Father Daniel Cruz is a third-generation native of Arizona born in a small mining town called Kearny, about 90 miles east of Phoenix. He lived in another small town called Hayden for twenty years of his life before moving to Mesa in 2006 to attend Arizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Applied Biological Sciences and Secondary Education in 2009. He worked at a learning center at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
During the year between Arizona State University and seminary, the Lord placed the priesthood on his heart after attending a men’s conference with Bishop Olmsted, priests, and seminarians. In 2010, he began studying for the priesthood at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, Colorado.
Following sacred ordination on June 3, 2017, he began his first assignment at St. Joan of Arc in
Phoenix, and in 2019, in addition to his duties at the parish, he was chaplain at Xavier College Preparatory High School.
Fr. Cruz has served as Associate Director at the All Saints Catholic Newman Center, St. Mary’s and St. Juan Diego in Chandler and continues to serve as chaplain to the Tepeyac Leadership Initiative.
He is the current pastor at St. Joan of Arc parish in Phoenix.
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