​Msgr. Patrick Cronin dies May 14, funeral arrangements scheduled

Msgr. Patrick Cronin dies May 14, funeral arrangements scheduled

Msgr. Patrick Cronin, longtime pastor of Prince of Peace Church in San Antonio who is credited as one of the primary founders of the ACTS movement, died May 14 at Methodist Hospital. He was preparing to offer the sacrament of reconciliation at Prince of Peace Church that evening, according to Father Rodolfo Caballero, pastor.

Born and raised in Ireland, Msgr. Cronin would have celebrated his 52nd anniversary of ordination as a priest of the Archdiocese of San Antonio on June 10. Father Pat was honored by Pope John Paul II with the honorary title of monsignor in 1998.

His first priestly assignment was at St. Mary Magdalen Church working with the religious education program. In the archdiocese, Father Pat served at St. Paul’s Church in San Antonio, Blessed Sacrament Church in San Antonio, St. Luke Church in Loire, Our Lady of Perpetual Church in Selma, and finally in June 1993 was assigned to Prince of Peace Church, serving there until June 2016.

In 1987, while assigned to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a group of parishioners approached Father Pat about developing a parish based retreat meant to inspire people: renewing and strengthening an individuals’ fellowship with Christ and encouraging a person to become more involved in the parish community. This became the ACTS retreat program.

Then, in Spring 1997, Father Pat brought ACTS to Prince of Peace. He asked the women from Our Lady of Perpetual Help to team with Prince of Peace to form the first women’s retreat at Prince of Peace. Later that year, men from Our Lady of Perpetual Help assisted men of the parish to form the first men’s retreat at Prince of Peace. In February 1999, the first Couple Shared Prayer retreat at Prince of Peace was held. He gave married couples the opportunity to develop a stronger relationship between themselves and the Lord through prayer.

The ACTS movement flourished under Father Pat’s guidance. Because of his encouragement, support, and dedication, ACTS became an international retreat movement. As a result of the ACTS retreats and the Couples Shared Prayer retreats, ministries have developed and have been strengthened by people desiring to become more involved in their parish community. The ACTS retreat movement has developed a bond among Catholics throughout the archdiocese and the world.

Msgr. Cronin received the St. John Vianney Award honoring an outstanding priest of the archdiocese from Catholic Life Insurance at the Catholic Television of San Antonio Leadership Luncheon in 2015. Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, stated in introductory remarks, “Father Pat’s lifetime of priestly service has been a blessing to the people of the archdiocese.”

Msgr. Cronin was introduced prior to the award presentation by Joseph Hayes, and longtime friend and one of the three men who initially proposed in 1987 to Father Pat the retreat format which would become the ACTS program.

Prince of Peace is currently raising funds to building a new Parish Life Center – adding additional classrooms and meeting rooms — which will be named for Msgr. Cronin. In endorsing the effort, Msgr. Cronin stated, “While this building will someday bear my name, this honor is not mine. All glory be to Christ.”

A memorial Mass was held May 15 at Prince of Peace Church

All funeral services will be held at the church at 7893 Grissom Road. On Sunday, May 19, viewing will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and rosary will be held at 5:30 p.m. On Monday, May 20, viewing will be held from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with rosary at 9 a.m. The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, presiding.

In lieu of flowers, those interested in honoring Msgr. Cronin’s legacy of service to Prince of Peace Parish are asked to make a pledge or donation in his memory to the “Like a Mustard Seed” campaign, as the monsignor will be the namesake of the Monsignor Patrick Cronin Parish Life Center.