Obituary of Rev. Msgr. Seth Hermoso
Msgr. Seth F. Hermoso, the third child of the late Jose Hermoso, Sr. and Publia Fernandez, was born on November 21, 1942 in Naga City, Philippines. He studied his grammar in Naga Parochial School and continued high school in Naga City Minor Seminary. Having completed two years of Theology, he studied Theology Studies in St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines and was then sent by the Seminary to continue his studies in the USA.
He was ordained a priest on February 18, 1967 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His first assignment after ordination was at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Minnesota. He then returned to the Philippines and was assigned in San Jose, Negros Oriental. After the completion of the church building in the parish, he returned to the USA and continued further studies at Loyola University for his Masters in Pastoral Ministry.
Msgr. Seth was transferred to Texas in 1991 and was assigned to St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland. Filipino organizations started in the parish with the mission of uniting Filipino families and developed their culture. He served in the following parishes: St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Matthew the Evangelist, and St. John Neumann, where he celebrated his 50th anniversary of priesthood. He served as Vicar for the Filipino Catholics in Galveston-Houston from the 1990s until his retirement.
He was one of the prime movers to start Asian Mass which grew from four ethnic groups and increased to nine communities. He started the Filipino Ministry Council to unite the various Filipino organizations and started cultural devotions like Sto. Niño, Simbang Gabi, and the Salubong. He organized Tipanan and started publication of Tambuli.
Msgr. Seth enjoyed bowling, golf, oil painting, fishing, and leading pilgrimages particularly the Holy Land in Israel. After the completion of the renovation of the St. John Neumann Catholic Church, he retired. After retirement, he resided at Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Retirement Home while helping many parishes.
Msgr. Seth left a big legacy in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Filipino community, other Asian communities, and in the hearts of many parishioners whom he served during his priestly ministry. He encouraged his fellow Filipinos to not just be churchgoers but to also be active in parish ministry.
Msgr. Seth was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jose Hermoso, Sr.; siblings, Maria Fe and her husband, Rodolfo Tatel I, Otelia and her husband, and Regulo Villamor, Jr.
He is survived by his siblings, Jose Hermoso, Jr., Eden and her husband, Leonardo Torres, Sister Chai Hermoso, and Maria Socorro Hermoso; as well as numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Infirmed Priests Fund of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, or, to the Filipino Ministry Council (c/o Fr. Edmund Eduarte).
A viewing and visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m., with a Vigil and Rosary at 7:00 p.m., on Monday, July 11, 2022 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 2730 Nelwood Drive in Houston, Texas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Parkway in Houston, Texas. Msgr. Seth will be laid to rest in his native Philippines.