The Fr. Tony Celino Scholarship Fund for Catholic Schools was established in honor of Fr. Tony’s 25th anniversary of priestly ordination. The scholarship fund will provide annual distributions for students to attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of El Paso in perpetuity.

Rev. Anthony C. Celino, JCL, “Fr. Tony”, was ordained at St. Patrick Cathedral on June 6, 1997 by Most Reverend Armando Xavier Ochoa, D.D.

Fr. Tony Celino, Pastor of St. Raphael, has served at St. Patrick Cathedral, churches in West Texas, and Santa Lucia, now St. John Paul II. He is a canon lawyer and a former vicar general, chancellor, and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of El Paso. He was the delegate of the apostolic administrator for the Diocese during the time of sede vacante.

He has served as the judicial vicar of the Diocese since 2003.

Fr. Tony’s inspiration for the scholarship fund was his parents’ commitment to send him and his six siblings to Catholic schools. His mother, Mines (Mee-ness) Cerdan Celino, was a school teacher from 1957 to 1991. She raised the Celino children by herself after her husband’s sudden passing.

Fr. Tony’s experiences serving parishes with schools showed him that there is more need than ever for faith and discipline in children’s lives. He wants to ensure that kids have more opportunities to attend Catholic school in the Diocese of El Paso because he knows what a Catholic education did for him, his brothers and sisters, and so many others.

Mines nurtured Fr. Tony’s vocation to the priesthood, and his connection to family and culture. She told each one of her children, “Never forget where you came from.”

Fr. Tony is hosting the 1st Annual Fairway to Heaven Golf Tournament on Friday, November 18 at Lone Star Golf Club to raise awareness and monies for the scholarship fund.

This is fund #108 in the Catholic Legacy Fund, the Catholic Foundation’s endowment program. The Catholic Foundation uses endowed funds to support the long-term needs of parishes, schools, ministries and charities.

For more information about the Fairway to Heaven Golf Tournament, please contact Fr. Tony Celino at (915) 598-3431.

Photo Credit: Joe Najera