​Msgr. Arnold ‘Buzz’ Anders dies April 4

Msgr. Arnold ‘Buzz’ Anders dies April 4

Monsignor Arnold “Buzz” Anthony Anders, the longest serving priest in the Diocese of Victoria, went to his eternal reward on Easter Sunday, April 4. Father Anders, as he preferred to be called, was born in Dubina on Dec. 11, 1926, to Frank and Annie Guenther Anders.

Upon completion of his studies at St. John’s Seminary in San Antonio, he was ordained on May 27, 1950 in San Fernando Cathedral by Archbishop Robert Lucey for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He had to receive a special dispensation to be ordained at the age of 23, which was given to him by Pope Pius XII. The minimum age is 24 to be ordinated. He later received his master’s degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

His assignments in the Archdiocese of San Antonio included The Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Dominic’s and St. Michael the Archangel in Weimar. With the formation of the Victoria diocese, he was assigned to St. Mary’s in Victoria (twice), St. Mary’s in Nada, St. Andrew’s in Hillje-Louise, St. Robert’s Bellarmine in El Campo and The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Goliad where he also ministered to four early Texas Missions, namely Charco, Berclair, Fannin and La Bahia. His last pastoral assignment was in Ganado at the Church of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After his retirement, he moved south to serve as chaplain to the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus. He spent 20 years ministering to the Sisters, the residents of Mount Carmel Assistant Living Home and helping in churches throughout the Diocese of Corpus Christi, making lifelong friends along the way. Mount Carmel Home closed its doors in 2017. Father Anders returned to San Antonio to live at Padua Place where he reconnected with many old friends and fellow priests.

Father Anders enjoyed traveling the world, his travels included all six continents and miles that would circle the world three times. His favorite place to visit was the Holy Land, which he visited three times. He studied one summer there, and on another trip he took part in the “Via Dolorosa” (Way of the Cross) in Jerusalem. He also studied in Rome at the Pontifical North America College, where he met then-Pope John Paul II, now St. John Paul.

Father Anders is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Annie, sisters, Margaret and husband Bernard Hartensteiner, Leona and husband Tony Garza; brothers, Arthur and wife Sophie, Frank and wife Leona, and John; nephews, David Hartensteiner and Michael Anders; great-nephews, Thomas W. Anders and Henry Anthony Anders; great-niece, Mary Louise Adams; and great-great-nephew, Dyrk Burcie. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Adelle Anders, wife of John and 24 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and great-nephews, and lifelong friends from all over.

The family is especially grateful to the Sisters of Missionary Servants of St. Anthony and Padua Place staff who dedicate their lives to taking the absolute best care of retried priests. They treated Father Anders with love, gentleness and compassion for the three years he lived there.

Viewing, rosary, and Mass of the Resurrection took place on April 15 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Weimer. Viewing begins at 10 a.m., followed by a rosary at 10:30 a.m. and Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. The rite of final committal will take place at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cemetery in Dubina after the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Seminary Education Fund, Diocese of Victoria, P.O. Box 4070, Victoria, TX, 77903; or Padua Place, 80 Peter Baque Rd., San Antonio, TX 78209.