[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 106 (Monday, June 24, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E819-E820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO FATHER DAVID GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOAQUIN CASTRO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 24, 2019

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Father 
David Garcia who is retiring from active ministry as Pastor of Mission 
Concepcion in my hometown of San Antonio. Father Garcia is well-known 
in the community and has been critical in preserving and establishing 
worldwide recognition of San Antonio's historic missions. Although his 
retirement from parochial service begins July 1, 2019, I have no doubt 
that Father Garcia's impact will last in the years to come.
  Father David Garcia, better known as ``Father David,'' was born in 
San Antonio, Texas on August 4, 1949. He completed seminary studies at 
St. John's and Assumption Seminaries, the Oblate School of Theology, 
and Moreau Seminary. He then went on to Notre Dame University, where he 
earned masters' degrees in Theology and Institutional Administration. 
On March 21, 1975, Father David was ordained by Archbishop Francis 
Furey.
  During the 1970s, Father David assisted in the founding of 
Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS), a non-partisan 
grassroots coalition whose mission is to improve living standards 
throughout the community, particularly among neglected and low-income 
areas. Efforts by Father David and COPS secured significant public 
funding for local infrastructure and housing improvements.
  From 1980 to 1988, Father David served as Chief of Staff to 
Archbishop Patrick Flores where he led the construction and 
reorganization of the Catholic Chancery. Through 1981 to 1988, he 
served on the formation faculty of Assumption Seminary. During the 
visit of Pope Saint John Paul II to San Antonio in 1987, Father David 
served as mass site chair where he secured the mass site location 
attended by 350,000 people. From 1988 to 1994, he served as the 
vocation director for the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

[[Page E820]]

  In 1995, Father David was appointed rector of San Fernando Cathedral 
where he served in the position for thirteen years. Beginning in 2003, 
Father David led the San Fernando Cathedral restoration project and 
aided in the revitalization of San Antonio's Main Plaza. In 2015, 
Father David was instrumental in the City's bid for UNESCO World 
Heritage designation of the San Antonio Missions.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great sincerity that I commend Father David 
on his decades of parochial and community service. His lifelong 
commitment to our community is nothing short of remarkable.
  I thank Father David for his many years of service to the people of 
San Antonio. He has made our community a better place.

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