José Maria Garcia Maldonado (born March 24, 1979) is a Mexican-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois since 2025.
Early life
Garcia Maldonado was born March 24, 1979, in San Julián, Jalisco in Mexico. After attending the public schools in San Julián, he decided to become a priest. Garcia Maldonado entered the minor seminary of the Diocese of San Juan de los Lagos in Arendas. He then studied philosophy at the major seminary of the diocese.[1]
Garcia Maldonado immigrated to the United States in 2001 to join his family there. He entered the Casa Jesus Program of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2002, then continued his preparation for the priesthood at the Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.[2][1][3] He received a Master of Divinity degree in 2007.
Priesthood
On May 17, 2008, Garcia Maldonado was ordained to the priesthood at St. Juliana Church in Chicago by Cardinal Francis Eugene George.[2][4] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Garcia Maldonado as associate pastor at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Illinois. He was later transferred to Good Shepherd Parish in Chicago to serve as administrator and pastor. In 2021, the archdiocese named Garcia Maldonado as pastor of St. Jose Sanchez del Rio Parish in Chicago.[1]
During this period, Garcia Maldonado also worked as assistant director of vocations at St. Joseph's College Seminary at Loyola University of Chicago. In addition, he served as dean of Vicariate IVC and IVA.[1]
Episcopacy
Pope Francis appointed Garcia Maldonado as the titular bishop of Fallaba and as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago on December 20, 2024.[2][5][6] He was consecrated as a bishop on February 26, 2025, by Cardinal Blase Cupich at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.[1][4]
Episcopal succession
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by- | Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago 2025-Present | Succeeded by- |
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5]"Pope Francis Names Five New Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago". Archdiocese of Chicago.
- 2.[2.2][2.3]"Resignations and Appointments, 20.12.2024". Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- 3."Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishops of Chicago | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- 4.[4.2]"Bishop Jose Maria Garcia Maldonado [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
- 5."Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishops of Chicago". Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- 6."Pope Francis Names Five New Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago". Retrieved December 20, 2024.