Bishop Oswaldo Estéfano Escobar Aguilar

Oswaldo Estéfano Escobar Aguilar, O.C.D., was born on May 20, 1968, in the canton of Chiapas, in the Diocese of Chalatenango. After completing his primary education, he entered the novitiate of the Discalced Carmelite Order in Guatemala. He made his solemn profession in December 1995. He pursued studies in philosophy and theology at Francisco Marroquín University in Guatemala (1988–1995). He obtained a master's degree in Mysticism and Spirituality from the International Teresian Center in Ávila, Spain (2000–2001), and a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical Faculty of the Teresianum in Rome (2007–2008). He was ordained a priest on March 19, 1996. Following his ordination, he served as Prior and formator of postulants in San Ramón, Alajuela, Costa Rica (1996–1999 and 2004); Prior and formator of philosophy students in Guatemala (2002–2003); parish priest of Lapeterique, Honduras (2004–2006); Prior and formator in Lapeterique, Francisco Morazán, Honduras (2006–2010); Prior and formator of theology students in Guatemala (2011–2012); and a member of the Provincial Council (2001–2010). He was elected Provincial Superior for Central America for the 2013–2016 term. Concurrently, he served as President of the Conference of Religious of El Salvador starting in 2014.