Daniel E. Garcia


Daniel Elias Garcia
Bishop of Monterey
Bishop-Designate of Austin
Bishop Garcia at Holy Trinity Church
in Texas in 2018
SeeDiocese of Monterey
AppointedNovember 27, 2018
InstalledJanuary 29, 2019
PredecessorRichard John Garcia
Previous post(s)
Orders
OrdinationMay 28, 1988
by John E. McCarthy
ConsecrationMarch 3, 2015
by Joe S. Vásquez, Gregory Michael Aymond, Michael Sis
Personal details
Born (1960-08-30) August 30, 1960
DenominationRoman Catholic
EducationTyler Junior College
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
University of St. Thomas
MottoWalk humbly with God
Styles of
Daniel Elias Garcia
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop
Ordination history of
Daniel E. Garcia
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained byJohn E. McCarthy
DateMay 28, 1988
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorJoe S. Vásquez
Co-consecratorsGregory Michael Aymond
Michael Sis
DateMarch 3, 2015
PlaceSt. William Catholic Church, Round Rock, Texas, USA

Daniel Elias Garcia (born August 30, 1960) is an American Catholic prelate who was named bishop-designate of Austin in 2025. He was previously an auxiliary bishop for the diocese from 2015 to 2019 and bishop of Monterey in California from 2019 to 2025.

Biography

Early life and education

Daniel Garcia was born on August 30, 1960, in Cameron, Texas, as the first child of Daniel and Sarah Garcia. He graduated from C.H. Yoe High School in Cameron in 1978 and earned an associate degree from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, in 1982.[1][2]

Garcia entered Saint Mary's Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas in 1984 and a Master of Divinity degree in 1988.[1][2]

Ordination and ministry

Garcia was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Austin at St. Monica Church in Cameron by Bishop John E. McCarthy on May 28, 1988.[3]

After his ordination, Garcia fulfilled assignments as associate pastor first at three Austin parishes: St. Catherine of Siena (1988 to 1990), Cristo Rey (1990 to 1991), and St. Louis (1991 to 1992), then at St. Mary Magdalene in Humble (1992 to 1995), and then again in Austin at St. Vincent de Paul (1995 to 2014).[4]

Garcia was sent to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 1992 to serve as associate pastor at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Houston. He returned to Austin in 1995 and served as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin for 18 years.[1] In 2007, Garcia was awarded a Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies from Saint John's School of Theology in Collegeville, Minnesota.[1]

On the diocesan level Garcia was a member of the priests' personnel board and the college of consultors. He was chair of the presbyteral council and dean of the Austin North Deanery. On March 3, 2014, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez appointed Garcia moderator of the curia.[2]

Auxiliary Bishop of Austin

Coat of arms as auxiliary bishop of Austin

On January 21, 2015, Pope Francis appointed Garcia an auxiliary bishop of Austin and titular bishop of Capsus.[4]He received his episcopal consecration at St. Williams Church in Round Rock, Texas, on March 3, 2015,[5] from Vásquez, with Archbishop Gregory Aymond and Bishop Michael Sis serving as co-consecrators.[3] He was the first auxiliary Austin ever had.[5]

Bishop of Monterey

On November 27, 2018, Francis appointed Garcia bishop of Monterey.[6] He was installed on January 29, 2019.[7]

Bishop of Austin

On July 2, 2025, Pope Leo XIV named Garcia bishop of Austin.[8] He is scheduled to be installed on September 18, 2025[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Bishop Daniel E. Garcia". Diocese of Monterey. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  2. ^ a b c "Pope Francis Names Auxiliary Bishop to Lead Diocese of Monterey". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  3. ^ a b "Bishop Daniel Elias Garcia [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  4. ^ a b "Rinunce e nomine, 21.01.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. January 21, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "A Brief History". Diocese of Austin. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  6. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 27.11.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. November 27, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  7. ^ "Diocese of Monterey Witnesses Installation of its Fifth Bishop". Monterey Herald. January 31, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  8. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 02.07.2025" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  9. ^ "Installation of Bishop Garcia". Retrieved July 24, 2025.