The Bishop Expresses the Sorrow of the Church

In 1960, in McAllen, Texas, a young woman named Irene Garza was murdered. An ex-priest has now been found guilty of the crime. When I heard about the verdict, I thought of Irene. I hoped that the justice system had worked. I prayed there might be some peace for her family and those who knew and loved her. 

As a Catholic, as bishop of this local church, and as a human being I am horrified by this. The suffering caused to so many by this crime is incalculable. In a real way the whole Río Grande Valley feels again, after 57 years, the desire to accompany the sorrow of Irene Garza’s family and friends. I certainly have this desire, and as bishop I carry the whole Church with me in expressing it. On behalf of the Church, for the sinful actions of members of the Church, I express this sorrow to the family, and to those whose faith has been injured by these events.

I have no reason to doubt the integrity of the verdict, nor the just motives of those arguing the case. I hope and pray that any persons who may have contributed to the crime or acted improperly or unworthily in its aftermath, whether in the Church or not, take responsibility for the great evil done. They should seek repentance before God, before they are called to the Final Judgment.

During the trial some evidence was entered that suggested that there were efforts in 1960 involving persons in the Church, politicians, law enforcement and the courts to hide the now-convicted man’s guilt. The Diocese of Brownsville did not exist back then and I have no special insight into what was done or not done by civil and Church authorities in the aftermath of the crime. And answers to many questions about what people around the investigation were thinking and doing in 1960 were not given in the verdict.

Nevertheless, I am deeply grieved at the thought that political and religious struggles, competing interests vying for advantage, were at play as decisions were being made on how to proceed with the case. Whatever factors contributed to the 57-year delay in reaching a verdict in this case, Irene Garza, her family, and the whole Río Grande Valley deserved better than that.

Pope Saint John Paul II expressed sorrow on several occasions, on behalf of the Church, for members of the Church in the past who sinned grievously, and who failed to live in fidelity to the Gospel they were called to serve. In expressing such sorrow the pope was not invoking a banal idea of collective guilt, for the Church does not believe we can blame a body of people across history for the actions of some members of the body in the past. Rather, within this sorrow of the Church is a sense that we are in some way mysteriously connected, both as Christians and as human beings, and that the sins of some injure and profoundly wound us all. The Valley was a different place in 1960, but that does not excuse sin. For us, 57 years later, we should pursue justice more conscientiously and we should ask God’s mercy on those who have gone before us.

Today especially people are suspicious of collusion. Collusion is possible in any era, and not just the kind alleged in 1960 between law enforcement and Church authorities. We hear allegations and counter-allegations of such things every day in the national media. Deep down we all realize that the temptations of power and control are ancient and deeply rooted in the wounded human condition. And although I think here in the Valley and in the Church we are more vigilant against the temptations of power and influence, we must always be realistic about its lure. It was one of the principal temptations that the devil proposed to Jesus in the desert. He rejected it, and so must we.

The remedy today involves creating institutional cultures that put people, justice and truth before institutional concerns. But, even more importantly, it involves a formation of personal conscience in the grace of authentic humility and in principles of justice. In the end, only the good consciences of people within a community, especially its leaders, can protect the community from the temptations of power.

As an institution many steps toward greater accountability and transparency have been mandated by the Church in the United States. The Dallas Charter of 2002, is an example. Many institutional reforms of a similar nature have been instituted world-wide. But we kid ourselves if we think only better procedures are needed. In the Church we need men and women of good and faithful conscience to see that they are put into practice. This is also true of the institutional world apart from the Church, be it the world of schools, government, law enforcement, the courts, entertainment industries, banks and financial institutions, and the news media. They all also need policy procedures that better promote justice, accountability and transparency. But they too need conscientious people operating their institutions.

People who are not even believers in any religion expect more from the Church than from other institutions. And rightly so. The Church founded by Christ, though, is not a one dimensional or purely institutional reality. The Church has from the beginning had great sinners in it, and great saints as well. The reality of the Church in the world is marked by the mystery of sin and grace. The Lord was betrayed by one of his intimate disciples. In a way, when we hear and read about great evil done in the past or the present, we become more aware also of how great is the love that moved Christ Jesus to die and rise for us, of how much he bears when in love he bears with us.

This moment calls for the local Church to acknowledge humbly that great evil is possible even for individuals in our midst who live in close proximity to the mysteries of God’s holiness and mercy. Yet, we cannot become cynical either, for that is to give in to the thought that holiness is not really possible in this life. Holiness and the personal integrity that comes with it is possible, but it is not something automatic just because we do certain things, or hold certain offices or responsibilities in the Church. 

We have to pray and work to live the grace of the Gospel at all times. The authentic witness of holiness in ordinary Catholics has always been the only real credibility of the Church. We fail often, but I think that even many people outside the Church see extraordinary goodness in the witness of believers. In a sin-ridden world, sin should not surprise us near as much as holiness does. I think of humble Christian souls who today are living lives of selfless charity serving the poor in remote places. I think of many powerless Christians who face persecution and hatred across the world. The Church is credible in her saints and in the hope we sinners have that with God’s grace we can become saints.

The Gospel addresses the deepest wounds and the deepest hopes of the human heart. Without the Gospel, neither sin nor justice nor mercy are really understood. This thought should draw us closer to the mystery of the Cross, for Christ died so that repentance might flourish, sins be forgiven, and justice be renewed on the face of the earth. 

The grace of God can never be taken for granted. Let us all attend to the call of our consciences in everyday life, seek repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Power will not save us. It is illusory. Humility, justice and mercy are the saving graces that flow from the Gospel and the Sacraments. Let us ask for them. And let us all regard with renewed respect those who suffer great pain during these days. 

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Remarks Regarding the Appointment of Bishop Mario Avilés, Auxiliary Bishop of Brownsville

Introduction of bishop-elect Mario Alberto Avilés, CO

It is with gratitude to the Most Holy Trinity and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of the Word Incarnate, and with profound and personal thanks to our Holy Father Pope Francis that I announce to you the appointment of Father Mario Alberto Avilés, CO, as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville. The Holy Father Pope Francis has once again manifested his pastoral care and great affection for the people of the Rio Grande Valley.

I am grateful also that Bishop-elect Avilés has accepted this appointment with a spirit of faith and generosity. Because he has accepted, we have all received a great blessing today, the blessing of his humility, pastoral experience, and most of all the blessing of his love for God and for his Church.

An auxiliary Bishop is ordained to assist the diocesan bishop in the pastoral governance and sanctification of the Diocese. He will bring his great gifts and place them at the service of all the people of the Rio Grande Valley.

The Bishop-elect was born in Mexico City and has lived in the Rio Grande Valley since beginning his formation in the Oratory of St Philip Neri, in Pharr, Texas, in 1988. He is an educator, a pastor, and has been General Procurator for the Confederation of the Oratory for almost 6 years. I wish to acknowledge gratefully the presence and work of the Oratory in the Diocese, and in a particular way thank Father Leo Daniels, local superior, for his persevering service to the people of the Rio Grande Valley. I can only imagine your joy today, Father Leo.

I note with particular satisfaction that Bishop-elect Avilés has been the pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Hidalgo, Texas, for the last 14 years, and has guided that gentle and faithful community with zeal and with great humility. The parish is currently in the midst of building a new and much needed larger Church, and I look forward to the day when both he and I, together with Bishop Peña, can together go dedicate the new place of worship. In the challenge of building a new church, and so many other ways, Bishop-elect Avilés has witnessed first hand the growth, the opportunities and challenges we face in the Rio Grande Valley and along the border.

I look forward to the counsel and support of the bishop, as together with the faithful people of God in the Rio Grande Valley, with the priests, religious and deacons of the Church, we work to meet the grace of the days to come.

Quisiera dirigir algunas palabras en particular a los parroquianos de la parroquia del Sagrado Corazón en Hidalgo. Gracias por haber apoyado al nuevo obispo en su ministerio pastoral durante sus casi 14 años entre ustedes como párroco. Es un orgullo para la diócesis y para la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos que, por la providencia de Dios, ustedes han participado en la formación pastoral de un nuevo obispo, sucesor de los apóstoles. Como siempre les he dicho, Dios mueve la historia a través de los humildes, y nunca se olvida de los pobres. El Padre Mario pronto tendrá nuevas responsabilidades, y ustedes lo van a echar de menos. Pero acuérdense de que no irá muy lejos y siempre tendrá un espacio especial en su corazón por lo que han compartido juntos como parroquia. Yo, como obispo, encomiendo a sus poderosas oraciones el ministerio del nuevo obispo.

Before I invite Bishop-elect Avilés to the microphone, I would like to give him two gifts. As of today he is addressed in the Church as either bishop, or bishop-elect, and he is to wear the pectoral cross as a sign of his appointment.

The Cross I will give him was a gift to me by Cardinal Maida in the Archdiocese of Detroit, when I was made auxiliary bishop there. It is a Cross minted for the occasion of Saint John Paul II’s visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1999.

I also give him his first skull cap, el solideo, which he wears now with his habit, as a sign of his office. The Holy Father has decided, and so it is done.

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The Gifts of Advent

The Gifts Christ Desires to Give Us

The Lord Jesus wants to give us at least three presents before Christmas even gets here. The thing is, we have to look for them in hidden places. He does not hide them deliberately: rather, given our daily routines, they may as well be hidden.

The first gift he wants to give is a memory to recall him. The Church’s 2000 year experience instructs us that the best way to draw near to Jesus is to practice the cultivation of a graceful memory. Some people are blessed with a naturally good memory. Others, like myself, struggle every morning to remember where we left the car keys the night before. But we can all cultivate a holy memory. How much effort do we put into remembering what Jesus said the last time we picked up the Scriptures and read a passage from the Gospel? The more we try to remember, the more we will remember. This effort bears great fruit. If we call him to mind, he thereby dwells in the mind. Jesus dwells in us by means of his Word, just as the Holy Spirit dwells in us by virtue of Charity.

We remember so many unimportant things, like past hurts and what time our favorite televisions shows are on. The memory attains to its noblest purpose, though, when through it we carry the thought of the Lord and his Gospel. Suppose, for example, all you can remember from the Gospel you heard at Mass a few weeks ago is the phrase: What you did not to for the least of mine, you did not do for me. That is more than enough to supply for a week’s worth of fruitful conversation with the Lord.

But for this to work, we have to be conscious about seeking a quiet place, a string of moments where this Word can stir our thoughts and considerations. Thus the second gift He wants to give us is Silence to dwell on his word. If we want to find silence, the place to look is not so much a place as it is a time. The early morning is best for many; an evening walk is good, too. I recommend meditation before the Blessed Sacrament, but if we cannot make it to Church to visit the Sacrament, the remembrance of his presence there can bring us great peace.

The Word emerges from the silence. He speaks from there. And so, for example, remembering the Gospel I mentioned, we can ask Him: Lord, do you want me to be more attentive to your presence in the persons the world considers insignificant? At this point he no doubt says yes. We respond: But Lord, where can I find you in my daily life? Be assured he will respond to you. You get the idea. The conversation goes on from there.

Thus, the third gift the Lord wishes to give us during Advent flows from the first two. He wants to give us a grace to recognize and love him. This is the grace that takes what impressions he leaves with us during our prayer and allows them to be enacted in the daily movements of our lives, in the midst of our families, our work, school, recreation. By faith we recognize the presence of Christ. By his word he points out his presence in our midst. We ask for the grace not only to see him in our daily routine, but to embrace and love him there. To recognize Christ in the world, and to love him there, is not one activity among many in a Christian life, it is the only activity of a Christian life. It is what Saint Paul in Galatians 5, 6 calls that faith that operates through love.

These three gifts, memory, silence and loving recognition, prepare us to receive the great gift of Christ at Christmas. We want to be ready for that gift, so that we can better embrace him in love, in the celebration of the Nativity, in the persons with whom we share this life, and in the sacraments through which he shares his life with us.

May God Bless you always.

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Los Regalos de Adviento

Los Regalos que Cristo Desea Darnos

El Señor Jesús quiere darnos al menos tres regalos antes de que llegue la Navidad. La cosa es que tenemos que buscarlos en lugares ocultos. Él no los esconde deliberadamente, más bien, debido a nuestras rutinas diarias pudiese parecer que están ocultos.

El primer regalo que quiere dar es la memoria para recordarlo. La experiencia de 2000 años de la Iglesia nos instruye que la mejor manera de acercarse a Jesús es practicar el cultivo de una memoria agraciada. Algunas personas son bendecidas con una muy buena memoria. Otros, como yo, luchamos todas las mañanas para recordar dónde dejamos las llaves del carro la noche anterior. Pero todos podemos cultivar una memoria santa. ¿Qué tanto nos esforzamos para recordar lo que nos dijo Jesús la última vez que tomamos las Escrituras y leímos un pasaje del Evangelio? En cuanto más nos esforcemos por recordar más recordaremos. Este esfuerzo produce grandes frutos. Si traemos a Jesús a la mente, por lo tanto, él mora en la mente. Jesús habita en nosotros por medio de su Palabra, así como el Espíritu Santo mora en nosotros por virtud de la caridad.

Recordamos muchas cosas sin importancia, como heridas pasadas y a qué hora comienzan nuestros programas de televisión favoritos. Sin embargo, la memoria alcanza su propósito más noble cuando, a través de ella, llevamos el pensamiento del Señor y su Evangelio. Por ejemplo, supongamos que lo único que puedes recordar del Evangelio que escuchó en la misa de hace algunas semanas es la frase: Lo que no hiciste por uno de los más insignificantes de los míos,, tampoco lo hiciste por mí. Eso es más que suficiente para pasar toda una semana digna de una conversación fructífera con el Señor.

Pero para que esto funcione tenemos que estar conscientes de buscar un lugar tranquilo, una serie de momentos en los que esta Palabra pueda despertar nuestros pensamientos y nuestras consideraciones. Por lo tanto, el segundo regalo que Él quiere darnos es el Silencio para morar en su palabra. Si queremos encontrar silencio, no se trata tanto de buscar un lugar sino un tiempo. La madrugada es mejor para muchos; salir a caminar por la tarde también es bueno. Pero yo recomiendo la meditación ante el Santísimo Sacramento, y si no podemos ir a la Iglesia para visitar el Sacramento, entonces el recuerdo de su presencia puede traernos una gran paz.

La Palabra emerge del silencio. Él habla desde allí. Y así, por ejemplo, recordando el Evangelio que mencioné, podemos preguntarle: Señor, ¿quieres que esté más atento a tu presencia en las personas que el mundo considera insignificantes? Al instante, sin duda dice que sí. Nosotros respondemos: Pero Señor, ¿dónde puedo encontrarte en mi vida diaria? Tenga la seguridad de que él te responderá. Creo que entienden la idea. Desde ese momento la conversación continúa.

Por lo cual, el tercer regalo que el Señor desea darnos durante el Adviento fluye de los dos primeros. Él quiere darnos una gracia para reconocerlo y amarlo. Esta gracia es la que toma las impresiones que él deja en nosotros durante nuestra oración y les permite actuar en los eventos diarios de nuestras vidas, en medio de nuestras familias, en nuestro trabajo, en la escuela, o en la recreación. Por la fe reconocemos la presencia de Cristo. Por su palabra, él señala su presencia en medio de nosotros. Nosotros pedimos la gracia para verlo no solo en nuestra rutina de cada día sino también abrazarlo y amarlo en nuestro diario vivir. Reconocer a Cristo en el mundo y amarlo en el mundo no es una actividad de entre muchas en la vida cristiana, es la única actividad de la vida cristiana. Es lo que San Pablo menciona en Gálatas 5, 6 “esa fe que opera a través del amor.”

Estos tres dones, memoria, silencio y reconocimiento amoroso, nos preparan para recibir el gran regalo de Cristo en Navidad. Queremos estar listos para ese regalo para que podamos abrazarlo mejor en el amor en la celebración de la Natividad, en las personas con quienes compartimos esta vida, y en los sacramentos a través de los cuales él comparte su vida con nosotros.

Que dios les bendiga siempre.

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