Joe S. Vásquez

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Joe Steve Vásquez
Bishop of Austin
Archbishop-elect of Galveston-Houston
DioceseAustin
AppointedJanuary 26, 2010
InstalledMarch 8, 2010
PredecessorGregory Michael Aymond
Previous post(s)
Orders
OrdinationJune 30, 1984
by Joseph Fiorenza
ConsecrationJanuary 23, 2002
by Joseph Fiorenza, Patrick Flores, and Michael David Pfeifer
Personal details
Born (1957-07-09) July 9, 1957 (age 67)
Stamford, Texas, US
EducationUniversity of St. Thomas
Pontifical Gregorian University
MottoSígueme (Follow Me)
Styles of
Joe Steve Vásquez
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Joe Steve Vásquez (born July 9, 1957) is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Austin in Texas from 2010 to 2025. Additionally, he served as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas from November 2023 to December 2024. Pope Francis named Vásquez as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on January 20, 2025.

Vásquez previously served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas from 2001 to 2010.

Biography

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Joe Vásquez, who is of Mexican American descent, was born on July 9, 1957, in Stamford, Texas, to Juan (b. 1933) and Elvira Vásquez (d. 2005).[1] His grandparents were migrant workers from Guanajuato in central Mexico.[2] His father dropped out of school in the second grade to support his family[citation needed] and later served in the US military during the Korean War.[2] He later made a living as a mechanic, while his wife worked as a seamstress.[2] The oldest of six children, Joe Vásquez has three brothers, Robert, Samuel, and James; and two sisters, Cynthia and Consuelo.[1]

Vásquez attended public schools in Stamford and Abilene, Texas.[1] As a teenager he was active in his parish youth group, participating in summer mission trips to Cuernavaca where he became acquainted with the religious life of poor communities.[2] From 1976 to 1980, he studied at St. Mary Seminary and the University of St. Thomas, both in Houston, obtaining his Bachelor of Theology degree.[1] As a seminarian he spent his summers working alongside his brothers in the cotton fields near Abilene.[2] He furthered his studies at the Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1980 to 1985,[1] earning a licenciate in theology from the Gregorian.[3]

Priesthood

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Vásquez was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in San Angelo by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza for the Diocese of San Angelo on June 30, 1984.[4]

Vásquez' first assessment was parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Odessa, Texas. From 1987 to 1997 he was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fort Stockton, Texas. In 1997 he became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in San Angelo, Texas.[1]

During his time in San Angelo, Vásquez also served as the episcopal vicar for Hispanics and was a member of the presbyteral council and the finance board.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston

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On November 30, 2001, Vásquez was appointed auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston and titular bishop of Cova by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on January 23, 2002, from Fiorenza, with Archbishop Patrick Flores and Bishop Michael Pfeifer serving as co-consecrators.[4] Vásquez selected as his episcopal motto: "Sígueme."[1]

While auxiliary bishop, Vásquez served as vicar general/chancellor of the archdiocese, as well as episcopal vicar for Hispanics and liaison for youth.[5]

Bishop of Austin

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On January 26, 2010, Vásquez was appointed as bishop of Austin by Pope Benedict XVI, filling the vacancy left by Bishop Gregory Aymond. Vásquez was installed there on March 8, 2010.[5][4]

In January 2019, as part of a coordinated program on the part of 15 Catholic dioceses in Texas,[6] the Austin diocese released a list of 22 clerics who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. Vásquez said it was compiled by independent investigators whom he did not identify and reviewed by an internal committee with a lay majority, which recommended publication. He expressed his apologies to victims for what they had suffered. He said: "The victims are the ones who hurt, and we want to make sure they were being heard."[7]

On November 11, 2023, Vásquez was appointed by Pope Francis to also serve as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler after the pope dismissed Bishop Joseph Strickland.[8] His role ended when Pope Francis appointed Gregory Kelly to succeed Strickland on December 20, 2024.[9]

Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

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On January 20, 2025, Vásquez was appointed by Pope Francis as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, after the resignation of Daniel DiNardo, made the same day. He is scheduled to be installed on March 25, 2025.[3][10][11]

He has been a member of the board of directors of Catholic Relief Services and of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network CLINIC).[5][when?]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Curriculum Vitae". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sanders, Joshunda (September 22, 2012). "From humble beginnings, a bishop is formed". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Resignations and Appointments, 20.01.2025" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Bishop Joe Steve Vásquez". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "Bishop Joe S. Vásquez - Diocese of Austin". Diocese of Austin. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  6. ^ Ramos, James (February 1, 2019). "Update: Texas dioceses name clergy with credible allegations of sex abuse". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Wilson, Andrew (January 31, 2019). "'I'm sorry' | Catholic Diocese of Austin bishop comments on list of priests accused of sexual abuse". KVUE. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  8. ^ Mares, Courtney (November 11, 2023). "Pope Francis Relieves Bishop Strickland of His Duties in Diocese of Tyler". National Catholic Register. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  9. ^ "Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Gregory Kelly as Bishop of Tyler". www.usccb.org. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; Appoints Bishop Joe Vásquez as Successor | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
  11. ^ "Announcement of Appointment of Bishop Joe S. Vásquez as New Archbishop of Galveston-Houston". Retrieved January 20, 2025.
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