As a former Episcopalian priest, Father David is married to Carol Anne Castillo Wagner and brings two children, Joseph David Wagner (14), and Natalie Estella Wagner (9). His Holiness St. John Paul II and His Holiness Emeritus Benedict XVI have made it possible for former Episcopal priests, after they have converted to Roman Catholicism, to be re-ordained as Roman Catholic priests while remaining sacramentally married. It will be a joy to welcome them as a family to our parish, which is a family of families. 

Father David Wagner’s story is a truly blessed one. Born on March 28, 1958, in Ravenna, Ohio, and baptized that April, he lived in Ohio before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1978, assigned in Albuquerque, N.M., and Germany. In 1988 he graduated from the University of New Mexico with a BA in Philosophy, then studied Library Science. From 1994-1996 Father David studied at Yale Divinity School, graduating with the degree of Master of Arts in Religion. After marrying Carol Anne Castillo from Albuquerque that same year, they worked in Chicago while Father David continued studies at Dominican University there. Their first child, Joseph David, was born in Chicago and is presently a 9th grader at O’Connor High School, Helotes, Texas.

In 2002 Father David responded to the interior call to ministry, entering the Episcopal Seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin, and finishing his studies with a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained an Episcopal priest on June 12, 2005. Their second child, Natalie Estella, was born in 2006 and is currently a 4th grader at Charles E. Kuentz Elementary School, Helotes, Texas.

Out of a deep conviction of faith, Father David renounced his Episcopal Holy Orders and left the Episcopal Church in 2008, moving to San Antonio, Texas, and converting to Roman Catholicism.
In November 2009, His Holiness Benedict XVI promulgated his decree, Anglicanorum Coetibus, with which he created the path for former Episcopal priests and lay men and women, to join the Roman Catholic Church while celebrating the Eucharistic liturgy with various parts from the Book of Common Prayer and a Canonical jurisdiction under which they would be able to govern themselves under the authority of the Holy Father. This jurisdiction for former Episcopalians (now Roman Catholics) of the United States of America and Canada is known as the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Their first Ordinary (having the authority of a bishop without the authority to ordain priests) was Monsignor Stenson who resided in Houston. More recently His Holiness Pope Francis gave the Ordinariate a Roman Catholic bishop as Ordinary, the Most Reverend Stephen Lopes of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, who has lived in Rome for the past 16 years and for 12 years has served on the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.

As soon as Pope Benedict created the path, Father David applied for ordination to then-Ordinary Monsignor Stenson. While waiting, Father David taught Philosophy, English, and Theology at Northwest Vista College, the Mexican American Catholic College, and St. Mary’s University, all in San Antonio, Texas. Finally, once all permissions were granted and studies were accomplished, Father David Wagner was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on August 24, 2014, by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.M, at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Boerne, Texas.

Having listened to the dignity Fr. Wagner brings to the liturgy and the wisdom in his preaching, we are delighted and give thanks that he has been called to serve here at Notre Dame Catholic Church and School!