Carl Anthony Tenhunfeld

Father Carl Tenhundfeld died Thursday, October 14, at his home in Houston with long-time friends and family. He was 91 years old. A memorial Mass was held for Father Carl at All Saints Catholic Church in Houston, the church where he served as pastor for nearly 15 years. His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, D.D., S.T.L., was the celebrant, with priests of the diocese as concelebrants.
Father Carl was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Catholic school growing up until joining the Passionists Fathers' seminary in St. Louis. He earned his degree in History at St. Louis University and was ordained into the priesthood on March 26, 1955. Father Carl taught nine years at the Passionists' seminary before moving to Houston in 1965 where he was named director of the Passionists' Holy Name Retreat Center. During his 19-year tenure at the Center, he conducted regular religious retreats as well as built a significant retreat ministry for members of AA and Al-Anon.
In 1984, Father Carl was appointed Director of the Renew Program for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, joined the Diocesan clergy and was appointed pastor of All Saints parish in the Heights. Upon completion of a four-year term running the Renew Program, Father Carl became the Director for Evangelization for the Diocese and was elected President of the National Council for Catholic Evangelization, serving for five years. He also served as Chaplain of the Northwest Serra Club and was instrumental in helping initiate Life Awareness, a program promoting religious life vocations. Following his retirement from All Saints, Father Carl served as the Spiritual Director for the Journey to Damascus, an ecumenical retreat program.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Carl will be held Friday 10 AM at St. Dominic Church (view Mass live at stdominicdelhi.org). He will be buried alongside his parents, Edward and Otillia at St. Joseph New Cemetery following Mass. Father Carl had three brothers and three sisters and is survived by his brother Paul, sister Marlene and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. It was Father Carl's request that donations in his honor be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society in Houston for aid to the poor, Casa Juan Diego, 4919 Rose, Houston, Texas 77007, or the Eucharistic Missionaries of Saint Therese in Mexico City c/o Sister Diane Perales, Manizales 745 Colonia Lindavist, Mexico City, Mexico 07300.