By Ambria Hammel | March 5, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Pope Benedict XVI recently named three local priests “monsignor.”

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted asked the Holy Father to confer the honorary title of Chaplain of his Holiness upon Fr. Antonio Sotelo, Fr. George Highberger and Fr. Thomas Hever. Their investiture ceremony is scheduled for March 19 at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral.

The announcement was made public Feb. 17.

“I felt these men of God were good examples of faithful service of the people of God,” Bishop Olmsted said.

“You now belong to the pope’s family,” said Msgr. John McMahon, who was named a monsignor by the late Pope John Paul II during his 1987 Arizona visit.

The new monsignors have served the Church through mission work and in parishes, schools, hospitals and prisons. The bishop hopes their example inspires vocations and deepens priestly fraternity.

Fr. Fred Adamson, vicar general for the diocese and moderator of the Curia, said the new monsignors are humble men who continue to exercise their ministry.

All are in their 70s and have served the Church for more than four decades, yet none of them feels worthy of the honor.

Msgr. Sotelo

“I was literally shocked,” Msgr. Sotelo said after the announcement during a luncheon with the bishop. “Me? For what? I didn’t do anything extraordinary.”

History may see it a bit differently. Msgr. Sotelo, 76, was ordained a Franciscan friar in 1958. The order is known for service.

He was incardinated into the Phoenix Diocese in 1982 and, as a long-time advocate for the rights of the Hispanic people, Msgr. Sotelo was almost immediately appointed vicar for Spanish-speaking Catholics.

Msgr. Sotelo spent three years as pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish and 14 years as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish before retiring in 1999.

He still offers a weekly Spanish Mass at St. Margaret Parish in Tempe and works almost daily in prison ministry offering the sacraments and spiritual counseling.

“He’s a great asset for us as far as hearing confessions for the inmates within the prisons which is a great, great need,” said Deacon Peter Murphy, director of the diocesan outreach to prisons.

His work with the inmates at five county jails, two state facilities and one federal prison has proven fruitful. Msgr. Sotelo rejoices in the small changes. One inmate, a gang member, has a better attitude and another swears less.

“The worse they are and the more unreachable they are, the more I try to reach them through Jesus,” Msgr. Sotelo said.

Msgr. Highberger

Like Msgr. Sotelo, Msgr. Highberger didn’t see his new title coming.

Also like his counterpart, Msgr. Highberger wasn’t ordained in Phoenix.

He was ordained through the Congregation of the Holy Cross in 1961 and held many positions at a college in Chile.

Msgr. Highberger, 76, spent most of the ’70s as a teacher, counselor and principal at Bourgade Catholic High School before his order placed him outside the Phoenix Diocese for one final year in 1980.

Msgr. Highberger briefly served at St. John Vianney Parish in Goodyear and St. Catherine of Siena and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes before being incardinated in 1985.

Msgr. Highberger held the vicar of Christian formation position for four years in the ’80s and then found his niche in parish and sacramental ministry.

“When you think about the holy sacrifice of the Mass, all the things the Lord does for us, it is marvelous,” he said.

He served as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Chandler from 1988 to 1998 and did double duty at St. Anthony and Immaculate Heart parishes for a bit. Msgr. Highberger has served as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Wickenburg since September 2005.

“The longer I’m a priest, the happier I am that God called me,” Msgr. Highberger said.

Msgr. Hever

Msgr. Hever, 72, felt called to the priesthood straight out of high school in 1955. By 1962 he was ordained and, thanks to Msgr. McMahon’s three-month Irish recruiting mission, headed to Arizona.

“He’s worthy of the honor,” Msgr. McMahon said. “His gentleness, his caring love for people makes him effective.”

Msgr. Hever has spent his priesthood in parish life starting with five years in Casa Grande. Msgr. Hever served at St. Agnes Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Tempe before landing his first pastor assignment in 1973 at St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

He spent the ’80s and ’90s as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale and Resurrection Parish in Tempe. Msgr. Hever has been pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Scottsdale since 2000.

“The personal highlights are the people I’ve met along the way,” Msgr. Hever said. He enjoys meeting individuals, families and students through various ministries.

“He’s very approachable, very friendly, very pastoral,” Sr. Marian Grace, SC, principal of the parish school, said. “Whatever spiritually people need, I think that’s his priority.”

Sr. Alice Ruane, SC, pastoral associate, also noted his pastoral skills.

“He is truly a faith-filled servant — one who perseveres in prayer, who is quick to serve the people spiritually and socially,” said Sr. Alice, who also worked with him at St. Catherine of Siena. “His hearty laugh can be heard throughout the parish center.”

Msgr. Hever was also the priest moderator of the Charity and Development Appeal in 1973 and was named dean of the South Deanery in the ’70s.

“The many laity, religious and clergy who know these new monsignors are quick to express appreciation for their priestly zeal and pastoral charity,” Bishop Olmsted said, “I am sure that the faithful will rejoice with them in these ecclesiastical honors.”