SAN ANGELO — Nine visiting bishops from Oklahoma and Texas will help San Angelo and area
Catholics celebrate a special Mass marking the 50th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Bishop
Emeritus Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, former Bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo, at 6:30 p.m., Monday,
December 22, 2014, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 19 S. Oakes, San Angelo. The
Mass will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the consecration of The Cathedral of the Sacred
Heart.

Bishop Pfeifer was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1964. On that same date Sacred
Heart Church was consecrated as the Cathedral for the recently formed Diocese of San Angelo
which had been created three years earlier. Most Rev. Pfeifer became the bishop of the Diocese of
San Angelo in July 1985 and served in that capacity until his retirement in January 2014. Two
months prior to the creation of the Diocese of San Angelo, in August 1961, Sacred Heart Church,
destined to become Sacred Heart Cathedral, was built to replace the older church facility, which the
community had outgrown.

Visiting bishops scheduled to attend the anniversary Mass Monday include:
Most Rev. Eusebius Beltran, retired Bishop Emeritus of Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Most Rev. Raymundo Pena, Bishop of Brownsville
Most Rev. J. Douglas Deshotel, Auxiliary Bishop of Dallas
Most Rev. Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD, Bishop of Corpus Christi
Most Rev. Placido Rodriguez, Bishop of Lubbock
Most Rev. Mark Seitz, Bishop of El Paso
Most Rev. Joseph E. Strickland, Bishop of Tyler
Most Rev. James Tamayo, Bishop of Laredo
Most Rev. Patrick Zurek, Bishop of Amarillo.

San Angelo Bishop Michael J. Sis will concelebrate, and the homily will be offered by Msgr. Bernard
Gully, who served as a Master of Ceremonies at the cathedral consecration in 1964, and is currently
pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Big Spring.

A reception in the gymnasium follows the Mass. All are invited to attend.