| Styles of Oscar Cantu |
|
|---|---|
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Monsignor |
| Posthumous style | not applicable |
Oscar Cantú (born December 5, 1966) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the Auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Because of the appointment of San Antonio Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez to be the new Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles, Auxiliary Bishop Cantu was named Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese until the appointment of the new Archbishop, Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller.[1]
Contents |
Oscar Cantú was born in Houston, Texas to Mexican immigrants Ramiro and Maria de Jesus Cantú. He is fifth of eight children. His family originally lived in Chicago, Illinois before moving to the South, and is old friends with retired Archbishop Patrick Flores.[2] He attended St. Thomas High School and the University of Dallas, from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree. He also earned a Master of Divinity and of Theological Studies from the University of St. Thomas before traveling to Rome to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning his Licentiate of Sacred Theology.
Upon his return to the States, Cantú was ordained a deacon on November 6, 1993 by Bishop James Tamayo.[3] Cantú was ordained a priest by Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza on May 21, 1994. He then served as parochial vicar of St. Christopher Church in Houston. In 2003, he began teaching at his alma mater of the University of St. Thomas. Cantú also hosted an interfaith radio show with a rabbi and Protestant minister, and was involved in The Metropolitan Organization, which addresses such issues as fair housing, immigration, and education. He was later named pastor of his childhood church of Holy Name in Houston.
On April 10, 2008, Cantú was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio and Titular Bishop of Dardanus. He was consecrated on June 2 by Archbishop José Gómez, with Archbishop Fiorenza and Bishop Joe Vásquez serving as co-consecrator. Cantú selected as his episcopal motto: Zelus Domus Tuae Comedit Me (Psalms 69:9), meaning, "Zeal for the Lord's house consumes me."
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cantú is a member of the Committee on Catholic Education.[4]
As of 2008, Cantú is the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States.[2]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas Flanagan |
Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio 2008–Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |