PASTOR HISTORY

Our pastor was born here in San Antonio on May 31, 1944. He grew
up in St. Gerard's Parish on the east side of town. The Redemptorists
staffed this parish. Hearing an inner call to the ordained priesthood,
he consulted with priests of his parish and went to the Redemptorist
High School Seminary in September 1958 at Kirkwood, Missouri. He completed
his seminary studies in June 1971 at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary
in Esopus, New York (the Hudson Valley).
On June 20, 1970 our pastor was ordained to the priesthood at his
home parish, St. Gerard, by the Archbishop of San Antonio, Francis
J. Furey. In the 1970's he worked at Redemptorist parishes in Detroit,
Seattle, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and San Antonio while he preached
parish missions, Marriage Encounters, and promoted the Liguorian
magazine.
In July 1978 our pastor formally joined the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
He was associate pastor of St. James Parish, Seguin; St. Michael Parish,
Weimar; Blessed Sacrament Parish and Holy Spirit Parish, San Antonio.
In June 1987 Archbishop Patrick Flores appointed him to form a new
parish north of Loop 1604 between Blanco and Bulverde Roads. The first
formal Masses were celebrated on the weekend of the Feast of the Holy
Trinity - thus, our name. In 1998 Archbishop Flores honored our pastor
with the title of Monsignor.
An avid scholar, Msgr. Fater enrolled in the summer theology program
at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN 1991-1994. In 1995
he graduated with an MA in Theology (in the specific branch of theology
known as liturgy).
From seminary days our pastor has enjoyed playing tennis. In recent
years he has moved from the tennis court to the fitness center in
an effort to keep healthy. In June of 1999 he was diagnosed with prostate
cancer and underwent radical surgery to remove the tumor. He attributes
his rapid recovery to his excellent physical condition. He attributes
his cure to the prayers of our parishioners and of so many other friends.
Msgr. Fater feels specially blessed for all the years of his priesthood,
for the many lives he has been privileged to touch with the saving
love of God. His own recent illness has reminded him how fragile is
this precious gift of life. He just wants to be there for you - ministering
God's goodness.