Meet The Pastor
Bishop and Senior Pastor Bp. Robert Ortega, DD
Rev. Robert Ortega, DD, PE
Rev. Robert Ortega is now Presiding Bishop of the Independent Catholic Church Diocese of the Southwest. He is in residence and Pastor of Holy Spirit of Hope Church in El Paso, TX that he founded and incorporated in May 2002.
He was ordained a priest in 2002 by Archbishop Michael (RIP) of the Catholic Charismatic Church. He was then consecrated a Bishop of the Catholic Charismatic Church in 2007 by Bishop Lou Vaporis (RIP).
The preparation for ministry of Rev. Ortega includes: over 40 years of marriage; twenty years of self-devoted concentrated and continuous study of Scripture and fundamental Christian principals; theology and ministry training at the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso Tepeyac Institute; counseling training with American Association of Christian Counselors; completion of the requirements of the Catholic Charismatic Church seminary; and ongoing studies.
Marriage and family counseling, as well as celebration of Catholic sacraments for the most difficult situations, are God’s commission and focal ministries of this church. Internet ministry provides extended opportunity for the assignment. The church also serves as a venue for local probationers to serve their time in an environment that fosters corrective behavior and reaches out to everyone in an inclusive manner.
As service to the city, Rev. Ortega volunteers as the only Catholic Chaplain for the El Paso Police Department responding to county-wide assignments.
Rev. Ortega completed service to his country in 2010 as a Captain (O-6) in the U.S. Public Health Service Inactive Reserves. He served as an engineer on active duty with the USPHS during the late Vietnam era.
Rev. Ortega was born in El Paso, TX, completing Ysleta High School before proceeding to earn both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. He retired from federal government in 2004 after achieving the rank of a senior executive officer as Acting Presidential Appointee Commissioner to the International Boundary and Water Commission.
Rev. Ortega continues to provide engineering and construction consulting as a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas. Most significantly, Rev. Ortega continues with renewed and refocused commitment to Martha who has blessed him with 3 children and 4 grandchildren.