Bishop of Huejutla
Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán, Bishop of Huejutla, Hidalgo, Mexico, was born on 22 September 1966 in Pezmatlán, Calnali, Hgo. His parents were Mr. Gumercindo Acosta Montaño (+) and Mrs. Josefina Beltrán Juárez. He was the first of nine siblings: five men and four women. He completed primary studies at the Emiliano Zapata Primary School in Pezmatlán, Calnali, Hgo., from 1971 to 1977, and secondary studies at Technical Secondary School No. 9 in Calnali, Hgo., from 1977 to 1980. He completed upper-secondary studies at the Adolfo López Mateos Preparatory School in Huejutla, Hgo., at the same time as formation in the Minor Seminary of Huejutla, from 1980 to 1983. He pursued major seminary studies at the Regional Seminary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tula, Hgo., from 1983 to 1990, completing his theological formation at the Seminary of Christ the King and Saint Mary of Guadalupe in Huejutla, Hgo., from 1990 to 1992. He was ordained deacon on 25 November 1992 in the Parish of Saint Catherine in Lolotla by Bishop Juan de Dios Caballero Reyes. He exercised the diaconate as a collaborator in the Minor Seminary of San José, Huejutla, Hgo. His priestly ordination took place on 11 June 1993 by the imposition of hands of Bishop Juan de Dios Caballero Reyes in Calnali, Hgo. He studied for a licentiate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of Mexico from 1994 to 1996. He served as vicar in the Parish of Our Lady of the Incarnation, Zacualtipán, Hgo., from 1997 to 1998; rector of the Minor Seminary of San José in Huejutla, Hgo., from 1998 to 1999; formator and prefect of theology studies at the Major Seminary of Huejutla from 1999 to 2008; and formator and prefect of philosophy and theology studies in the same seminary from 2008 to 2016.