Mariano Simon Garriga

Mariano Garriga was born on May 30, 1886, in Port Isabel, Texas, to Frank and Elizabeth (née Baker) Garriga.[1] He studied at St. Mary College in Kansas City, Kansas, , and at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[2]

Garriga was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John William Shaw for the Archdiocese of San Antonio on July 2, 1911.[3] He served as assistant chancellor of the archdiocese until 1912, when he was appointed as a curate to a parish in Marfa, Texas.[1]In 1915, he was named vice-rector of St. John Seminary in San Antonio.[1] Garriga served as a chaplain to the Texas National Guard during World War I, training with the 36th Infantry Division.[1] From 1919 to 1936, he served as pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in San Antonio.[1] He also served as president of Incarnate Word College in San Antonio.[1] He was a professor at St. John Seminary from 1921 to 1936, and became historian of the archdiocese in 1926.[1] Garriga was raised to the rank of papal chamberlain in October 1934, and to domestic prelate in September 1935.[2]

On June 20, 1936, Garriga was appointed coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi and Titular Bishop of Syene by Pope Pius XI.[3] Garriga received his episcopal consecration on September 21, 1936, from Archbishop Arthur Drossaerts, with Bishops Emmanuel Ledvina and Aloisius Muench serving as co-consecrators.[3] He was the first Catholic bishop of a Texas diocese to be born in the state.[1] In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. Peter Parish in Laredo, Texas (1936-1948).[1]

Upon the resignation of Bishop Ledvina, Garriga succeed him as the third Bishop of Corpus Christi on March 15, 1949.[3] During his 16-year-long tenure, he founded a minor seminary in 1960 and established several parochial schools.[4]

Mariano Garriga died in Corpus Christi on February 21, 1965, at age 78. He is buried in the crypt of Corpus Christi Cathedral.[1]