Meet Our Associate Pastors!
Father Libardo Rocha Camargo often jokes that he was born in two countries: He was birthed in Morocco, where his Colombian father was working as an attorney in Casa Blanca, but, at two weeks old, was taken home to Colombia, where he was raised. Father Libardo readily shares that he always wanted to be a priest, even from childhood. After completing his minor seminary studies, he attended Our Lady of Hope College in Barranquilla, Colombia, then the Pontifical College of Santa Croce in Rome. As a young seminarian studying dogmatic theology, he was influenced by French anthropology, the theology of Fr. Teilhard de Chardin, and the communio spirituality of Fr. Ignacio Larrañaga. A true Renaissance man, Father Libardo also completed courses of study in sports medicine, Christian archeology, and dogmatic theology.
Father Libardo was ordained to the priesthood on May 12, 1993 and was “lent” to the Franciscan Cardinal who ordained him, to complete his first year of ministry with Franciscan missionaries in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. After that year, which he describes as a fantastic experience, he studied for one year at the École biblique et archéologique française in Jerusalem.
Father Libardo has served as an associate pastor, parochial vicar, pastor, hospital chaplain, and as a postulator for the causes of saints at the Vatican. He also served as magisterial chaplain of the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes & Malta. For fifteen years, he taught dogmatic theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Urbe, the Angelicum, in Rome.
After 22 years of service to the Roman church, Father Libardo poingnantly felt an existential crisis fueled by the lack of charity among his brother priests, the lack of communion between bishops and their priests, and the incoherence he perceived in the Roman church. One priest friend suggested that he explore the Episcopalian Church, and another offered to introduce him to Father Jayme and the growing presence of Independent Catholicism in Central Texas. Knowing that he would leave the Roman church with no severance, retirement or support from the church—that, in his words, he would be “committing suicide”—Father Libardo made the very brave decision to incardinate into the American Catholic Church in the United States. “Vini, vidi, vici,” he says. “I met Father Jayme, I came to Holy Family—and I stayed!”
Now as an Independent Catholic priest, Father Libardo enthusiastically shares: “I’m the luckiest priest in the world: Independent Catholicism is a real Noah’s Ark, where all animals have a cabin!” He says he has always believed that such a welcoming, inclusive community is what he always believed the Church should be. He says that what he enjoys most about ministry at Holy Family is “the opportunity to manifest the merciful face of the Church, accepting all persons and not discriminating against anyone, and showing them the merciful and saving face of God through Jesus Christ, without distinction.”
In his free time, Father Libardo enjoys reading, travel, visiting museums, and listening to music. He shares, “I love life. I very much like to study and to give of myself, and I very much enjoy serving others.”
Father Libardo was ordained to the priesthood on May 12, 1993 and was “lent” to the Franciscan Cardinal who ordained him, to complete his first year of ministry with Franciscan missionaries in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. After that year, which he describes as a fantastic experience, he studied for one year at the École biblique et archéologique française in Jerusalem.
Father Libardo has served as an associate pastor, parochial vicar, pastor, hospital chaplain, and as a postulator for the causes of saints at the Vatican. He also served as magisterial chaplain of the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes & Malta. For fifteen years, he taught dogmatic theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Urbe, the Angelicum, in Rome.
After 22 years of service to the Roman church, Father Libardo poingnantly felt an existential crisis fueled by the lack of charity among his brother priests, the lack of communion between bishops and their priests, and the incoherence he perceived in the Roman church. One priest friend suggested that he explore the Episcopalian Church, and another offered to introduce him to Father Jayme and the growing presence of Independent Catholicism in Central Texas. Knowing that he would leave the Roman church with no severance, retirement or support from the church—that, in his words, he would be “committing suicide”—Father Libardo made the very brave decision to incardinate into the American Catholic Church in the United States. “Vini, vidi, vici,” he says. “I met Father Jayme, I came to Holy Family—and I stayed!”
Now as an Independent Catholic priest, Father Libardo enthusiastically shares: “I’m the luckiest priest in the world: Independent Catholicism is a real Noah’s Ark, where all animals have a cabin!” He says he has always believed that such a welcoming, inclusive community is what he always believed the Church should be. He says that what he enjoys most about ministry at Holy Family is “the opportunity to manifest the merciful face of the Church, accepting all persons and not discriminating against anyone, and showing them the merciful and saving face of God through Jesus Christ, without distinction.”
In his free time, Father Libardo enjoys reading, travel, visiting museums, and listening to music. He shares, “I love life. I very much like to study and to give of myself, and I very much enjoy serving others.”
Father Cleofas Cruz was born in Fentress, 15 miles southeast of San Marcos, Texas. The son of first-generation immigrants from Mexico, he was raised working in the fields and migrating with his father until age 17 when he began working his way up from delivery to sales to assistant manager of a local furniture store. Later in life, he would transition to Commercial Metals Corporations, where he has been employed for over 25 years.
At age 26, Father Cleofas first experienced a charismatic prayer group that radically changed his life. He became involved in the ministry and in his parish’s Legion of Mary. Eleven years later, in 1991, he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop John McCarthy of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin. Father Cleofas has served various Spanish-speaking communities throughout Central Texas. For ten years, he also served as a chaplain at the Bastrop federal prison.
As a deacon within the Roman church, Father Cleofas possessed an inclusive love resembling that of Jesus. As a result, he began a ministry that he called Comunidades Mexicanas Católicas (Mexican Catholic Communities), to provide a welcoming space for those who had been denied the sacraments of the Church.
In October 2013, Deacon Cleofas incardinated into the American Catholic Church in the United States. Two years later, on October 23, 2015, he was ordained to the presbyterate by the Most Reverend William A. Johnson, Presiding Archbishop of the American Catholic Church in the U.S.
At age 26, Father Cleofas first experienced a charismatic prayer group that radically changed his life. He became involved in the ministry and in his parish’s Legion of Mary. Eleven years later, in 1991, he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop John McCarthy of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin. Father Cleofas has served various Spanish-speaking communities throughout Central Texas. For ten years, he also served as a chaplain at the Bastrop federal prison.
As a deacon within the Roman church, Father Cleofas possessed an inclusive love resembling that of Jesus. As a result, he began a ministry that he called Comunidades Mexicanas Católicas (Mexican Catholic Communities), to provide a welcoming space for those who had been denied the sacraments of the Church.
In October 2013, Deacon Cleofas incardinated into the American Catholic Church in the United States. Two years later, on October 23, 2015, he was ordained to the presbyterate by the Most Reverend William A. Johnson, Presiding Archbishop of the American Catholic Church in the U.S.
