REVEREND OCTAVIO A. MUGUERZA

Father Octavio Muguerza or as some people lovingly call him "Father O" has been our pastor since 2018. He was ordained in 1992 and since then has served in several parishes in the Archdioceses of Galveston-Houston and San Antonio. Fr. O has faithfully dedicated himself to the spiritual growth of the community by attending to its sacramental and pastoral needs. He thoroughly enjoys his priestly vocation and tries to live up to the Scriptural passage he chose for his ordination: “Living the truth in love” (Eph 4:15). His priorities have been serving the poor and helping the laity live their baptismal call.

 
 

Reverend Octavio A. Muguerza

Present position: Pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Schertz, TX, Archdiocese of San Antonio

Born: May 14, 1957, Caracas, Venezuela

Ordained to the Priesthood: May 23, 1992, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Parents: Father: Oscar Muguerza (Deceased) from Venezuela. Mother: Ines Almarza de Muguerza from Chile. 98 years old. Resides in Caracas One brother and one sister living in Caracas

Worked in the Oil, Cosmetic and Steel business as a Chemical Engineer in managerial positions until starting ecclesiastical studies in 1986. Arrived in the U.S. in 1989.

U.S. Naturalized citizen from March 2000

Civil Studies:

Elementary, Intermediate & High School: La Salle School, Caracas, Venezuela

College: Universidad Metropolitana, Caracas

Ecclesiastical Studies:

Two year Philosophy Course. 1986-88 - University of Navarre. Pamplona, Spain

One year of Theology. 1988-89 - St. Peter's Seminary. Venezuela

Three years of Theology. 1989-92 - University of St. Thomas. Houston, TX

Degrees Earned:

Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering: Universidad Metropolitana. Caracas, Venezuela, 1980

Master of Divinity: University of St. Thomas. Houston, Texas, 1992

Languages Spoken: Spanish and English

Ministerial & Academic Positions:

Associate Pastor, St. Theresa Church, Houston. 1992-1993

Spiritual Director - Youth group, "Encuentros de Promocion Juvenil". Houston. 1993-1995

Associate Pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Church. Houston. 1993-1995

National Association of Hispanic Priests, Board of Directors Secretary. Houston. 1994-1998

Associate Pastor, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Humble. 1995-1997

Associate Pastor, St. Cecilia Church, Houston. 1997-2000

Teacher FTCM Courses (Formation Toward Christian Ministry): Christology, Old Testament and Sacraments. Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. 1997-2000

National Association of Hispanic Priests, Board of Directors Treasurer. Houston. 1998-2002

Personnel Board of the Archdiocese of Galveston- Houston, Houston. 1998-2000

Pastor Immaculate Conception Church, Sealy. 2000- June 2007

Completed successfully a 1.4 million multi-faceted expansion and renovations project

Professor of Mariology, University of St. Thomas, Permanent Diaconate Class (Spanish). 2003

Sabbatical course at the Vatican II Institute in Menlo Park, CA. Spring 2006

Part-time Outreach Preacher for Cross International Catholic Outreach. 2006 - 2009

National Association of Hispanic Priests, Board of Directors. Vice-President. San Antonio. 2007-2009

Priest in Residence. Church of the Holy Spirit, San Antonio. August 2007 - May 2008

Pastor St. John Neumann Catholic Church, San Antonio. June 2008 - 2018

Pastor Church of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Schertz. July 2018 - Current