1961
Father
2011
Father Ricardo Garcia
May 24, 1961 — February 21, 2011
FATHER RICARDO GARCIA, JR.
And the Father said: “Quickly, bring out a robe – the best one- and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:22-24
BROWNSVILLE — Father Ricardo Garcia, Jr., 49, left us to become our Guardian Angel on Monday, February 21, 2011, in Brownsville, Texas.
Father Ricardo García was born in Walla Walla Washington on May 24, 1961. He is the second of six children born to Ricardo and Socorro García of Edinburg . Fr. Ricardo grew up in Chicago and moved to Edinburg where he graduated from high school in 1979. He finished his undergraduate work at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus , Ohio receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies with a minor in Philosophy. He also studied in Cuernavaca , Mexico , the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio and in Central America: Guatemala , Nicaragua and El Salvador .
During his studies, he did missionary work with the poor in the Dominican Republic and Coyame , Chihuahua , Mexico . He served an internship at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville . He completed his graduate studies in Theology at Assumption Seminary and Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio receiving a Masters of Divinity degree.
Fr. Ricardo was ordained a priest for service in the Diocese of Brownsville on May 22, 1992 by the late Bishop Enrique San Pedro, S.J. Upon ordination he was assigned to Holy Spirit Parish in Progreso, Texas to fill a vacancy during the summer. He was then assigned as parochial vicar to Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Parish in Escobares , Texas . In August of 1993, he was assigned parochial vicar of Saint Anthony’s, Harlingen , Texas . He was appointed pastor of Our Lady of San Juan de los Campos in Mission , Texas in March of 1995. During his three years in Mission , Fr. Ricardo worked on receiving a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling at the University of Texas - Pan American.
In March of 1998, Bishop Raymundo Peña appointed Fr. Ricardo Moderator of the Curia for the Lower Valley Pastoral Center and Director of Pastoral Formation at Casa San José, the diocesan seminarian house. He also appointed Fr. Ricardo to study Canon Law during the summer months at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Fr. Ricardo graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington , D.C. in May of 2001. He received a licentiate in Canon Law and is presently a licensed canon lawyer for the Diocese of Brownsville.
Upon his return from study, Fr. Ricardo was appointed pastor at St. Anne, Mother of Mary Parish in Pharr , Texas . In addition to his pastoral ministries in the parish, Fr. Ricardo became a chaplain with the Pharr Police Department. After six years as pastor, Fr. Ricardo was reassigned to Mary, Mother of the Church Parish where he currently ministers as pastor.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Gregorio and Refugia Garcia; maternal grandfather, Victor Navarro, nephews, Matthew Gene Alejos and Zachary James Lucio.
Father Ricardo Garcia is survived by his parents, Ricardo and Socorro Garcia; four sisters, Sylvia (Eddie) Garcia, Leticia (Jerry) Cantu, Cynthia G. Lucio, Melissa (Xavier) Moreno; a brother, Greg Garcia, all of Edinburg; maternal grandmother, Guadalupe Navarro of Edinburg; and nieces and nephews; Jason Jerry and Justin Jerry Cantu, Meagan Lauren Garcia, Edward Garcia, Brianna Rachelle & Jaime Noe (Jay) Lucio II, Diego Xavier & Samuel Xavier Moreno, all of Edinburg. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Although his time here on earth was short, he touched the lives of many as a son, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. His chosen vocation as a priest allowed him the opportunity to reach out and touch the lives of thousands of parishioners throughout the Valley. He will always be remembered for his beautiful smile and huge heart that were instrumental in bringing so many closer to God. His charismatic personality was magnetic and all those around him benefited from his unselfish decision to allow himself to be an instrument of God's Word.
A Holy Rosary will be held on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 7:00pm at St. Mary, MC Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard Road Brownsville, TX 78520. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2011 from 10am to 5 pm. at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Rosary will follow at 7 p.m. at Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle National Shrine in San Juan. Funeral service will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 25, 2011, at Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle Shrine. Cremation will take place at Val Verde Memorial Gardens in Donna. Pallbearers will be Greg Garcia, Rev. Pat Seitz, Rev. Amador Garza, Rev. Benjamin Aguilar, O.Carm.,Rev. Bruce McCarthy and Rev. Mario Castro.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.
Sign the guest book at
And the Father said: “Quickly, bring out a robe – the best one- and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:22-24
BROWNSVILLE — Father Ricardo Garcia, Jr., 49, left us to become our Guardian Angel on Monday, February 21, 2011, in Brownsville, Texas.
Father Ricardo García was born in Walla Walla Washington on May 24, 1961. He is the second of six children born to Ricardo and Socorro García of Edinburg . Fr. Ricardo grew up in Chicago and moved to Edinburg where he graduated from high school in 1979. He finished his undergraduate work at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus , Ohio receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies with a minor in Philosophy. He also studied in Cuernavaca , Mexico , the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio and in Central America: Guatemala , Nicaragua and El Salvador .
During his studies, he did missionary work with the poor in the Dominican Republic and Coyame , Chihuahua , Mexico . He served an internship at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville . He completed his graduate studies in Theology at Assumption Seminary and Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio receiving a Masters of Divinity degree.
Fr. Ricardo was ordained a priest for service in the Diocese of Brownsville on May 22, 1992 by the late Bishop Enrique San Pedro, S.J. Upon ordination he was assigned to Holy Spirit Parish in Progreso, Texas to fill a vacancy during the summer. He was then assigned as parochial vicar to Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Parish in Escobares , Texas . In August of 1993, he was assigned parochial vicar of Saint Anthony’s, Harlingen , Texas . He was appointed pastor of Our Lady of San Juan de los Campos in Mission , Texas in March of 1995. During his three years in Mission , Fr. Ricardo worked on receiving a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling at the University of Texas - Pan American.
In March of 1998, Bishop Raymundo Peña appointed Fr. Ricardo Moderator of the Curia for the Lower Valley Pastoral Center and Director of Pastoral Formation at Casa San José, the diocesan seminarian house. He also appointed Fr. Ricardo to study Canon Law during the summer months at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Fr. Ricardo graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington , D.C. in May of 2001. He received a licentiate in Canon Law and is presently a licensed canon lawyer for the Diocese of Brownsville.
Upon his return from study, Fr. Ricardo was appointed pastor at St. Anne, Mother of Mary Parish in Pharr , Texas . In addition to his pastoral ministries in the parish, Fr. Ricardo became a chaplain with the Pharr Police Department. After six years as pastor, Fr. Ricardo was reassigned to Mary, Mother of the Church Parish where he currently ministers as pastor.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Gregorio and Refugia Garcia; maternal grandfather, Victor Navarro, nephews, Matthew Gene Alejos and Zachary James Lucio.
Father Ricardo Garcia is survived by his parents, Ricardo and Socorro Garcia; four sisters, Sylvia (Eddie) Garcia, Leticia (Jerry) Cantu, Cynthia G. Lucio, Melissa (Xavier) Moreno; a brother, Greg Garcia, all of Edinburg; maternal grandmother, Guadalupe Navarro of Edinburg; and nieces and nephews; Jason Jerry and Justin Jerry Cantu, Meagan Lauren Garcia, Edward Garcia, Brianna Rachelle & Jaime Noe (Jay) Lucio II, Diego Xavier & Samuel Xavier Moreno, all of Edinburg. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Although his time here on earth was short, he touched the lives of many as a son, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. His chosen vocation as a priest allowed him the opportunity to reach out and touch the lives of thousands of parishioners throughout the Valley. He will always be remembered for his beautiful smile and huge heart that were instrumental in bringing so many closer to God. His charismatic personality was magnetic and all those around him benefited from his unselfish decision to allow himself to be an instrument of God's Word.
A Holy Rosary will be held on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 7:00pm at St. Mary, MC Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard Road Brownsville, TX 78520. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2011 from 10am to 5 pm. at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Rosary will follow at 7 p.m. at Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle National Shrine in San Juan. Funeral service will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 25, 2011, at Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle Shrine. Cremation will take place at Val Verde Memorial Gardens in Donna. Pallbearers will be Greg Garcia, Rev. Pat Seitz, Rev. Amador Garza, Rev. Benjamin Aguilar, O.Carm.,Rev. Bruce McCarthy and Rev. Mario Castro.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.
Sign the guest book at
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