-- Monsignor Brian Watson was born on March 2nd 1974 in Port Arthur, Texas and raised in neighboring Bridge City where he was first baptized into the Baptist Church at the age of 11. -- As he matured in his spirituality, he was received into the Roman Catholic Church at the age of 17 and worked in several ministries at St Henry Roman Catholic Church until he graduated from high school.
-- He briefly apprenticed to be a funeral director when he felt the call to religious life.
-- In pursuit of this call, Msgr Watson spent a year (1990-1991) with the Little Brothers of St Francis in Boston, MA where he ministered to the homeless and became imbued with Franciscan spirituality.
-- From 1991 to 1992 Brian lived in St. Louis, MO as an associate in the Society of Our Lady of Peace where he engaged in a door-to-door evangelization to non-Roman Catholics and taught First Communion Classes.
-- Still pursuing his spiritual path, Brian went to Holy Cross Monastery in Chicago, Illinois as a postulant and worked at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption in 1992 to 1993. He again engaged in door-to-door evangelizing. He also directed the youth ministry through prayer groups, a quarterly diocesan youth retreat and teaching week religious education classes. He was also the sacristan of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
-- Still seeking his way in his spiriutal life, he left Chicago, returning to Southeast Texas to work as a nurse and rehabilitation aide in Beaumont, Texas.
-- In 1995, Brian met his life-partner David Sturm in 1995 and they were joined in Holy Union on July 29 of that year. Brian and David shared a life of love for each other for 7 years before David was called back to God on July 1, 2000.
-- David stood by and helped Brian as he sought fulfillment of his spiritual vocation and Brian entered the Friends Catholic Communion seminary program in 1995. In 1997, Father Brian was ordained a priest by Bishop Catherine Adams of the independent catholic Friends Catholic Communion (F.C.C.) and in 1998 was actively involved in ministry to the homeless running the Salvation Army shelter & soup kitchen.
-- As he worked and prayed in his ministry, Father Brian went on to establish the Missionaries of St. Benedict. He proclaimed his solemn vows, was elevated to Mitered Abbot and made an Archpriest by Bishop Tatiana Becket, ordinary of the Episcopate of the Resurrection in F.C.C. on April 8, 2000.
-- His ministerial life was varied, including an extensive ministry to clients and staff of Triangle AIDS Network (including a year as a member of the Board of Directors). He also assisted in ministry for St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Beaumont making sick calls and homebound visits and working with the youth ministry at St. George Episcopal Church in Port Arthur, Texas.
-- After being briefly incardinated in the American Catholic Church in the US (ACCUS) Msgr. Brian returned to his FCC roots as Chancellor to Bishop Tatiana. His continued calling to religious life brought about the Franciscan Missionaries of the Holy Trinity in Baytown and Beaumont, Texas in 2006. He was elevated to Minister General of the order and became Monsignor Brian Watson, MOSF.
-- Abbot Brian now lives in Bridge City, TX which is the mother house the Missionary Order Of St. Francis and All Saint's Reformed Catholic Chapel. Msgr. Brian L. Watson, MOSF has been ministering to Southeast Texas for 14 years.
June 19, 2008 Msgr. Watson was appointed to these ministeries: Adminstrator of the Diocese of Divine Mercy/Deaconate Mentor within the Diocese of Divine Mercy/RCC Franciscan Coordinator/
Global Mission Board Adminstrator. I would like to thank all R.C.C. Bishops and clergy for their support and prayers .
I AM HOME!
Abbot Brian states his faith-philosophy in this way, "I have worked to bring people together in peace
and sought to share God’s grace and blessings with everyone."