Msgr. Alvin Tengler as a young priest worked to encourage the growth of a native clergy. In the photo from April of 1962, he presents a vocation medal to the future Msgr. Michael Howell who was completing his school year as an 8th grader at St. Theresa Parochial School and preparing to enter the Corpus Christi Minor Seminary.

A well-ordered life well lived ended quietly July 1, 2009 when Msgr. Alvin J. Tengler died in the simple house where in 1924 he was brought as the newborn son of August and Cecelia Whelan Tengler. His closest family member, Sister Agnes Marie was by his side during his final illness and death. His exemplary life as a Catholic priest who fulfilled his duties faithfully left a legacy that goes far beyond the years of his life or the diocese in which he worked for over sixty years. The many people who had known and loved him gathered in prayer at Corpus Christi Cathedral for a Wake Service and then Funeral Mass celebrated by Bishop Carmody and con-celebrated by scores of his brother priests. One of his protégés Msgr. Roger Smith who presided over the wake service said. "We give thanks for his life. He served as the instrument of God's grace that touched the lives of thousands of people through the sacraments he administered to them: baptism, confession, marriage, Holy Communion, the anointing of the sick and of course, those he encouraged to enter the priesthood or religious life."

Msgr. Tengler's life had an incalculable positive impact on the people of the Diocese of Corpus Christi and beyond. It is hard to describe the breath and scope of his work but in his homily at the funeral Msgr. Richard Shirley drew an interesting parallel.

He compared Msgr. Tengler to Elzeard Bouffier, "The Man Who Planted Trees." Bouffier is the hero of the French allegorical tale in which a narrator tells the story of one shepherd's long and successful single-handed effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps throughout the first half of the 20th century. The shepherd, made holes in the ground with his iron pole and dropped into the holes acorns that he has collected from many miles away.

Over four decades, he continues to plant trees, and the valley is turned into a kind of Garden of Eden. By the end of the story, the valley has a vibrant ecosystem and is peacefully settled. More than 10,000 people move there, all of them unknowingly owing their happiness to Bouffier. Later, the narrator visits the now very old Bouffier one last time in 1945, at the end of World War II. In a hospice in Banon, in 1947, the man who planted trees peacefully passes away.

Msgr. Shirley made the point that Alvin Tengler's work was much like Brouffier's in that he planted the seeds of possibility of religious vocation into so many young people throughout the diocese of Corpus Christi it would be impossible to count his successes. The four men who conducted the wake service, Msgrs. Michael Howell, Richard Shirley, Mark Chamberlin and Roger Smith were all first approached about the priesthood by Msgr. Tengler.

He was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Corpus Christi by Most Reverend Mariano S. Garriga in 1949. His first assignment was that of Assistant Pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Corpus Christi where he ministered for eight years. Monsignor Tengler served as Diocesan Director of Vocations from 19 58 to 1973, his first major challenge was to fill the newly constructed Corpus Christi Minor Seminary. Concurrent with vocation work, he was Assistant Dean of Students at the seminary for thirteen years, and Administrator of the seminary for five years.

Msgr. Michael A. Howell said, "Msgr. Tengler didn't just serve the people of south Texas through his own priesthood, but through the priesthood of many young men who entered the seminary through his prayer and example as the diocesan Director of Vocations. Msgr. Tengler was a native of the area and those who entered the seminary under his direction include such native priests as Msgrs. Richard Shirley, Mark Chamberlin, Larry White, Michael Howell, Roger Smith, and Louis Kihneman. He spent endless hours visiting the local parochial schools, serving at the Minor Seminary, and developing the summer workshop experience, but also personally made multiple visitations to the families of those young people who expressed an interest in the priesthood or religious life. And even those who didn't remain in the seminary during the years he was also active there became Catholic leaders in the communities where they were later involved. Thus Msgr. Tengler's priesthood reached out to touch many lives directly and indirectly. As a young seminarian and priest I looked to Msgr. Tengler as the exemplar of a spiritual and gentle pastor. As a young priest I felt the greatest compliment I got from other priests and people was the comment, "You preach like Fr. Alvin Tengler."

Msgr. Tengler also touched many lay people. Local businessman and Cathedral parishioner Jerry Mathieu recalled, "Msgr. Tengler has been an integral part of our families faith formation since our early childhood, not only through the religious instruction but just as importantly through his priestly example. He was always a very gentle kind and sincere man. His mother was a frequent babysitter for my brother, my sisters, and myself in our early years. Our family was a charter member at St. Patrick, so we were privileged to be under his care at his early priestly assignment and for the many years to follow. What A blessing! Over the last few years it was always a pleasant surprise to find Monsignor and Sister Agnes Marie shopping at HEB on Alameda and that provided the opportunity for a pleasant visit for me. Our family will miss him profoundly."

Mathieu's brother, Tom Mathieu, now an insurance executive in San Antonio, added, "I lived with him for four years of my seminary life, I learned how to be gentle and kind by watching him deal with friends, acquaintances and students in all kinds of situations. He addressed all with kindness and directness with consequences but never with a "do it my way" approach. He gave you responsibility for your actions and I grew because of his care. What a gentle soul he was!" In addition to his vocation and seminary duties, Msgr. Tengler served as Consultor for the Diocese of Corpus Christi from 1974 to1988, as Director of the Theresians of America for fifteen years, and as Chaplain of the Serra Club for three years. He served zealously as Pastor of Our Lady of Refugio Parish in Refugio, Texas from 1973 until his retirement in 1990.

During his years of retirement, Monsignor regularly concelebrated Mass with Monsignor Tom Feeney at Incarnate Word Convent. He found joy and relaxation in visiting with people; new acquaintances often became fast friends. He continued to minister to the People of God, especially to the poor, offering them temporal aid and provisions, encouragement and hope in time of need. He was an example of Christian living, practicing faithfully the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. At the time of his death he was the eldest priest in the Diocese. His sister, Sister Agnes Marie Tengler, IWBS and many cousins, survive him.