African-born Texas priest serves adopted country as Navy chaplain

Published: 2005-07-19

VICTORIA, Texas (CNS) -- As a Navy chaplain, Father Gabriel Mensah, the first priest ordained for the Diocese of Victoria, is serving his adopted country by ministering to those who protect it. "Every day we should pray for the men and women in the services. They're out there protecting our way of life. You're able to sleep soundly at night because they're out there. I don't think enough people pray for us," said the priest, who is originally from Ghana, in West Africa. He has been in the Navy for 11 years and holds the rank of lieutenant. Before that he served in a number of parish assignments after his 1983 ordination for the diocese, which was established in 1982. He made the comments in an interview with The Catholic Lighthouse, Victoria's diocesan newspaper. Father Mensah was in Texas on a three-week vacation between his military assignments.

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