of Beaumont. But he is a member of the Augustinian order, with his province based in Spain. He was essentially on loan to the Diocese of Beaumont.
His superior has asked Fr. Urriza to return to Spain for retirement, because of his advanced age. Fr. Urriza celebrated his 100th birthday Aug. 19.