Juan M. Acosta

Rev. Juan Maria Acosta was born to a farming family in La Colonia Morelos in Sonora, México on March 15th, 1942. Opportunities took the family to Ciudad Juarez and Mexicali before settling in a new farming colony in San Quintin, Baja California. In order to continue his education, he moved back to Hermosillo, Sonora. He went on to the Colegio Serafico de Humanidades in Guadalajara, Jalisco for secondary and preparatory school and then on to Instituto Superior de Estudios Ecleasíasticos in Mexico City where he did post graduate studies in theology and pastoral work. In 1974 he left the Franciscan order and began teaching Spanish at the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas, and pursuing a bachelors and masters in Psychology from St. Mary’s University.

Juan left psychology to study at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, where he received a Certificate of Special Study in 1978. He was ordained by the Right Reverend Scott Field Bailey Bishop of West Texas in that same year and served as an Assistant Priest at the Latino Mission Parish of Santa Fe in San Antonio.

In 1979 Juan married Mary Ann Teat and became step-father to Russell Anthony Schuchart. Together Mary Ann and Juan had two sons, Juan Carlos Acosta and Jose Alexander “Sander” Acosta. In 1980 Father Juan was appointed Missioner for Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of San Diego, and served as Rector of St. Matthews Episcopal Church in National City for fourteen years. In his time of ministry in the San Diego Diocese Padre Acosta was influential in the establishment of several Spanish language congregations and was appointed as Canon for Hispanic Ministries in 1994. Father Juan also helped develop the Spanish-speaking Cursillo community here in San Diego and served as spiritual director for many outings as well as chaplain at Camp Stevens for a few camps while his boys grew up. Late in his career he fulfilled numerous temporary assignments at various parishes in the Diocese and was deeply supportive of the Cristosalin El Salvardor and established many meaningful relationships there.

Juan was an avid artist, with over one hundred paintings and dozens of sketches. He primarily painted landscapes. His favorite subjects were the expanses of the desert southwest, particularly Sonora, Mexico. Juan was also a musician, playing guitar, writing worship music and leading congregational singing in many of the places he served.

Juan Maria Acosta is survived by seven siblings, three sons, and three grandchildren. His fourth grandchild is expected to arrive in early October.