Bishop Félix Eduardo Antonio Calderón Cruz

Félix Eduardo Antonio Calderón Cruz is Bishop of San Francisco de Asís de Jutiapa, Guatemala. Félix Eduardo Antonio Calderón Cruz, usually named Antonio Calderón Cruz, was born on 13 June 1959. He is the son of René Calderón Gómez and Ana Margarita Cruz Rodríguez de Calderón (QPD). He is the third of 6 children: Ana del Rosario, René Arturo, Marco Vinicio (QPD), Angel José, and Silvia Josefina. In 1964-65 he completed kindergarten and preparatory studies at Escuela Concepción V. de Susbielle; in 1966 he completed primary studies at Escuela Felipe Rodríguez y José Ramón Gramajo; in 1972 he completed basic studies at the Instituto Normal Mixto de Occidente Justo Rufino Barrios; and in 1977 he completed teacher-training studies at the Instituto Normal Mixto de Occidente Justo Rufino Barrios. He belonged to the youth group Juventud Siglo XX of the Parish of San Marcos. He participated in the activities of the young people, children of the members of Movimiento Familiar Cristiano of the Parish of San Pedro Sac. He was a member of the Jufra group of the Parish of San Marcos and accompanied his parents at MFC meetings. In 1978 he studied philosophy and theology at the Major Seminary Nuestra Señora de Suyapa in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. In 1985 he studied the fourth year of Theology at the National Major Seminary of the Assumption in Guatemala City. On 19 December 1985 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Julio Amílcar Betancourt. On 5 July 1986 he was ordained priest by Bishop Julio Amílcar Betancourt. On 6 July 1986 he served in San Marcos Parish, which included the municipality of Palo Gordo. In 1991 he was full-time diocesan adviser for youth ministry. He was responsible for Colegio Seminario Juan Diego - Comitancillo (2001), serving San Antonio, San Lorenzo, and Río Blanco. In 1994 he was pastor of San José, El Rodeo, San Marcos. In 1996-1997 he was formator at the Major Seminary of the Assumption, Faculty of Philosophy. In 1997-1999 he studied Pastoral Theology in Rome at the Pontifical Lateran University. From August to December 1999 he served the Parish of San Bartolomé, Sipacapa. In 2000-2002 he was formator at the National Major Seminary of the Assumption, Faculty of Theology. In December 2002 he assumed office as Vicar for Pastoral Care until he was named diocesan administrator of the Diocese of San Marcos. On 24 December 2002 he became pastor of Santa Cruz, Comitancillo. On 19 February 2006 he became pastor of Santiago Apóstol, Tejutla. On 16 July 2012 he became diocesan administrator of the Diocese of San Marcos, until 31 January 2015. On 21 June 2015 he became pastor of La Anunciación, La Blanca. On two occasions he was secretary of the diocesan assembly commission that prepared the diocesan pastoral plan. He was a member of the Commission for Vocational Ministry (1989-91), adviser of the Commission for Vocational Ministry (1995), member of the council of consultors (1986-1991 and 2002-2015), Vicar for Pastoral Care from December 2002 to 16 July 2012, and diocesan administrator from 16 July 2012 to 31 January 2015. On 25 January 2016 Pope Francis named him the first Bishop of the new Diocese of San Francisco de Asís de Jutiapa.