Joe S. Vasquez

Joe Steve Vásquez (born July 9, 1957) is an American Catholic prelate who serves as Archbishop of Galveston–Houston. He previously served as Bishop of Austin from 2010 to 2025 and as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler from 2023 to 2024. He was an auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston from 2001 to 2010.

Biography Joe Steve Vásquez was born on July 9, 1957, in Stamford, Texas, to Juan (b. 1933) and Elvira Vásquez (d. 2005).

Vásquez attended public schools in Stamford and Abilene, Texas. He furthered his studies at the Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1980 to 1985,

Vásquez' first assessment was parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Odessa, Texas. From 1987 to 1997 he was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fort Stockton, Texas. In 1997 he became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in San Angelo, Texas. the Austin diocese released a list of 22 clerics who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. Vásquez said it was compiled by independent investigators whom he did not identify and reviewed by an internal committee with a lay majority, which recommended publication. He expressed his apologies to the victims for what they had suffered. He said: "The victims are the ones who hurt, and we want to make sure they were being heard."

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. His role ended when Pope Francis appointed Gregory Kelly to succeed Strickland on December 20, 2024.

Metropolitan Archbishop of Galveston-Houston On January 20, 2025, Vásquez was appointed by Pope Francis as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, after the resignation of Daniel DiNardo, made the same day. He was installed on March 25, 2025.

He has been a member of the board of directors of Catholic Relief Services and of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network CLINIC).