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First archbishop of San Antonio consecrated
On this day in 1927, Arthur Jerome Drossaerts was consecrated as the first archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio in San Fernando de Béxar Cathedral. Drossaerts was born in Breda, Holland, in 1862. He was ordained in 1889 and travelled to Louisiana the same year. He subsequently served as pastor at New Orleans, Broussard, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1918, Drossaerts was consecrated bishop of San Antonio. As bishop, Drossaerts built more than sixty churches and fifty schools, the most significant of which was St. John's Seminary. When the Diocese of San Antonio was made an archdiocese, Drossaerts became its first archbishop. He continued to build churches and schools and fill speaking engagements. He kept the old Spanish missions alive and went without salary in order to assist poor parishes with expenses. During his tenure as archbishop, he dedicated about 134 churches and religious buildings. In 1934, Pope Pius XI honored Drossaerts for his aid to those fleeing from religious persecution in Mexico. For his charitable works he was named assistant at the pontifical throne and papal count. Drossaerts died in 1940.
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- DROSSAERTS, ARTHUR JEROME
- SAN ANTONIO, CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF
- SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL
- SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
- CATHOLIC CHURCH
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- Longoria given hero's burial (1949)
- Lone survivor of Bonilla expedition found (1599)
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