Early life and education

Nevares was born on February 19, 1954, in San Antonio, Texas, to Andres Valdes Nevares and Beatriz Alanis Tamez.^[2] The youngest of six children in a Mexican-American family, he has one sister and four brothers, all of whom were born in Mexico.^[3] The family lived in Chicago, Illinois, before settling in Houston.^[2] Eduardo Nevares received his early education at the parochial school of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Houston.^[2] At age 14, he enrolled at La Salette Minor Seminary in Jefferson City, Missouri.^[4] The following year, when the seminary closed, he transferred to St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville, Illinois.^[3]

Nevares continued his studies at La Salette Junior College Seminary in Altamont, New York, where he earned an Associate's degree in 1974.^[4] He attended the Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette Philosophy Seminary in Ipswich, Massachusetts, for one year before entering St. Thomas University in Houston. Nevares earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree there in 1976.^[1] Nevares entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette in 1976, professing his first vows in 1977 and his final vows in 1980.^[1] Nevares completed his theological studies at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1981.^[3]

Ordination and ministry

Nevares was ordained to the priesthood for the La Salette Missionaries by Bishop Bernard J. Ganter on July 18, 1981.^[5] His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. Patrick's Parish in Lufkin, Texas, where he remained for seven years.^[1] From 1988 to 1991, Nevares served as vocations director for the La Salette Missionaries.^[2] He then resumed his pastoral ministry, serving as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Jacksonville, Texas (1991) and as a chaplain at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas (1991–93).^[1]

From 1993 to 2002, Nevares served as pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Lufkin.^[4] During his tenure at St. Patrick's, he oversaw the construction of a new church, which was completed and consecrated in 2001.^[2] In addition to his pastoral duties, Nevares served as provincial counselor to the St. Louis province of the La Salette Missionaries (1994–97).^[1] Nevares became co-director of vocations for holy orders and consecrated life in the Diocese of Tyler in 2002.^[4] In this capacity, he organized and conducted the first Spanish-speaking program for candidates for the permanent diaconate.^[3] He also served as diocesan director of charismatic groups.^[3]

After 25years as a La Salette Missionary, Nevares was incardinated into the Diocese of Tyler in 2007.^[1] In 2008, he was appointed vice-rector of the College of Liberal Arts at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.^[4] As vice-rector, he has assisted with the administration of the priestly formation program, coordinated the formation for college level seminarians, and taught Spanish to the college seminarians.^[2][4]

Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix

On May 11, 2010, Nevares was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix and titular bishop of Natchesium by Pope Benedict XVI.^[5] Nevares is the first auxiliary bishop of and the first Hispanic bishop of the diocese.^[3][5] His episcopal motto is: "Serve the Lord with gladness."^[3]

Nevares received his episcopal consecration on July 19, 2010 from Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Avondale, Arizona.