Father Joseph Stratman passed away Sept. 7 in his hometown of Texas City. He was 61.
A visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Sept. 9 at Emken-Linton Funeral Home, 5100 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City, with a rosary following. Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, will celebrate a Mass of Christian burial Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Church, 1604 9th Avenue North, Texas City. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Dickinson.
Father Stratman was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Warren Boudreaux April 16, 1977, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont. He once said he was influenced to become a part of the Diocese of Beaumont by Msgr. Marvin Enderle.
He served at St. Anne, Our Lady of the Assumption, and St. Joseph, Beaumont, St. Mary, Orange, St. Catherine of Siena, Port Arthur, St. Maurice, Mauriceville, and Our Lady of Sorrows, China, where he served as pastor until he retired. Among his other activities, he was also a member of the Tribunal.
