Father Tony Castro, Pastor
Fr. Tony was born in Anda, Bohol, Philippines and was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1984. He spent his first 5 years as priest in his native country, another 3 years as a student-priest in Rome, Italy. He immigrated to the USA in 1993 and years later acquired his US citizenship. For the past 20 years up to the present he has been doing his priestly ministry here in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Background: Fr. Tony entered the Seminary at the young age. His college seminary formation was at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, where he graduated his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. He completed his Theology degree and priestly formation at the Central Seminary, at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. After ordination on he served in the newly created diocese of Talibon, Philippines as a parish priest and also as a coordinator of the biblical apostolate for the diocese. In 1990 he was sent to Rome for further studies availing the grant given by the German Church foundation for new dioceses. He then obtained his Licentiate and Master's degrees in Theology at the Angelicum University in Rome in 1993. He was suppose to teach in the local seminary in his home diocese but didn't materialize. So after his studies in Rome, he stayed as an assisting guest priest at St. Aedan church, in New Jersey. He came to Houston on May 1994 by the invitation of his relatives and availed himself to serve as guest priest for a few months at St. Bartholomew church in Katy. It was in this time that the former Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza invited Fr. Tony to stay for good to cover the grave shortage of priests in the Archdiocese. Upon the approval from his former bishop in the Philippines, he was then officially incardinated to the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston and since then has worked here.
His former assignments were:
As Parochial Vicar - Epiphany of the Lord in Katy (1994), St. Hyacinth, Deer Park (1995-1998), Notre Dame Church, Houston (1998 -2001), St. John Neumann, also in Houston (2001-2003). He was appointed Pastor for the first time at Christ Our Light Church, in Navasota (2003-2006). Pastor at St. Hyacinth Church, in Deer Park (2006-2012). After a sabbatical at North American College in Rome, Sept-November of 2012, he served as interim pastor at St. Matthew, Houston (Nov 2012 -July 2013).
He was installed as the Pastor here at St. Mary, on July 31, 2013.
Fr. Tony is a 4th degree member of the Knight of Columbus. He is also an avid recreational golfer.