Bishop Jose Arturo Cepeda was recently transferred from Detroit to San Antonio. He credits his time as chaplain of the San Antonio Spurs as transformative.
When Bishop Jose Arturo Cepeda assumes his new role as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, he will be coming back to where his priesthood began -- and where he tended to the spiritual needs of some of the biggest celebrities in town.
Cepeda was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, but after moving to the United States with his family, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of San Antonio on June 1, 1996. On April 18, 2011, he was appointed as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit, where he has been ever since. His return to the Archdiocese of San Antonio was announced on August 26, 2025.
But before he left for Detroit, he had a unique ministry in San Antonio: chaplain of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs are the only major professional sports team in San Antonio.
In a video clip shared by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Cepeda explains the circumstances that led to this role.
"The coach for the Spurs, (Gregg) Popovich, asked the archbishop that he would like to have a chaplain for his team," said Cepeda in the video, smiling at the memory.
"So one day the archbishop said, you know, 'You're interested?' I could not believe (it)."
Cepeda "didn't have to think twice" about accepting the role. It helped that the Spurs' arena was within walking distance of the cathedral in San Antonio.
On home game days, Cepeda would ask Popovich if he could celebrate Mass with the team, which Popovich always allowed. Cepeda would pray with the members of the team and would pray with them courtside.
"It was an amazing experience, to be on the floor, and to be with them, see them, and praying to God that they will win," he said. He was with the players before, during, and after the games, he said, a "complete accompaniment."
"As a bishop now, I can tell you this," said Cepeda. "This ministry helped me to understand how to be part of a team and, not here alone."
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