Bishop Joe S. Vasquez

Bishop 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 attended Stamford and Abilene public schools and then studied theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston from 1976 to 1980. He attended the Gregorian University, North American College, in Rome from 1980 to 1985. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of San Angelo on June 30, 1984, by Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza.

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.

In January 2002, Bishop Vásquez was installed as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Bishop Vásquez was the Vicar General/Chancellor for the Archdiocese overseeing the administrative operations of the largest diocese in Texas and the 11th largest diocese in the U.S. He also served as Episcopal Vicar for Hispanics and as the Liaison for Youth during his years in Galveston-Houston.

Bishop Vásquez currently serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities and as Lead Bishop for Region X for the V National Encounter for Hispanic/Latino Ministry (V Encuentro).  He has previously served on the following committees of the USCCB: Chair, Committee on Migration; Administrative Committee; and Committee for Religious Liberty; and as a consultant to the Committee on International Justice and Peace, the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, the 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. (CLINIC).

Blazon
Or, a cross Gules, between to chief sinister a Florentine fleur-de-lis of the second and to base dexter a rosebud, in profile, also of the second, stemmed and leafed Vert.

Significance
The Episcopal heraldic achievement, or, as it is more commonly known, the bishop’s coat of arms, is composed of a shield with its charges (symbols) and the external ornaments. The shield, which is the central and most important feature of any heraldic device, is described (blazoned) in 12th-century terms that are archaic to our modern language and this description is done as if being given by the bearer with the shield being worn on the arm. Thus, where it applies, the terms “dexter” (right) and “sinister” (left) are reversed as the device is viewed from the front.

For his personal arms, His Excellency, Bishop Vasquez 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 Vasquez, His Excellency, Bishop Vasquez’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 Bishop Vasquez has dedicated himself in the Sacred Orders in The Church.

In the lower left of the Bishop’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 and 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 Bishop 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 names 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 very 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 will lay his hand upon Bishop Vasquez for the second time, having ordained his as a priest, will now ordain him as a bishop, then to have him serve as his Auxiliary Bishop.

For his motto, Bishop Vasquez 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, as one who follows Christ.

The device is completed with the external ornaments which are a gold processional cross, which is placed in the back of the shield and which extends above and below the shield, and a pontifical hat, called a “Gallero,” with its six tassels, in three rows, on either side of the shield, all in green.

These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop by instruction of the Holy See of March 31, 1969.

- Deacon Paul J. Sullivan, Permanent Deacon of the Diocese of Providence