February 3, 2015
The Most Rev. Gustavo García-Siller, M.Sp.S., Archbishop of San Antonio, presented “Jesus the Galilean and Pope Francis’ Contribution to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition” on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
As part of the 12th annual Catholic Intellectual Tradition Lecture Series, Archbishop Gustavo explored the Galilean context of Jesus’ life and ministry and its relevance for Pope Francis’ ministry of evangelization. This is grounded in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the Church, in the world, in the lives of Christians and especially at St. Mary’s University. It is not enough merely to marvel at and talk about Pope Francis’ creative and ecumenical leadership, he says. With the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, every Christian is challenged to share responsibility for continuing Jesus’ mission and ministry today.
The event was held at St. Mary’s University in Conference Room A of the University Center.
The Catholic Intellectual Tradition Lecture Series is a free, annual series featuring men and women who have shaped the Catholic intellectual tradition at the heart of the educational enterprises at St. Mary’s. The 2014-15 series theme is “Faith Working Through Love: Grace of the Holy Spirit.”
The previous lecture in the series featured Gregory Smith, Ph.D., Director of U.S. Religion Surveys for the Pew Research Center. He spoke about “The Changing Shape of the American Religious Landscape.” In March, St. Mary’s welcomes Amy J. Uelmen, J.D., of the Georgetown University Law Center. She’ll present “Teaching and Learning in Love: Lessons From ‘The Joy of the Gospel.'”
More about the Archbishop
The Most Rev. Gustavo García-Siller, M.Sp.S., was named the sixth Archbishop of San Antonio by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 14, 2010. He succeeded Archbishop José H. Gomez.
Archbishop Gustavo, who was born in San Luis Potosi, S.L.P., Mexico, as the eldest of 15 children, professed as a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in 1975. Five years later, he came to the United States and worked closely with the immigrant community. He was ordained a priest in 1984 and became an American citizen in 1998.
His three decades of priestly service have taken many forms, including ministering to communities with varied cultural backgrounds. Much of his work has dealt with the formation of the men of his religious order. He has taught at INUMYC Minor Seminary and at the Institute for Philosophy in Guadalajara, Mexico. In the 1990s, he was Rector of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in Lynwood and Long Beach, California, and he held that same position at Mount Angel in Oregon.
Archbishop Gustavo served as Major Superior of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit from 1999-2003, administering an area that included the U.S. and Canada. He was elected the order’s Provincial in 2003. He was ordained an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in March 2003, and he served as Cardinal Francis George’s liaison to the Hispanic community.
The Archbishop earned a master’s degree in Theology and Divinity from St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California, and received a master’s in Philosophy from Instituto de Filosofia, Guadalajara, Mexico. He also received a master’s in Psychology from ITESO, a Jesuit University in Guadalajara, Mexico. He also has served on a number of committees for the United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).