Diocese of Dallas Announcement - Two Prominent Priests Receive New Assignments

Bishop Kevin Farrell announced Saturday, September 1, that Father Eduardo Gonzalez, Rector of the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas, will move from the cathedral to become the new pastor of St. Philip Catholic Church in east Dallas.

At the same time, Bishop Farrell also announced the appointment of Father Rudy Garcia as Rector of the Cathedral, effective October 26. Father Garcia currently serves as the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Dallas and has been in that post since 2006. Father Garcia, a Dallas native, says he is excited and humbled about being named rector. “It is certainly an honor to be named to lead the cathedral. I know I have very big shoes to fill and am grateful to Father Eduardo for passing on to me this wonderful cathedral community. I am very humbled that Bishop Farrell has blessed me with this new opportunity in my priestly ministry.” Father Garcia will be introduced at all the masses on the weekend of October 27-28.

Father Eduardo Gonzalez has been Rector at the cathedral since 2006 and welcomes his new assignment as pastor of St. Philip, a parish that has been without a pastor for several years. “It has been a tremendous blessing to serve the large cathedral congregation. While I will miss the good and generous members, I truly look forward to serving the people of St. Philip where I pray I can help in the revitalization of that community. I thank Bishop Farrell for this wonderful opportunity and wish Father Rudy the very best in his new assignment.” Father Gonzalez will become pastor of St. Philip effective October 31.

Bishop Farrell says he has great confidence in both men. “Father Gonzalez and Father Garcia are both dynamic priests and proven leaders. I know both of these hardworking priests will bless their congregations as pastors and administrators and lead them into times of growth and development. I thank them for taking on these important assignments.”

Father Garcia was ordained for the Diocese of Dallas on July 11, 1998. He has served as Parochial Vicar at St. Edward in Dallas, St. Mark in Plano, and as Pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Dallas. He also served as Chaplain of the University of Dallas in Irving and Vice-Rector at Holy Trinity Seminary. Father Gonzalez was born in Mexico and was ordained on March 28, 1981. He came to Dallas in 1992 and has served as Parochial Vicar at St. Cecilia in Dallas and Corpus Christi in Ferris. In 1996 he was named Pastor of St. Edward in Dallas and has served as Rector of the Cathedral since 2006.

It is standard practice in the Diocese of Dallas to move priests every six years with a change in assignment.