Most Rev. Plácido Rodríguez, CMF, Bishop of Lubbock, appointed Monsignor David R. Cruz as founding pastor of a new Catholic parish in South Lubbock, effective July 1, 2015. Bishop Rodríguez made the announcement at a gathering of advisory board members on December 19, 2014 at the Catholic Renewal Center.
Most recently, Monsignor Cruz had served as pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Lubbock from July 1, 2001 until June 30, 2015.
Father David Cruz was ordained to the priesthood July 12, 1986 in Lubbock, and has served the Diocese of Lubbock as associate pastor of Christ the King Cathedral, associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Plainview, Director of the Catholic Renewal Center and as spiritual director of the Cursillo Movement. He also served as diocesan director of evangelization and for the diocesan-wide RENEW process. Father Cruz served as pastor of Saint Theresa, Carlisle, Saint Margaret Mary and Our Lady of Guadalupe Churches in Lamesa.
Father Cruz served as Rector of Assumption Seminary in San Antonio from 1995 to 2000, pastor of Olton Saint Peter and Hale Center Saint Theresa, and Dean of the Plainview Deanery. He was named a monsignor in November 2009.
In September 2014, Bishop Rodríguez announced in a letter to priests and deacons, the beginning of an initiative to create a new Catholic parish in Lubbock for the Diocese of Lubbock. In the letter, Bishop Rodríguez asked for suggestions of a leader for the new parish to be established in South Lubbock at 108th Street and Indiana Avenue. With those suggestions and following a period of prayerful discernment, Bishop Rodríguez asked Monsignor Cruz to pastor the new South Lubbock Catholic community. As he has always done throughout his priesthood, Monsignor Cruz has answered the call of the shepherd to serve the people of the Diocese of Lubbock.