Background
One of seven children, Josu Iriondo was born in Legazpi, Spain, to Rufino and Maria Leona (née Zabaleta) Iriondo.
One of seven children, Josu Iriondo was born in Legazpi, Spain, to Rufino and Maria Leona (née Zabaleta) Iriondo.
He was educated in Spanish but spoke Basque at home. He later joined the Canons Regular, and attended Sagrado Corazon Seminary in Oñati and the Collegio San Vittore in Rome. From 1958 to 1962, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Early life and education
Iriondo decided to pursue the priesthood and then entered the minor seminary of the Canons Regular of the Lateran, an independent Augustinian community, at age 12. Ordination and ministry
Iriondo was ordained for the Diocese of San Sebastián on December 23, 1962. He then served as professor and master of discipline at a seminary of the Canons Regular, and traveled through Europe on duties related to his religious order.
He also taught at the National Institute, a regional public high school, where served as school secretary as well.
Iriondo came to the United States in 1968, accepting an invitation for Spanish priests to the Archdiocese of New New York He then served as chaplain to the Sisters of the Servants of Mary until 1969, whence he became parochial vicar at Saint Joseph"s Church in Middletown.
He later served as Saint Lucy"s Church (1973-1974) and Holy Rosary Church (1974-1976) in Manhattan. Iriondo was named parochial vicar (1976) and then pastor (1978) of Our Savior Church in the Bronx.
In 1990, he was appointed director of both the Hispanic Catholic Center and the Charismatic Renewal Movement.
He was incardinated into the Archdiocese of New York in 1996, and named Vicar for Hispanics in 1997. Iriondo became pastor of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in 2001. Auxiliary Bishop of New York
On October 30, 2001, Iriondo was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, New York and Titular Bishop of Alton by Pope John Paul World War II He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 12 from Edward Cardinal Egan, with Bishops Henry Mansell and Robert Brucato serving as co-consecrators.
He selected as his episcopal motto: "Dominum et Vivificantem"
Bishop Iriondo"s resignation was accepted by Pope Francis on Saturday, February 1, 2014.