Rev. Father Francisco Stodola, pastor of Nuestra Señora del Rosario parish in South Laredo, has retired from the Texas Army National Guard after 22 years of service.
Retiring Lt. Col. Stodola was honored at a recent ceremony at Camp Mabry in Austin.
Father Stodola began his military career as a battalion chaplain at the 4/133 Field Artillery in New Braunfels after being commissioned a First Lieutenant in 1997. He also served on active duty from 2002-2007 with the 501st Military Intelligence Batallion in Wackernheim, Germany.
He was deployed to Iraq for 13 months.
The Indiana native also served as Garrison Chaplain at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and at Fort Jackson, S.C.
Upon returning to Texas in 2007, Father Stodola was at the 3/141 Infantry in Weslaco, the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade in Austin, and the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Houston.
His last military assignment was to serve as chaplain for the 141stChaplain Detachment at Joint Forces Headquarters in Austin, deploying to Afghanistan for nine months.
Fr. Stodola said his greatest reward over the 22 years he served in the Guard was to be able to serve the spiritual needs of soldiers.
“I am grateful to Almighty God for this opportunity and to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her constant protection,’’ he said.
Before his time at Nuestra Señora del Rosario Church, Father Stodola served as parish priest AT Sacred Heart Church in Cotulla, and at St. Patrick’s Church, Christ The King, and Santa Margarita de Escocia in Laredo.
