Joe Vásquez, who is of Mexican American descent, was born in Stamford, Texas, to Juan (b 1933) and Elvira Vásquez (d 2005). His father, a veteran of the Korean War, dropped out of school in the second grade to support his family and later made a living as a mechanic.
He attended public schools in Stamford and Abilene. From 1976 to 1980, he studied at Saint Mary Seminary and the University of Saint Thomas, from where he obtained a Bachelor"s degree in Theology.
He was appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin on January 26, 2010. He was previously the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He then furthered his studies at the Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1980 to 1985.
Vásquez was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza on June 30, 1984.
He then served as parochial vicar at Saint Joseph Church in Odessa until 1987, when he became pastor of Saint Joseph Church in Fort Stockton. From 1997 to 2002, he served as pastor of Saint Joseph Church in San Angelo.
On November 30, 2001, Vásquez was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston and Titular Bishop of Cova by Pope John Paul World War II He received his episcopal consecration on January 23, 2002 from Archbishop Fiorenza, with Archbishop Patrick Flores and Bishop Michael Pfeifer, Oblate of Mary Immaculate, serving as co-consecrators. He selected as his episcopal motto: "Sigueme."
On 26 January 2010 he was appointed as bishop of Austin by Pope Benedict XVI filling the vacancy left by Gregory Michael Aymond who was appointed archbishop of New Orleans.
The diocese is home to some 41 seminarians and a Catholic population of 500,000, twice what it was two decades ago.
lieutenant is expected to double again in size over the next 15 to 20 years. Bishop Vásquez will take possession of the see on 8 March. The appointment follows early December"s appointment of Daniel East. Flores as Bishop of Brownsville and the 18 January appointment of Msgr.
William Mulvey, as Bishop of Corpus Christi.
