The National Association of Hispanic Priests (ANSH) honored Fr. John Gonzales Castro, O.M.I, director of Christ the King Retreat Center, San Angelo, TX, with its prestigious “Good Shepherd” award at San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, Texas, on October 6, 2004. Fr. Castro was one of the founding fathers of ANSH and the second president of the organization from 1991-95.

 

Fr. Andres Mendoza, president of ANSH, expressed the gratitude of the association in his presentation to Fr. Castro by underscoring on the crystal trophy, “For his untiring work and help to ANSH during these past fifteen years”.  Eight bishops and over 100 priests representing several dioceses in the United States attended the four-day annual convention at the Sheraton-Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas.

 

A Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate priest for 41years, Fr. Castro is also the district superior for his religious congregation in the diocese of San Angelo.  He earned a doctorate from Michigan State University in Counseling Psychology in 1975 and engaged in private practice in the state of Kansas for several years.  Before becoming director of Christ the King Retreat Center, San Angelo, Texas in 2000, he had served as Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Concerns in the Diocese of Dodge City, Kansas and had held pastorates in Kansas and Texas.  He was also director of Hispanic Ministry at Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas; dean of Hispanic Ministry at Mount Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, Oregon and at St. Thomas Theological Seminary, Denver, Colorado; director of the Master’s Program at Antioch-Juarez-Lincoln University, Austin, Texas and of the Mexican American Center for Economic Development (MACED), Austin, Texas.