W Pat Cunningham

St. Pius X Parish
San Antonio, Texas 78209
210-824-0139

• Education: BA and MA theology St. Mary’s University; MA education, Stanford; MSFS financial planning; MSM management
• Experience: In church work and music since age 7; ordained deacon 2002. Catholic school principal 2001-2009. Retired from public school teaching (2009-2020) and in part-time ministry to my parish. Also teaching part-time at St John Paul II Catholic High School.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: I am just a sinner redeemed by the grace of Christ, who wants to attract others to His Gospel.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: The Gospel of Life, Spirit of the Liturgy, Vatican II documents
• One of my favorite illustrations: Stingy man was dying and made his wife promise she would take the money he had hoarded all over the house and seal it with his body in his casket and bury both. Made her vow to do so. So she said she would obey. Before the casket was sealed, she put an ornate box in it. Her friends remonstrated with her--you shouldn't do that. She said, I am an obedient wife. As they were leaving after the burial, her friends continued to fuss. She said, I am obedient. I put all the cash into the bank and wrote him a check for the box. He can cash it whenever and wherever he arrives.
• Family: Three grown, married daughters and ten grandchildren. An awesome wife who is descended from St. Thomas More (and Attila the Hun) and from a sister of St. Patrick.
• What my parents think of my sermons: They died before they heard any.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: She says they are always good.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: Keep your homilies below 10 minutes, preferably seven.
• Books that have had an impact: Scott Hahn: The Lamb’s Feast, Hope to Die, The Fourth Cup Benedict XVI: Introduction to Christianity, Spirit of the Liturgy Charles Chaput: Render Unto Caesar J. Budziewski: The meaning of Sex Emily Stimpson: These Beautiful Bones Ben Wiker: Moral Darwinism Robert Spitzer: Healing the Culture James Hitchcock: History of the Catholic Church
• Hobbies: Writing, gardening
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Live and die in love.
• Something funny that happened while preaching: I prayed one election season for the election of godly candidates, and a prominent Democrat afterwards complained that I was shilling for Republican candidates.
• What I want on my tombstone: Servant of God

• Word on Fire Institute
• Saint Paul Center