Longtime Mexico resident Louis Allen “Lou” Catching died September 22 in San Antonio Tlayacapan at the age of 78.
Born February 19, 1933 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Catching graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in speech and drama. He spent a year studying at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where he learned to speak French fluently.
After his studies, Catching served three years in the 82nd Airborne Division, commissioned as a first lieutenant. While serving, he also was the assistant to the adjutant general.
Following his military service, he moved to New York City and pursued a career in acting and writing for five years. He relocated to San Miguel de Allende in 1973 and continued his studies – this time earning a Master of Fine Arts degree, putting his knowledge to work in a second career as a playwright. He wrote and starred in “Tilden, The Life of a Tennis Player.”
During this time Catching became very active in his church and started a Christian outreach program. He participated in the nine-day walking pilgrimage from San Miguel de Allende to San Juan de los Lagos. When the Episcopal Church in San Miguel suddenly found itself without a priest, Catching, who was a lay reader at the time, stepped in to substitute as temporary rector for five months. He then began his third career by attending seminary school in Mexico City. He was ordained as an Episcopal (Anglican) priest on November 20, 1982 in Guadalajara, serving as rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church until 1986.
He then moved to the Lakeside area and became active in St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.
He is survived by a brother-in-law, J. David Wimberly of Wellesley, Massachusetts. His nieces and nephews include John and Leisl Wimberly of Bozeman, Montana. Elizabeth and Dan Piekarski of Bloomington, Indiana and Bruce and Laurie Wimberly of Cohasseet, Massachusetts. His cousins include Mary and Jim Spindler of Lincoln, Massachusetts and Barbara Wagner of Pittsboro, North Carolina.
A memorial service for Catching will be held Saturday, November 12, 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Riberas del Pilar with a reception to follow.
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Comments
I grew up with Lou Catching as a dear friend of our family. One of his paintings (Tres Cruces) hangs in our living room. It reminds us of Lou and memories of Mexico. I credit Lou for inspiring me to art school. I am proud today to remember him as a fellow clergyman. Blessings, The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle
I grew up with Lou as a friend of our family; visiting often. I spent the night in his home. He inspired to me to go to art school. A picture of his hangs in our home (Tres Cruces). It is an icon of a good man and wonderful times. I am glad to have known him as a fellow Anglican clergyman as well. Blessings to you all, The Rt Rev C Andrew Doyle