Joe S. Vásquez

Joe Steve Vásquez (born July 9, 1957) is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Austin in Texas since 2010. Additionally, he serves as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas since November 2023.

Vásquez previously served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas from 2001 to 2010.

Biography
Joe Vásquez, who is of Mexican American descent, was born on July 9, 1957, in Stamford, Texas, to Juan (b. 1933) and Elvira Vásquez (d. 2005). His father, a Korean War veteran, dropped out of school in the second grade to support his family and later made a living as a mechanic. The oldest of six children, Joe Vásquez has three brothers, Robert, Samuel, and James; and two sisters, Cynthia and Consuelo.

Vásquez attended public schools in Stamford and Abilene, Texas. From 1976 to 1980, he studied at St. Mary Seminary and the University of St. Thomas, both in Houston, obtaining his Bachelor of Theology degree. He then furthered his studies at the Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1980 to 1985.

Priesthood
Vásquez was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in San Angelo by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza for the Diocese of San Angelo on June 30, 1984.

After his 1984 ordination, the diocese named Vásquez as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Odessa, Texas. He left Odessa in 1987 to became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fort Stockton, Texas, where he remained for the next 10 years. The diocese in 1997 transferred Vásquez to St. Joseph Parish in San Angelo, Texas, to serve as pastor there.

During his time in San Angelo, Vásquez also served as the episcopal vicar for Hispanics and was a member of the presbyteral council and the finance board.

Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston
On November 30, 2001, Vásquez was appointed auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston and titular bishop of Cova by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on January 23, 2002, from Fiorenza, with Archbishop Patrick Flores and Bishop Michael Pfeifer serving as co-consecrators. Vásquez selected as his episcopal motto: "Sígueme."

While auxiliary bishop, Vásquez served as vicar general/chancellor of the archdiocese.

Bishop of Austin
On January 26, 2010, Vásquez was appointed as bishop of Austin by Pope Benedict XVI, filling the vacancy left by Bishop Gregory Aymond. Vásquez was installed on March 8, 2010.

In January 2019, the diocese released a list of 22 clerics with credible accusations of sexual abuse. Vásquez expressed his apologies to parishioners for their alleged crimes.

Apostolic administrator of Tyler
On November 11, 2023 Vásquez was appointed by Pope Francis to also serve as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler after the pope dismissed Bishop Joseph Strickland.