Monsignor Henry V. Petter

Monsignor Henry V. Petter (Father Henry to many) Reverend Monsignor Henry V. Petter’s life is filled with the steady rhythm of faith, service, and a deep-rooted sense of place. Born in West, Texas in 1946, the sixth of nine children, he was raised in a farming family whose days were shaped by hard work and close community. During his high school years, the family relocated to Dallas, Texas, setting the stage for what would become a lifelong ministry in North Texas.

 

Known simply as Father Henry, he began his path to the priesthood at St. John Seminary and Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas, before continuing at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. His journey briefly diverted when he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving at Lackland and Carswell Air Force Bases in Texas, then to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1972, he re-entered Holy Trinity Seminary to complete his Master of Divinity through the University of Dallas Graduate Program.

 

Ordained on May 1, 1976, by Bishop Thomas Tschoepe for the Diocese of Dallas, Father Henry has spent his entire life in ministry across Texas, serving many churches in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.

● Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Tyler - 1976 to 1980 as Associate Pastor

● St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Plano - 1980 to 1982 as Associate Pastor

● St. Joseph Parish, Commerce - 1982 to 1983, as Pastor

● Immaculate Conception Parish, Grand Prairie - 1983 to 1992 as Pastor

● St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Richardson - 1992 to 1997 as Pastor

● St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Plano - 1997-2011 as Pastor

● St. Ann Catholic Parish, Coppell - 2011- 2021 as Pastor

 

On October 28, 2004 he was installed as a Prelate of Honour of His Holiness by Pope John Paul II —a recognition of both his leadership and his devotion to the Church. He was active in diocesan Leadership, serving on the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council, and the Personnel Board. In the early 1980s, he served as City Executive Priest for World-Wide Marriage Encounter in the Dallas area.

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No matter where he went, his presence became a familiar and steady guide for parishioners.

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Now retired, Father Henry is anything but still. He continues to assist the Catholic Diocese of Dallas wherever needed—Celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, presiding at funerals, and offering pastoral care at St. Ann Catholic Parish, St. Joseph’s Village, and parishes throughout the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.

 

Beyond the altar, his life has always carried a sense of joy and curiosity. Music, in particular, has been a lifelong companion. Inspired by his father’s playing his diatonic European accordion, their house was filled with the sounds of Czech polkas and waltzes, Father Henry picked up the harmonica as a child, later adding ukulele and guitar. With his family, The Petter Polka Band performed at dances across West, Waco, Ennis, and Dallas, Texas. Today, that musical thread continues in a more intimate setting—with happy hours at St. Joseph Village, “Sing-Alongs with Father Henry,” and performing at the St. Ann Catholic Parish Carnival.

 

He carries his harmonica with him, as he is often asked to play Silent Night at Christmas masses, Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art for funerals, and God Bless America and much more at Fourth of July. His harmonica songs have become part of the shared fabric of celebration and remembrance.

 

His creative eye extends to photography, a hobby he began early and has pursued with quiet dedication. Whether capturing sunrises, sunsets, wildlife, or the subtle beauty of everyday landscapes, his work has earned him 14 ribbons at the State Fair of Texas.

 

He also has a love of the outdoors. For more than four decades, he has fished for largemouth bass across Texas alongside his friend and mentor, Monsignor Milam Joseph, with trips stretching as far as Alaska and Brazil. Annual visits to Breckenridge, Colorado, bring fly fishing along the Blue River and time spent hiking mountain trails.

 

In his 40s, encouraged by Msgr. Milam, Father Henry took up running—an endeavor that led him from his first marathon at age 47 to qualifying for the Boston Marathon at 50. Over the years, he completed 29 marathons, including races in Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. His final race, a half marathon in Dallas, was in 2019.

 

These days, his pace has changed into long walks through Coppell, often taking photographs along the way. He still pauses to take in a sunset, capture a fleeting moment, or even pick up the occasional coin along the path—though, as he likes to note with a chuckle, there seemed to be more loose change back in Plano.

 

Through every chapter—priest, musician, runner, fisherman, photographer—Father Henry’s life reflects a steady constancy: a devotion not only to his vocation, but to the people he serves, with an enduring commitment to justice, dignity, and care for those most in need. It is a calling lived not just at the altar, but in the everyday—through presence, compassion, and a belief that faith is meant to be carried into the world.