Deacon Enrique Cruz Bautista was born and raised in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, where he completed his high school education. His vocation to the priesthood began when he was very young, and the Lord gradually led him to Argentina, where he lived for nine years, pursuing studies in philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. Later, he served in a ministry at the Sanctuary of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, Israel. He joined the beloved Archdiocese of Denver in 2023 and was officially ordained on January 31, 2026.

Fun Facts:

• Deacon's arrival in Colorado came about in a fun way. He met a priest in Jerusalem, who was originally from Colorado. When he and his pilgrimage group arrived at the Sanctuary of Gethsemane, Deacon welcomed them, and the Colorado priest started speaking to him in Spanish. Deacon Enrique joked that he only spoke Arabic and a little English. Of course, that was not the case, and after a few laughs, a friendship quickly formed, and now he is here in Colorado and at Christ the King.

• Another funny detail is that Deacon Enrique used to look fondly at CK and our students from his window in the seminarian house. He imagined the challenges of teaching and never imagined that one day he would be here teaching Spanish. His perspective has changed, and he appreciates the exchange with the children as he learns more about the English language while sharing his Spanish language with them.