Msgr. James Bridges

August 15, 1929 - February 8, 2024

Facebook

St. Stephen's Catholic Church

Thursday 2/15, 7:00 pm

Rosary

St. Stephen's Catholic Church

Friday 2/16, 10:00 am

Memorial Mass

Monsignor James P. Bridges died at the age of 94 on Feb. 8, 2024. His parents were Monte Ray Bridges and Lena Maude King. He and his twin sister were born in Plainview, Texas, on August 15, 1929, and raised in the Baptist faith in Lamesa, Texas, by their grandparents. At age 20, he was managing the biggest restaurant in Lamesa, where the local Catholic priest often patronized. His acquaintance with that priest led him to extensive study of the history of Christianity and the Catholic faith, and he fell in love with the Church.

He converted to Catholicism in 1952 and entered the seminary in Louisville, KY. He was ordained to the priesthood for the newly formed Diocese of San Angelo on May 26, 1962, having earned two master’s degrees in Religious Studies and Education. He served in the following churches: St. Joseph in Fort Stockton, St. James in Sanderson, St. Ambrose in Wall, Sacred Heart in Abilene, Sts. Joachim and Ann in Clyde, St. Joseph in Rowena, St. Thomas in Miles, St. Joseph in Stanton, St. Isidore in Lenorah, St. Mary in Odessa, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Odessa, and St. Stephen in Midland.

While serving as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Abilene, he was also principal at Central Catholic High School. After four years he was made pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Rowena, which had a K-12 Catholic School.

During his four years there he built a new church in Miles. Father Bridges returned to Abilene where he built the new parish of Holy Family. In 1979 he was the founding Pastor of St. Stephen’s, a new parish in Midland. As many in Midland were opposed to a new parish, St. Stephen’s was put on hold and the bishop assigned him to St. Mary’ s in Odessa, with permission to build a new parish in Odessa named St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The new sanctuary was completed debt free during the worst economic times West Texas had ever seen.

With St. Elizabeth Ann Seton stabilized and growing, Fr. Bridges returned to Midland to continue the work of developing St. Stephen’s, which became the largest parish in the diocese. Believing in his life-long theme that if you take care of the poor, God will take care of you, he founded St. Vincent de Paul in Abilene, Catholic Charities of West Texas, and the West Texas Food Bank in Odessa. He also founded Helping Hands in Midland, which provides almost $2 million annually in direct aid to the poor. He trusted God implicitly and knew that God is completely trustworthy.

Monsignor Bridges is greatly missed by his friends, his parishioners, and his caregiver, Memo Hernandez of Midland, Texas.

Memorial gifts may be made to Helping Hands of Midland, West Texas Food Bank in Odessa, Catholic Charities of Odessa, or St. Stephen Catholic Church in Midland.

Services will be held at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 4601 Neely Ave. in Midland. They include the Vigil and Rosary at 7:00 p.m. on Thurs., Feb. 15, and the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Fri, Feb. 16. Receptions will follow both services in the parish hall.

St. Stephen's Catholic Church

Thursday 2/15, 7:00 pm

Rosary

St. Stephen's Catholic Church

Friday 2/16, 10:00 am

Memorial Mass

See Condolences

Farewell Monsignor James Bridges. I was sad to hear that you passed away and I will miss your cards and good wishes here in Dublin, Ireland. You were my good angel during my ministry days and years in MCH Odessa. Your own ecumenical ministry and presence were an inspiration to me and to so many others. Thank you for your many kindnesses down the years. Your sense of humour was infectious, it helped others to keep a perspective in life. Your reward is great in Heaven, where I pray you are enjoying peace and joy with the God you served so well on earth. May you rest in peace. Margaret

Condolences to Memo, i attend Sacred Heart in Abilene Tx I’m trying to visualize Msgr.Bridges.I just heard the mention of his passing this evening Sat. 02/17/24 at mass.May his Soul rest in peace.🙏🏽 Richard P Gomez Abilene Tx

I met Msgr. Bridges while he was visiting my friend Rev. Thomas Clark in Bardstown , Kentucky about 13 years ago. What I remember most about him was his sense of humor and his generosity. I asked him to pray for my son who was trying to find a job to support his newborn son. After he returned to Texas he sent me a check for Jamie along with his kind words of support. I still have that note. R.I.P. Msgr. Bridges.

Ooh Father Bridges, it is so sad to hear about your passing. He was such a wonderful man that helped anybody & everybody. He married us & baptized our kids & goddaughter. He was such a close & special friend to our family & he is going to be missed!!! R I.P Monsignor Bridges!! ❤️🙏

To Monsignor Bridges family and friends. To hear of his passing was sad, but just having the memories of his friendship was special. Monsignor Bridges came every Friday to do Rosary for the unborn at noon . We prayed, we talked, we visited. So great seeing him. He was always so pleasant and it was a thrill to see him. He had such a smile for us. We will miss Monsignor Bridges, but our memories will live forever in our hearts. Rest In Peace Monsignor Bridges. You will never be forgotten. Your legacy lives on here forever. God bless you all in your time of sorrow and pain and we will pray for you to be comforted with strength and love.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

A memorial tree was planted in memory of Msgr. James Bridges . Plant a Tree

A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again. Monsignor Bridges will always remain in our family's heart. Rest in peace and may the angels and Saints of God welcome your soul into paradise.

We will miss this wonderful man and priest. He married us, befriended us, and ministered to us in many ways over many years in both Odessa and Midland, always with wisdom, love, and patience. We are greatly blessed to be among the many to have benefited from his dedication to his faith in Christ. The many things he accomplished for so many is cause for nothing less than the highest songs of gratitude and appreciation.

With love and gratitude

A memorial tree was planted in memory of Msgr. James Bridges . Plant a Tree

With loving memories of "Msgr. James Bridges",

White Florist's Choice was purchased for the family of Msgr. James Bridges by George and Rebecca Watts & Family. Send Flowers

Msgr. James Bridges performed our Marriage in June 25, 2001. George and I plus our family were member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church for many years. Thank you Msgr. Bridges for your sermon through the years, all work you have done for our church and our Family. You will surely will be missed very much, for you already at peace and now you are with God. God Bless You!

From: Minihan Family

Dear to my Heart was purchased for the family of Msgr. James Bridges by Minihan Family. Send Flowers

A tree was also planted in memory of Msgr. James Bridges

I’ve known Msgr. Bridges since 1953 when he entered St. Mary’s College Seminary in St. Mary, Kentucky. At age 24, two years after he joined the Catholic Church, he enrolled in his Senior year of high school, which he had not yet completed. He was very popular in the seminary, a friend to all. He took his studies very seriously and was always a seeker of the truth. In more recent times, he took great pride in establishing the West Texas Food Bank as well as Helping Hands in Midland. He had great concern for those who lacked the basics of life. May he rest in peace and be rewarded for his great works!

My sincere condolences on the passing of Msgr. Bridges. He had a huge impact on my life and I am forever grateful. My wife and I send our deepest sympathy to a wonderful man who will be missed by many in the Midland community. May he rest in peace. Dennis & Linda Wallace Lubbock, TX (806) 999-1183

What a great priest and friend we lost this past week. Monsignor Bridges was so loved by his parishioners and he will be greatly missed. He was the perfect example of a true servant to Jesus Christ. And to Kathy Wells—thank you for also being his dedicated assistant and caretaker all these years! God Bless You!
attachment

I was fortunate to have been a member of St. Mary's "A Team" of alter servers under the direction of Father Bridges back in the 1970s. Later in life, we would be reunited at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Midland, TX. He was instrumental for my whole family and had a great impact with blessings, baptisms, marriage and funeral ceremonies performed under his guidance. As a gifted homilist, I was treated to the story of his youth, working in the Lamesa diner, and how he liked to tell stories, with the punch line that the priest would eventually say to him, "Well Jimmy, I've got a story for you to tell. It's the greatest love story that mankind could ever know." Monsignor Bridges told that story as well as a person could and those of us who knew him are truly blessed to have been able to cross his path in this life. "Pray the rosary, attend adoration, firmly believe in the body, blood, soul and divinity of the most holy Eucharist. Confession is a must, help the poor and God will take care of you, share your time, talent and treasure, land God's love is infinite no matter who you are, so let Him into your life." Thank you Monsignor Bridges, may the Lord bless your soul.

My prayers and sympathy to his son. May he rest in peace

This world is now a lesser place, without the presence of Monsignor James P. Bridges among us. The Faithful Fryer of the 4rth Degree was one of the most amazing examples of True Inspiration, Consideration, and Energy, that I have known in my life, and most likely will ever know. I believe He definitely made a difference for the better with His entire life, as well He helped fortify a thoroughness to my own personal Faith by consistent and energetic leading by example, encouraging growth, continued learning, patience, and reaching for improvement on all levels always. A most Gracious Mentor He was, and will always be, from my own perspective. It was an honor to get to know Him at St. Mary's & St. Elizabeth's in Odessa, then St. Stephen's in Midland, His "Queenie" Boston Bull Dogs, and there was a certain purple Packard automobile He enjoyed too! I was also fortunate to assist Him in several culinary endeavors at the Parish house, and His cooking was also exceptional. Knowing Him was a Blessing, and He is one of the few people that I will always consider A Real Friend. God Bless Your Spirit James, and Rest in Peace, Monsignor James P. Bridges. vaya con Dios, Dear Padre And I Believe He has gone with God.
attachment

Our prayers are with the family of Fr. Bridges. May he find eternal rest in the arms of our Lord. Fr. Bridges performed our wedding in December 1966.

Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today. My plans were to go see him, but I didn't. If you know Monsignor, you know he is one of a kind. A witty man with compassion and love for all. I would feel so warm inside when he would greet me and always asked for my son, by name. He had a soft spot in his heart for babies and children. He officiated and I sang for a funeral of a baby one day, and he told me that he is lost for words when it's a baby, and he said "you know it takes a lot for me to be lost for words." Rest in peace, my friend. God bless you and thank you for being you

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Msgr Bridges was always a bright spot in my life having been there all throughout my early years. As an altar sever, he taught me many of the values of life and the good word of Christ every Mass and to this day set me on a path I would have no other with. Although not with us here anymore, he is now with us in spirit and also with Christ in heaven eternally. I wish him the best and one day too wish to join him above.
attachment

God bless, keep, and guide on your journey with the Holy Trinity. Thank you for been so positive influence in our lives and our marriage.

A memorial tree was planted in memory of Msgr. James Bridges . Plant a Tree

You were the most amazing person i was ever blessed to know. You came to me at my darkest time and baptized my daughter! You will never know how much that healed my heart! Then my son when the other priest said no his Godparents have to be married. You said ohhh no i will make the exception for her. And you did his baptism. Thank you for all you did for the Valencia family!

Thank you for showing God to my family. We will forever be grateful.Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

White Florist's Choice was purchased for the family of Msgr. James Bridges by Sanchez & Benavides families. Send Flowers

My condolences to Msgr. Bridges family.My mother and sisters and I went several times to St. Stephen's when Msgr.Bridges was there.We loved attending mass there, my husband and I would attend mass there at times.we live in Big Spring.He was an awesome person and gave beautiful sermons in Mass.there are very few priest left like Msgr Bridges.he treated everyone the same.we are going to miss him.may He Rest in Peace

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.