Funeral Mass planned at basilica for Brownsville priest

BROWNSVILLE — The Mary Mother of the Church community continues to mourn the death of its pastor Father Ricardo Garcia Jr., who died earlier this week.
The body of Garcia, 49, an apparent suicide, was found outside the church rectory, police reports state.
Black wreaths have been placed on the two of the church entrances. A black wreath was also placed on the front door of the church office.
A fellow priest reportedly discovered Garcia’s body in the backyard of the church rectory around 7:30 a.m. Monday. According to the police report, Garcia had hanged himself.
In the report, the fellow priest stated Garcia had sleep problems and respiratory problems, and no suicide note was found.
Cameron County Justice of the Peace Tony Torres pronounced Garcia dead. An autopsy has been ordered.
A statement issued earlier by the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville in part stated: “We commend Father Ricardo to the mercy of God and ask for God’s healing. We ask the Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill to pray for his parents and family for they too are suffering excruciating pain.”
A native of Edinburg, Garcia was ordained on May 22, 1992. He served as a priest at St. Mary’s Church since September 2007 and as judicial vicar of the Diocesan Tribunal.
Garcia previously served the parishes of Sacred Heart Church in Escobares, St. Anthony Church in Harlingen, Our Lady St. John of the Fields Church in Mission, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Brownsville and St. Anne Mother of Mary Church in Pharr.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday at Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine. Garcia will be cremated at Val Verde Memorial Gardens in Donna.