Fr. Anthony Muppala welcomes Sr, Camelia Herlihy, IWBS to the celebration. The native of India has served at Holy Cross for the past four years.

"He is a quiet man who listens well, then if needed he speaks on the matter. He is a thinker…. but also a worker," said Deacon Michael Rauen, the homilist at the Mass of the 25th Jubilee of Father Anthony Muppala celebrated March 20 at Holy Cross Church in Corpus Christi.

Members of the parish joined with many friends to mark the occasion with the celebration of the Eucharist followed by a reception and dinner in the St. Katherine Drexel hall.

Father Anthony, a native of India, has served as administrator of Holy Cross for the past four years. He took the opportunity to express his "sincere thanks to Bishop Carmody for inviting me to come to work in the Diocese of Corpus Christi and for entrusting me with the Holy Cross Parish. It was a perfect match, and I will be ever grateful for his trust and confidence in me."

Echoing the same thoughts, long-time parishioner, Dolores Vesely, who serves as sacristan, called the association, "a match made in heaven" during her remarks made after Mass.

In a tribute from the Parish Council, Mrs. Vesely enumerated the many things Father Anthony has overseen during his tenure as administrator. The list is lengthy and includes many physical improvements to the campus: converting under utilized space into offices, upgrading plumbing, and installing a daily Mass chapel which is dedicated to former pastor Msgr. Patrick Higgins. The existing hall was also renovated and dedicated to St. Katherine Drexel who purchased the land for Holy Cross in 1914.

Father Anthony's work in the spiritual life of the parish has also been fruitful. Mrs. Vesely, calling him a "gentle warrior for Christ," spoke of dire times in the parish after the death of Msgr. Higgins when the parish was in a decline.

"Father Anthony came to us with the wisdom, the holiness, the compassion, the sensitivity, and the tenacity of a bulldog that were needed to revive Holy Cross and help us thrive again."

Holy Cross, the only parish established for African Americans in the diocese, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014.

While the physical improvements have increased the quality of fellowship at the parish, spiritual life has "a new look," according to Deacon Rauen. "He has brought many back to church through his personal being and prayer. Attendance at Mass has gone up considerably."

Following the Mass, Fr. Anthony delivered a few remarks thanking all who came, and in particular his family, relative and friends who had supported him in his priesthood.

He offered special thanks to the choir and its director Marsha Hardeman, and Carlos Truan, a special friend who was always available when needed.