The bishop’s earliest exposure to faith came from his devout parents and grandparents at home. His first church experience was at Blessed Sacrament (Santísimo Sacraménto), which served the Mexican-American community in Cameron for 50 years, beginning in 1927. It was there that the future bishop received his first sacraments. The Garcia family, including the future bishop, acquired and practiced Catholic teaching from Franciscan priests of the Third Order Regular (TOR), who came from Waco.

The Franciscan priests celebrated Sunday Mass, but parishioners, including Bishop Garcia’s mother, Sarah, and grandmother, Dionicia, were instrumental in keeping the faith alive during the priests’ absence. They organized religious education classes and youth groups.

Sadly, on the evening of Jan. 3, 1976, fire consumed Santísimo Sacraménto. The parishioners sought to rebuild, but Bishop Vincent Harris instead directed the families to join St. Monica Parish, also in Cameron.

Aside from church, the young Bishop Garcia was focused on sports, where he excelled as a pitcher for the Yoe High School baseball team. Education was also an essential element in his life. Before enrolling at the local high school, he attended St. Anthony Catholic School, founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence from San Antonio in 1896.

Irene De La Rosa — who was his babysitter, “older sister” and lifelong friend — recalled that the future priest, from a very young age, “always had a book in his hands.”

The priesthood was not what he aspired to during those formative years; his goal was to become a doctor. God, however, had different plans. The year after the fire consumed Santísimo Sacraménto, Father Louis Pavlicek was named pastor of St. Monica Parish.

He was warmly welcomed by the Garcia family. “They would invite me to their home, and so there's almost a familial connection that I felt,” Msgr. Pavlicek said. The family was very active in the church. If anything happened in the community that involved St. Monica, the Garcia family were there as active participants, he said.

As the young priest got to know Daniel, he could sense he was discerning a call to the priesthood and following God's will. “So I would offer him words of encouragement,” Msgr. Pavlicek said.

Also keeping a proud eye on the young bishop’s progress was De La Rosa. Fighting back tears, she recalled how the bishop’s paternal grandparents had a wall at their home that displayed photos of every priest who served the parishes in Cameron.

“I can only imagine what her wall in heaven looks like,” De La Rosa said with a smile. No doubt it now features a significant addition as Bishop Garcia is installed as the shepherd of the Diocese of Austin.

Bishop Garcia chose “Walking humbly with God” as his episcopal motto. “That's kind of who he is,” Msgr. Pavlicek observed. “He's humble and very much in touch with God, listening to God, seeking divine guidance.”