[1] [2] Deciding to become a priest, Garcia entered Saint Mary's Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

[1][2] Garcia was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Austin at St. Monica Church in Cameron by Bishop John E. McCarthy on May 28, 1988.

[1] In 2007, Garcia was awarded a Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies from the Saint John's School of Theology in Collegeville, Minnesota.

[1] In addition to serving in parishes, Garcia was a member of the priests’ personnel board and the college of consultors for the diocese.

He received his episcopal consecration on March 3, 2015, from Vásquez, with Archbishop Gregory Aymond and Bishop Michael Sis serving as co-consecrators.