THURSDAYJuly 6, 2000 volume 11, no. 117
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NEWS for Thursday, July 6, 2000 VATICAN CITY, JUL 3 (ZENIT.org)
The Holy Father today provided
for diocesan care of Catholics along the Mexican border by
creating the diocese of Laredo, Texas. The new diocese takes part
of the area of the archdiocese of San Antonio and of the diocese
of Corpus Christi.
As first bishop of the new diocese. John Paul II has named Bishop
James A. Tamayo, who is presently auxiliary bishop in the
archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Bishop Tamayo (age 51) is a
native of Brownsville, Texas, and attended seminary in Corpus
Christi and Houston. He worked in several parishes before being
ordained a bishop.
The new diocese covers 10,735 square miles of terrain, with
262,252 inhabitants, of whom 80% are Catholic. The diocese has 27
parishes, 22 missions, 21 diocesan priests, 27 religious priests,
25 permanent deacons, 88 nuns, and 8 Catholic schools.
Bishop Tamayo has served for the past seven years as an auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston where his work primarily involved ministry to the Hispanic Community. Prior to that he served as a priest in the Diocese of Corpus Christi for 17 years after having been ordained by the late Bishop Thomas J. Drury. In his first statement as Bishop designate, Bishop Tamayo called upon his new diocesan flock to "…exemplify love and concern for every person, especially those most in need". He continued; "May it be said of the Diocese of Laredo as it was said of the early Church, 'see how they love one another'".
The new Diocese of Laredo will be formally erected and Bishop Tamayo will be installed as its first Bishop during the rites of Erection and Installation, all part of a special Mass to be celebrated in the presence of Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United states and a host of other Catholic prelates. The Mass celebration has been set for August 9, 2000, at 7pm in the Laredo Civic Center. Once erected, San Agustin Church in Historic Downtown Laredo will be designated as the Cathedral Church of the new Diocese. Auxiliary for NewarkAt the same time, the Holy Father appointed Msgr. Arthur J. Serratelli auxiliary bishop of Newark, New Jersey. He is presently serving as rector of College Seminary in Seton Hall University. The 56-year-old monsignor studied philosophy at Seton Hall University and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. After work as an associate pastor in St. Anthony parish, he went to teaching at the seminary. In addition to his duties as rector, he presently teaches Biblical Studies. ZE00070320
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