Fr. Steven Montez, OMI – U.S.’s Newest Oblate Priest
San Antonio, TX
By Will Shaw with thanks to Fr. Jim Allen, OMI
Fr. Steven Montez is in the center of the top row with Bishop Daniel E. Flores to his immediate right, and U.S. Oblate provincial, Fr. Louis Studer on Bishop Flores’ right. Fr. Antonio Ponce, Superior of the Formation Community is on Fr. Montez’ left. In addition, the photo includes members of the Formation team, Deacons from the Ordination and Fr. Montez’ formation brothers.
Fr. Steven Montez, a native of Kingsville, Texas was ordained to the Sacred Order of the Presbyter by The Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville, Texas on Friday, September 17, 2021. The event took place before Fr. Montez’ parents, siblings and many friends and well-wishers at the Immaculate Conception Memorial Chapel on the campus of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas.
While Bishop Flores presided at the Mass, Principal Concelebrants were: The Very Rev. Louis Studer, OMI, Provincial, and Vicar-provincials, Fr. Art Flores, OMI and Fr. Jim Brobst, OMI.
The new priest was born in 1993 to Victor and Leticia Montez in Kingsville, TX. He has one brother and one sister. His undergraduate education was at the University of Texas in Austin and at D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY, where he had entered Oblate formation. After his novitiate in Godfrey, IL, he pronounced his first vows in 2016. In 2021, he completed his Master of Divinity degree at Oblate School of Theology as a member of the Blessed Mario Borzaga Community in San Antonio.
In 2020, he completed a year of pastoral internship at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville, TX. It was there that he met and befriended Bishop Flores who ordained him.
After the ordination everyone was invited to a celebration at the Whitley Center, located nearby on the campus of OST where Fr. Montez was kept very busy with a long line of attendees seeking special blessings from a newly-ordained priest.
Fr. Montez has a full schedule of Thanksgiving Masses lined up with the first two taking place at the Oblate’s San Juan de los Lagos Parish in San Antonio, and the second at his home parish of St. Martin of Tours in Kingsville, TX. (Photos from this Mass included below.)
Fr. Montez has received his first obedience, he will be Assistant Pastor at Most Precious Blood Parish in Chula Vista, California
Scenes from the Ordination of Fr. Steven Montez, OMI, September 17, 2021, San Antonio, TX
Bishop Flores is the first to congratulate the new priest, followed by all the Oblates
An emotional moment for Fr. Montez
Afterwards with his family. Fr. Steven’s sister and brother are on either end, his father, Victor is on his right and mother Leticia is on his left.
Fr. Montez’ Thanksgiving Mass at St. Martin of Tours, Kingsville, TX, September 19, 2021
Fr. Steven’s hometown parish of St. Martin of Tours
Fr. Montez celebrates Mass with two Oblate concelebrants: Fr. Victor Manuel Patricio-Silva is on the left and Fr. Andy Sensenig is directly behind him.
After Mass Fr. Montez blesses Fr. Andy Sensenig in front of St. Eugene de Mazenod in stained glass. The window was donated to St. Martin’s by the family of another Oblate, Fr. Leo Perez.