Bishop Gregory Kelly presented the 2026 Bishop Charles E. Herzig Humanitarian Award to Deacon Ruben and Lupe Natera of Whitehouse during Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler on Sunday, September 6.
Celebrating fifty-four years of marriage, Deacon Ruben and Lupe have contributed to the Diocese of Tyler, their parish communities, and the people they have served throughout East Texas and beyond in numerous ways.
They both gave their time as the first co-directors of the Diocese of Tyler’s Office of Mission and Hispanic Ministry and have had active involvement in the Encuentro Guadalupano movement, aiding to fortify the unity and faith in our Hispanic Catholic communities. They have even shared their faith and experience with engaged couples to prepare them for the vocation of Christian marriage.
Lupe has helped parish communities in Palestine and Kilgore, assisting pastors, ministries, and parishes thrive. She has focused on helping small parishes in creating liturgical ministries and choirs that enrich the celebration of sacred liturgy. She is the leader of the Hermanamiento Conference which involves the partnership of the Dioceses of Tyler and San Angelo in Texas with the Dioceses of San Pedro Sula and the Archdiocese of la Ceiba in Honduras. She has been the coordinator of the Hermanamiento for the past twenty-five years with the latest one taking place this past summer.
Deacon Ruben has been involved in the Diocese of Tyler as both chancellor and director of the Permanent Diaconate Program. He has also assisted with the Safe Environment training sessions, showing his steadfast commitment to protecting children and the most vulnerable to foster a culture of safety and trust throughout the whole Diocese.
Deacon Ruben and Lupe helped in their parish communities in both the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler and Prince of Peace in Whitehouse.
The award is named in honor of Bishop Charles Herzig who led the diocese from its creation in 1987 until his death in 1991. The award recognizes individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions within the Diocese of Tyler in seeking to promote human welfare. Those who receive the award demonstrate a great charitable love for the people of God and possess a life in the Church marked by actions that have enabled individuals or families to receive basic human care.
Bishop Herzig died on Sept. 7, 1991, and the award is annually presented on the Sunday nearest this day. Herzig was ordained a priest in 1955 and served in the Diocese of San Antonio until being named Bishop of Tyler by Pope St. John Paul II.
Previous recipients of the Herzig Award:
- 2025 – Joe and Marilyn Bianca
- 2023 – Dr. Virgil Gonzalez (Tyler)
- 2022 – Glee Emmite (Paris)
- 2021 – Catholic Charities – Diocese of Tyler and Ernest Marinez (Tyler)
- 2020 – Medical Professionals of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
- 2019 – Feed My Lambs Soup Kitchen Volunteers and St. Veronica’s Compassionate Sewers
- 2018 – Maria Crossman (Tyler)
- 2017 – Tom Mittler (Longview) and St. Vincent de Paul Society (Tyler)
- 2016 – George Cronin (Tyler) and Louis Owen (+ Tyler).
- 2015 – Father Harold Paulsen (+ Palestine) and Dan and Kelly Jackman (Tyler)
- 2014 – Margie Bengie and Carolyn Richbourg (+ Tyler)
- 2013 – Casimira Chavez, Conradita Sanchez, and Joe Keenan (+ Malakoff)
- 2012 – Daisy Black
- 2011 – Zeno Bachmer
- 2010 – Connie Shipp
- 2009 – Ann Rice
- 2008 – Mary Germany
- 2007 – Shawn Pickett (Tyler)
