 He was affectionately called "Pequeno Ysidro" by Bishop Francisco Mora y Borrell, then the prelate of La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles in Los Angeles, who personally baptised him.Dockweiler would serve in his youth as Mora's "train bearer".He graduated from St. Vincent College (now Loyola Marymount University) in 1887.