Fr. José Luis Vazquez was born in Mexico City on October 2, 1959.  He is one of thirteen children of Jenaro Vazquez (originally from Tlaxcala) and Bertha Huerta Vences (from Mexico City).

Father is a priest of the Diocese of Netzahualcoyotl, located in the State of Mexico (which borders Mexico City on the west, north and east, but does not include the city itself).  In Mexico, all of Fr. Jose Luis’ education and pastoral assignments have been in the State of Mexico.  He began his education at Mariano Matamoros School, then attended junior high school at 26 Colonia Aguazul.  He entered the seminary for high school studies at the Seminary of Texcoco, followed by philosophy studies (1981-1983) at the Seminary of Tlaxcala, and theology (1983-1986) at Los Remedion Seminary in Nahucalpan.

Fr. José Luis was ordained a deacon on May 24, 1986 in the Sagrario Cathedral in the city of Netzahualcoyotl.  One year later – on May 23, 1987 – he was ordained to the priesthood in the same cathedral.  Father also did studies in liturgy after ordination, at the Pontifical University of Mexico (1992-93).

Father José Luis had pastoral assignments in several parishes in the City of Netzahualcoyotl. He began his priestly ministry as administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located in a residential and metropolitan area.  He then served as pastor of San José Parish in the Colonia El Saldo from 1989-1993, and administrator of Cristo Rey Parish in the neighborhood Raul Romero from 1993 until 1996.  Father then returned to the place of his first assignment at Our Lady of Guadalupe, serving as pastor from 1996 to 1999.

Beginning in the mid ‘90s, Father José Luis also had extra responsibilities alongside his parish work.  From 1995-1999, he served as the secretary of the bishops’ commission on human mobility, which dealt with issues of migration and tourism.  From 1996 until 1999, he served as chaplain of the Mexico City airport; and from 1997 until 1999, Father José Luis served as director of missions for the Diocese of Netzahualcoyotl.

In 2000, Fr. José Luis was released by the Bishop of Netzahualcoyotl for temporary service in the United States. He first served in the Diocese of Rockford, at St Peter in South Beloit and St. Mary in DeKalb, Illinois.  He came to Madison in November 2006, and has been working full-time and in residence at our parish since January 2007.