IN THE DIOCESE
tvc.dsj.org | August 21, 2018
5
Bishop Oscar Cantú Named Coadjutor Bishop for the Diocese of San Jose
By Liz Sullivan
For just the third time in the histo-
ry of the Diocese of San Jose a Bishop
has been selected to lead the faithful
of Santa Clara County.
On July 11, Pope Francis appointed
the Most Reverend Oscar Cantú as
Coadjutor Bishop of San Jose. Bishop
Cantú was up until now Bishop of Las
Cruces, New Mexico. The appoint-
ment was made public in Washing-
ton, D.C., by Archbishop Christophe
Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United
States.
That morning, Bishop Cantú, along
with Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, met
with the Diocesan staff at the Chan-
cery in San Jose. As the men entered
the conference room at the Chancery
they were met with a loud round of
applause.
A week prior, on July 2, Bishop
McGrath had met with Chancery staff
to explain where the Diocese was in
receiving a Coadjutor Bishop, who
will replace him. When the Bishop
returned home later that morning
he received a call from Archbishop
Pierre stating the Coadjutor Bishop
had been appointed.
Ever y bi shop of t he Cat hol ic
Church must submit a request for
retirement to the Vatican as they ap-
proach their 75th birthday. Bishop
McGrath, 73, was told by the Holy
See he could begin this process a little
earlier after Auxiliary Bishop Thomas
A. Daly was appointed Bishop of Spo-
kane, Washington in 2015. As a result,
Bishop McGrath sent his request in
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“I asked and prayed for this,
both Bishop Cantú and I
are committed to
the vision of Vatican II
and our Holy Father
Pope Francis.”
-Bishop McGrath
February of this year.
In the Catholic Church, the Co-
adjutor Bishop is a n i m med iate
collaborator of the diocesan bishop,
with the right of succession to the
position. Bishop McGrath served as
Coadjutor Bishop to Bishop DuMaine
before succeeding him. The partner-
ship allows the new Bishop time to
become familiar with the diocese he
will eventually take over.
“I asked and prayed for this,” said
Bishop McGrath. “Both Bishop Cantú
and I are committed to the vision of
Vatican II and our Holy Father Pope
Francis.”
Bishop Cantú was born in Hous-
ton on December 5, 1966. He earned
his Bachelor of Arts degree from the
University of Dallas, and received his
Master’s in Divinity and Masters in
Theological Studies from the Univer-
sity of Saint Thomas, also in Houston.
He also attended the Pontifi cal Gre-
gorian University in Rome, where he
earned his Licentiate in Sacred The-
Bishop Cantú and Bishop McGrath.
ology (S.T.L.) as well as his Doctorate
in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.). Bishop
Cantú was ordained a priest of the
Diocese of Houston in 1994.
He spent his priestly career work-
i ng i n pa r i she s t h roug hout t he
Houston met ropol ita n a rea. His
first assignment was as parochial
vicar at Saint Christopher Parish.
He also taught at the University of
Saint Thomas and at Saint Mary’s
Seminary. He served as pastor at
Holy Name Parish. He was involved
in the Christian Family movement;
conducted retreats and worked with
the Engaged Encounter ministry.
Bishop Cant ú was also involved
in The Metropolitan Organization
(TMO) that addresses social issues
in the community.
Bishop Cantú was appointed and
then ordained Auxiliary Bishop of
San Antonio and Titular Bishop of
Dardano in 2008. In 2013, Bishop
Cantú was appointed as bishop of
the Diocese of Las Cruces, NM. He
was installed as bishop on February
28, 2013.
Bishop Oscar Cantú is the former
Chairman of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee
on International Justice and Peace. He
is currently a member of the USCCB
Subcommittee on the Church in Latin
America and Subcommittee on His-
panic Aff airs.
Bishop Cantú was one of two del-
egates chosen by the Bishops’ Confer-
ence to represent the USCCB at Pope
Francis’ visit to Mexico in 2016.
Bishop Cantú will be welcomed
to the Diocese of San Jose at a Mass
on September 28 at the Cathedral
Basilica of Saint Joseph.
“As I arrive in San Jose, I look
forward to continuing the mission of
the Church in this beautiful part of
the world that goes by the name of a
man whose own life was transformed
by his encounter with a young virgin
and the Son she bore,” said Bishop
Cantú. “As Jesus invited those fi rst
two disciples on a journey, “Come and
see,” he told them, he invites you and
me to follow him on a journey of dis-
covery, of wonder, of faith, paved by
steps of hope and love. I look forward
to getting to know you and working
with you.”