The Vatican announced Wednesday Pope Francis’ appointment of Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico to be coadjutor bishop of San Jose, California. As coadjutor, Cantú will assist Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, 73, in the administration of the Diocese of San Jose, and succeed McGrath upon his retirement or death.
His Excellency Cantú, 51, has served as bishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico since February 2013. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and French. His Grace Cantú has served as chairman of the United States bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace and is a member of the subcommittees on the Church in Latin America and Hispanic Affairs. Ordained to the priesthood May 21, 1994, His Excellency Cantú was made a bishop in 2008, at the age of 41, when His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed him auxiliary bishop of San Antonio.
Before being ordained a bishop, he was pastor of his childhood parish, Holy Name, in Houston. He also served as parochial vicar of St. Christopher Parish and taught at the University of St. Thomas and St. Mary’s Seminary. The Diocese of San Jose was canonically established in 1981 and belongs to the ecclesiastical province of San Francisco.
Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com
