Archbishop Vásquez

His Excellency Joe S. Vásquez is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and pastor to its 2 million-plus Catholics (and the 7.1 million people within the Archdiocese) and 435 priests in 146 parishes and 54 schools spread over 8,880 square miles. His seats are St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston and the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

Archbishop Vásquez was born July 9, 1957, in Stamford, Texas to Juan and Elvira Vásquez. He is the eldest of six children with three brothers: Robert Vásquez, Samuel Vásquez, and James Vásquez; and two sisters: Cynthia Martínez and Consuelo Garza.

He obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, and a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on June 30, 1984, for the Diocese of San Angelo. In the Diocese of San Angelo, he served as Associate Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Odessa from 1985 to 1987; as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fort Stockton from 1987 to 1997; and as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in San Angelo from 1997 to 2002.

He was appointed titular bishop of Cova and Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston on Nov. 30, 2001, and received his episcopal ordination on Jan. 23, 2002. On Jan. 26, 2010, he was appointed Bishop of Austin and also served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Tyler from Nov. 11, 2023, to Feb. 24, 2025.

On Jan. 20, 2025, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. by Christophe Cardinal Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. 

Archbishop Vásquez was installed as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on March 25, 2025. He is the ninth Bishop and third Metropolitan Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

Archbishop Vásquez currently serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities and as Lead Bishop for Region X for the V National Encounter for Hispanic/Latino Ministry.

He has previously served on the following committees of the USCCB: Chair, Committee on Migration; Administrative  Committee; Committee for Religious Liberty; consultant to the Committee on International Justice and Peace, the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human  Development, Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs; and the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. He also previously served on the Board of Directors of Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

July 9, 1957, in Stamford, Texas

Family

Father: Juan Vásquez; Mother: Elvira Vásquez (both deceased); Sisters: Cynthia Martínez and Consuelo Garza; Brothers: Robert Vásquez, Samuel Vásquez (Deceased) and James Vásquez

Education

• B.A., University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas (1976-1980) St. Mary Seminary
• S.T.L., Gregorian University, Rome, Italy (1980-1985)

• Ordained June 30, 1984, as a priest for the Diocese of San Angelo by Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza, Bishop of San Angelo
• Ordained on Jan. 23, 2002, as Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston for then Diocese of Galveston-Houston by Most Reverend Joseph Fiorenza, Bishop of Galveston-Houston, serving as Auxiliary Bishop from 2002 to 2010
• March 8, 2010, he was installed as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Austin

Episcopal Installation

March 25, 2025, he was installed as the third Metropolitan Archbishop and 11th ordinary of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

USCCB

• Consultant, Committee on Pro-Life Activities
• Lead Bishop, Region X for the V National Encounter for Hispanic/Latino Ministry (V Encuentro)
• Past Chair, Committee on Migration
• Past Member, Administrative Committee
• Past Member, Committee for Religious Liberty
• Past Consultant, Committee on International Justice and Peace
• Past Consultant, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development
• Past Consultant, Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs
• Past Consultant, Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism
• Past Board Member, Catholic Relief Services
• Past Board Member, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)

Pastoral Ministry, Diocese of San Angelo

• Parochial Vicar (1985-1987) - St. Joseph Church, Odessa
• Pastor (1987-1997) - St. Joseph Church, Fort Stockton
• Pastor (1997-2002) - St. Joseph Church, San Angelo

The Archepiscopal heraldic achievement or Archbishop's coat of arms is composed of a shield with its charges (symbols), a motto scroll, and the external ornamentation. The shield, which is the central and most important feature of any heraldic device, is described (blazoned) in 12th-century terms. This description is presented as if given by the bearer with the shield being worn on the arm. Thus, where it applies, the terms dexter and sinister are reversed as the device is viewed from the front.

By heraldic tradition, the arms of the Archbishop, who is the "first among equals" of an ecclesiastical province, called a "Metropolitan Archbishop," are joined, impaled, with the arms of his jurisdiction, these are the arms of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. These arms are composed of a blue field on which is displayed a scattering (semé) of silver (white) roses. These roses are used to represent the Blessed Virgin Mary, in her title of the Mystical Rose, titular of the Cathedral-Basilica in the See City of Galveston. Upon this symbolism is a red cross of The Faith, with a square center that contain a single silver star to represent Texas, the "Lone Star State."

For his personal arms, His Excellency, Archbishop Vásquez has selected a device that reflects his life as a priest and now as a bishop. Rendered primarily in Hispanic colors of gold and red, to reflect the heritage that has come to him from his parents, Juan and Elvira Vásquez, His Excellency, Archbishop Vásquez’s design expresses his deep dedication and devotion to the members of The Holy Family. Prime among these, of course, is “The Cross,” presented here in red on a gold (yellow) field. It is by way of this Cross that Our Savior, Jesus Christ, redeemed the world and to which Archbishop Vásquez has dedicated himself in the Holy Orders in The Church.

In the lower left of the Archbishop’s shield (base dexter) is a red rosebud with its stem and leaves rendered properly in green. The rose is used to honor Mary, in her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for it was the roses that Blessed Juan Diego carried to the Bishop of Mexico City as the sign of his apparition from the Virgin Mary. It was in carrying the roses in his garment which also led to her likeness being placed on his tilma, which still hangs in the basilica dedicated to Mary as Queen of Mexico & Empress of the Americas.

In the upper right (chief sinister) is a fleur-de-lis, a special representation of a lily for St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. The lily is used to reflect that the Archbishop was Assistant Pastor at St. Joseph’ Parish in Odessa, Texas, Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Ft. Stockton, Texas, and when he was selected to receive the fullness of Christ’s Priesthood by being named Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, he was Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in San Angelo, Texas. The fleur-de-lis used here is also special for it is called “Florentine” as it is used in the arms of the City of Florence, Italy. The name of the city, when said in Italian is “Fiorenza,” the surname of the bishop who laid his hands upon Archbishop Vásquez twice, having ordained him a priest and a bishop.

For his motto, Archbishop Vásquez uses the single word in Spanish, “SIGUEME.” This word expresses the instruction that Christ gives each of those called by the name of Christian, “Follow Me,” for it is what it means to be a Christian, one who follows Christ.

The achievement is completed with external ornaments which are a bejeweled gold Archepiscopal processional cross, that has two cross-members, that is placed behind and which extends above and below the shield, and a pontifical hat, called a “Gallero,” with its ten tassels, in four rows, on either side of the shield, all in green.