Third bishop of Beaumont –
Bishop Ganter remembered fondly

By Jeff Dixon
ETC staff

This month will mark the 15th anniversary of the death of a beloved bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont Bishop Bernard J. Ganter was born on July 17, 1928, in Galveston. He attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and graduated from Msgr. Kirwin High School, both in Galveston.

He studied engineering at Texas A&M for one year where he was also a member of the Corps of Cadets. He transferred to St. Mary Seminary in La Porte the following year.

Bernard Ganter was ordained to the priesthood May 22, 1952, by Bishop W.J. Nold after completing his preparation at St. Mary Seminary.

In 1973 he was installed as founding bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa, Okla. After serving there for four years, he returned to the Gulf Coast of Texas.

Bishop Ganter was installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont on Dec. 13, 1977. He remained bishop for almost 16 years.

During his time here, Holy Family Retreat Center was constructed in north Beaumont.

“I consider the Holy Family Retreat Center as the biggest accomplishment of my term. If the church is not centered on prayer it is not church,” Bishop Ganter said.

In 1986, during Ganter’s time as bishop of Beaumont, 4,000 square miles in six counties were taken from the Diocese of Beaumont to become part of the Diocese of Tyler. The diocese grew in 1989 when the rest of Chambers and Liberty Counties were added.

Two parishes and a mission were founded during his time as bishop: St. Jude Thaddeus, Beaumont, St. Francis of Assisi, Orange, and Holy Spirit Mission, Kountze. Catholic Charities also began while he was bishop.

Bishop Ganter also began the diocesan offices of Worship and Renew as well as an adult religious education program for the diocese. The first class of permanent deacons for the Diocese of Beaumont began under Bishop Ganter.

“The priesthood of tomorrow will be shaped not just by historical events but by the priests themselves. We look forward to the priesthood which underscores service, challenges imagination and vision. We shall move forward in the priesthood, founded on sound spirituality,” Bishop Ganter said in one of his letters Bishop Ganter died Oct. 9, 1993, ending a 14-month battle with brain cancer. He is buried beside Bishop Vincent Harris, first bishop of Beaumont, in Bishop’s Garden on the grounds between St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica and the Cathedral Center in Beaumont.

“He was always friendly and helpful, especially to those of us beginning the long journey to ordination. When he was appointed the third Bishop of Beaumont, I was pleased that we would have as our bishop someone most of us had known for many years,” vicar general Msgr. Michael Jamail said “I remember well the day he asked me to begin a capital campaign to build Holy Family Retreat Center. A few years later, at the dedication of the Center, he was obviously proud of his accomplishment for the people of the diocese,” Msgr. Jamail said.

“He was well liked by the laity, religious and clergy and is still remembered with gratitude and fondness,” he said.