ROBSTOWN (Kiii News) -A local priest was killed in a car accident Monday night, and now the Catholic community is in mourning.
Father Mike Jordan lived a life of service, and those who knew and served with him are remembering and celebrating his life, even as it came to a sudden and surprising end.
Father Jordan was serving right up to the end. He was on his way back from a trip in which he was trying to get money for missions when he died in the accident.
The Department of Public Safety said the accident happened at 9:35 p.m. Monday on I-37 South in Atascosa County, at mile marker 91. They said a tractor-trailer veered off the road to the right and then tried to reenter the roadway, but overturned. That's when the four-door Saturn driven by Father Jordan struck the tractor trailer.
The priest was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured.
Father Ed Roche from Laredo was in the car with Father Jordan during the accident. He survived and was taken to the University Hospital in San Antonio, and at last check, he was in stable condition.
In Robstown on Tuesday, KIII-TV Channel 3 News met with those who knew Father Jordan best, and who served with him. They showed special photos of Father Jordan, and of his service over the years. One of the most notable parts of his life is the 20 years he spent in the Philippines, where he went to seminary and then became a pastor.
"Those island parishes are very poor. No lights. No running water. No roads or bridges. We walked every place and served the very poor of the Philippines,"said Sister Margaret Mary from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. She spent eight years serving with him in the Philippines. "He would also walk for hours when there was a call from a family to go and visit their sick ones, and he visited many persons around the island just in his great zeal, to share the gospel, and to just be a good friend there."
After returning to the United States, Father Jordan became active in the Robstown community at St. Anthony's Parish. He also spent time helping to train young missionaries at his most recent assignment, which was at a house on West Avenue F, where he was in charge of taking care of infirmed priests and lay people in the community.
Father Jordan was also a very vocal advocate and member of the local pro-life community.
Those who knew him say the actions of his life reflected the words that he preached from the pulpit.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.