Patrick Flores, first Hispanic US bishop, leaves lasting legacy

Archbishop Patrick Flores (1929–2017), the first Hispanic Catholic bishop appointed in the United States, left a lasting impact on the Archdiocese of San Antonio and Hispanic education. Born to migrant workers, Flores served as an auxiliary bishop from 1970 to 1978 and as archbishop from 1979 until his retirement in 2004.

His legacy includes significant contributions to social justice and education. In 1975, he founded the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which has distributed approximately $650 million in scholarships. He was also instrumental in establishing the Mexican American Cultural Center in 1972, now known as the Mexican American Catholic College, which provides training for clergy and laypeople serving Hispanic communities.