Bishop Pfeifer receives San Juan Diego Leadership Award

San Antonio, TX – The Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) will honor Bishop Michael Pfeifer with the San Juan Diego Leadership Award for his life-long commitment to Hispanic Ministry. The award, a crystal eagle, will be presented during the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) General Assembly on Monday, Nov. 14.

MACC president, Dr. Arturo Chávez, and the chairman of the board, Bishop Oscar Cantú, will present the award.

"The eagle is a powerful and meaningful symbol for both the United States and Mexico representing courage and integrity. It represents St. Juan Diego who’s indigenous name means, ‘He Who Speaks Like an Eagle’," Dr. Chávez said.

"Hispanics are already the majority of U.S. Catholics under the age of 25. Unfortunately, they are leaving the church in record numbers to join other denominations actively seeking them out through home visitations and lively worship services in Spanish. Leaders like Bishop Michael are needed now more than ever to find innovative ways to bring the Gospel and catechesis to Hispanics and all Catholics searching for belonging and meaning," Chávez said.

Bishop Pfeifer’s longstanding commitment to the mission of MACC, including his 25 years of service on the board, is a testament to the importance of the Church's outreach to Hispanics, Chávez said. During his 15-year tenure as chair, he was instrumental in expanding MACC’s mission to become an institution of higher education precisely to prepare seminarians, deacons, religious and lay leaders to effectively and faithfully promote the Church's call for a new evangelization.

Bishop Pfeifer was born in Alamo, Texas and ordained to the priesthood in 1964. In 1985, Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop to serve as shepherd for the Diocese of San Angelo. Before this, he served in parishes and schools in Brownsville, Texas, Mexico City and Oaxaca, Mexico.

Bishop Pfeifer also served as Provincial Superior for the Southern U.S. Province and Mexico for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the 1980s. He is renowned for his sense of humor, humility and results oriented leadership at the Texas Catholic Conference and on several USCCB committees, especially promoting Multicultural and Hispanic Ministry.

The mission of the Mexican American Catholic College, located in San Antonio, is to empower and educate leaders for service in a culturally diverse church and society by offering a bi-literate, multicultural formation program that can lead to a BA and MA degrees in Pastoral Ministry. For more information, visit www.maccsa.org.