Catholic Association of Latino Leaders

CALL is pleased to inform you that today, the papal nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, announced that CALL member Bishop Joe S. Vazquez, formerly the auxiliary bishop of the Galveston-Houston Diocese, is the new bishop of Austin, Texas. See the release below.

Our most sincere congratulations to Bishop Vasquez! Let us join together in prayer today for Bishop Vasquez and his new ministry.

Bishop Joe S. Vasquez Diocese of Austin, Texas POPE BENEDICT XVI NAMES AUXILIARY BISHOP JOE S. VASQUEZ AS BISHOP OF AUSTIN, TEXAS WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has named Auxiliary Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Galveston-Houston, 52, as bishop of Austin, Texas, succeeding Archbishop Gregory Aymond, who was named archbishop of New Orleans, June 12, 2009. The appointment was made public in Washington, January 26, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Joe S. Vasquez was born in Stamford, Texas, July 9, 1957. He attended the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology, and the Gregorian University, Rome, where he earned a licentiate in sacred theology. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas in 1984. After ordination to the priesthood, Bishop Vasquez served for 12 years, 1985-1997, at St. Joseph Church in Fort Stockton, Texas, the first two years as parochial vicar and the last 10 as pastor. In 1997, he was named pastor of St. Joseph Church, San Angelo. In 2001, he was named auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston.

CALL's Episcopal Moderator, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, STD, serves as chairman of the bishops' Subcommittee on The Church in Latin America. You can view his Keep Faith appeal on You Tube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5PFSDWG3RA

"As the scripture says, 'The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.' "  2 Corinthians 8:15