Pope Leo XIV appoints Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Austin: July 2, 2025

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia, currently Bishop of Monterey, as the Bishop of Austin.

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Pope Leo XIV appoints Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Austin

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Daniel Elias Garcia of Monterey in California as bishop of Austin, United States of America.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Daniel Elias Garcia was born on 30 August 1960 in Cameron, Texas. He carried out his ecclesiastical studies at the University of Saint Thomas, Saint Mary’s Seminary in Houston, and obtained a master’s degree in liturgy at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Austin on 28 May 1988.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Catherine of Siena in Austin (1988-1990), Cristo Rey in Austin (1990-1991), Saint Louis in Austin (1991-1992), and Saint Mary Magdalene in Humble (1992-1995); parish priest of Saint Vincent de Paul in Austin (1995-2014); and vicar general and moderator of the Curia (2014).

He was appointed titular bishop of Capso and auxiliary of Austin on 21 January 2015, receiving episcopal ordination the following 3 March.

On 27 November 2018 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Monterey in California.

His biography from the Diocese of Monterrey website is below.

Bishop Garcia was born on Aug. 30, 1960. He has three younger sisters. He grew up in Waco and Cameron, Texas. He is bilingual in Spanish and English.

He earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Tyler Junior College in 1982. He attended St. Mary Seminary in Houston, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1984 and a Master of Divinity from the same university in 1988. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Austin on May 28, 1988, by Bishop John E. McCarthy. He earned a Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies in 2007 from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.Bishop Garcia served in a variety of roles in the Diocese of Austin. His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Austin, followed by Cristo Rey Parish in Austin and St. Louis King of France Parish in Austin. He then served in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Humble, TX, from 1992-1995. In 1995, he was named Founding Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin, leading the parish from its inception through multiple building projects, culminating in the permanent church and sanctuary.

In addition to serving in these parishes, Bishop Garcia served in various other capacities: Vocation Office, Priests’ Personnel Board, College of Consultors, and the Presbyteral Council. He served as chair of the Presbyteral Council and as Dean of the Austin North Deanery. He likewise served on the Liturgical Commission, Diaconal Advisory Committee, as well as Master of Ceremonies for the Bishop’s office. On March 3, 2014, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez appointed Bishop Garcia as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.

On January 21, 2015, Bishop Garcia was appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Austin by Pope Francis. His episcopal ordination was on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at St. William Catholic Church, Round Rock, TX.

On November 27, 2018, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Garcia as Bishop for the Diocese of Monterey in California. He was installed on January 29, 2019.

Bishop Garcia has served on the USCCB Committee on Communications and the Committee on Divine Worship, while also chairing the Subcommittee on Divine Worship in Spanish. He presently serves on the Subcommittee on Divine Worship in Spanish and on the Board of Directors for Catholic Relief Services.

Pope Leo XIV appoints Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Austin: July 2, 2025 4

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