Bishop's Column

Bishop James A. Tamayo

En Español

Priests, as well as deacons, brothers and sisters, maintain their vocation is a calling from God. It sounds so simple, yet it carries such significance and can be awfully complex. Consider the following circumstances.

History describes the mid-to latter 1960s as turbulent, revolutionary and chaotic. A cultural and social chasm existed in both secular and religious society. Civil rights protests, anti-war protests and rebellion among young adults and teenagers sent the nation into seemingly never-ending arguments over values, freedoms and morality.

And then, epitomizing the era of free sex, drug use and rock-and-roll came Woodstock in upstate New York. Meanwhile, after the Second Vatican Council, and as a result of broad misinterpretations, nuns and priests fled the Church In great numbers. The Catholic community in the United States was in flux.

Furthermore, the Catholic Church saw a 25-percent decline in parental approval for their son to pursue the life of the priesthood between 1964 and 1974, making a bleak situation even bleaker.

Despite the chaos in the Church and in the country, a young Jaime Antonio Tamayo received the support of his parents and maintained an open mind and an open heart to hear God's voice calling him to the Church. His calling came as early as the first grade.

"From that first instance, I felt the call to religious life. Every year thereafter, the question kept coming back and my answer was always `yes'," affirmed Most Reverend James. A. Tamayo, first bishop of the Diocese of Laredo.

Also, take into consideration that Bishop Tamayo's parents, Guadalupe and Antonio, exerted their influence in persuading him not to enroll in the seminary at the tender age of 15, but rather actively pursue the lifestyle of a regular student attending the local high school.

"They encouraged me to experience high school activities such as proms, athletics and school clubs," explained Bishop Tamayo. "I was involved in all aspects of high school life _ including drama, student council and varsity tennis."

Was he ever homecoming king?

"No, no, no," replied a bashful Bishop Tamayo. "But I was involved in homecoming and I attended the prom."

Bishop Tamayo's parents wanted to ensure that he was sincere about his desire to enter seminary amid the Vietnam War, Vatican II and social revolution in America. "I believe the delay (from entering the seminary at an earlier age) was beneficial to my maturing, my vocation and to strengthening my desire to become a priest," said Bishop Tamayo.

In May 1968, Bishop Tamayo became part of the first graduating class from Foy H. Moody High School in Corpus Christi. He became part of history, something that would repeat later in life.

In fall 1968, the recent high school graduate enrolled in the Corpus Christi Minor Seminary and Del Mar Junior College. Although he was separated from the rest of the world, Bishop Tamayo remained aware of the situations engulfing his country and his religion.

"I was very much aware that many of my friends and classmates were fighting in Vietnam and that there was a lot of turmoil in the United States because of the war. The Vatican Council was affecting priests and sisters to the point where some left the priesthood and convents. So the life I was entering was changing and in flux," stated Bishop Tamayo. There were personal challenges, too.

"Dealing with the concept of celibacy and a life of dedicated prayer were difficult, but with each I realized there was a fulfillment and reward and that kept me focused," reflected Bishop Tamayo. "I left the protection of my parents. I left behind friends and relinquished the personal freedom to do many things. Yet I faced the challenge with faith."

After concluding his initial studies in 1970, Bishop Tamayo enrolled in St. Mary's Seminary in Houston and simultaneously attended the University of St. Thomas, earning a bachelor of arts and a master of arts degree in theology. The astute student even earned magna cum laude honors as an undergraduate.

"Just as the training I received in Catholic elementary school allowed me to excel academically in high school, so too did the leadership skills I acquired and developed during my high school years allow me to achieve the honors bestowed upon me in college," said Bishop Tamayo. Jaime Antonio Tamayo left his home as a boy and returned as a man of the cloth in June 1976.

"I was blessed to be a priest in the Diocese of Corpus Christi where I was raised and educated," expressed Bishop Tamayo. Returning to the city by the sea also brought unexpected blessings, including the celebrating of sacraments with family, neighbors and classmates.

"I was able to witness the marriages of several of my classmates and friends. I even baptized some of their children," explained Bishop Tamayo.

In January 1990, Reverend Tamayo was appointed vicar in Laredo and pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church. On March 10, 1993, he left Laredo to be ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston.

During his tenure in the Houston area, Bishop Tamayo honed his leadership skills that would prepare him for his appointment as the first bishop for the Diocese of Laredo. With the advent of the new millennium, came the establishment of Texas' newest and 15th diocese.

As with anything in its infancy, there was much work to be done. The good news was that the strong and vibrant Catholic community throughout the diocese was eager to assist the bishop in realizing God's endeavors.

"As we became a diocese, our main focus was to witness to our faith. I've had no difficulty in accomplishing that because faith was already present in the hearts of the people and they witnessed to it with more enthusiasm as they began identifying themselves with the Diocese of Laredo. There is a great pride and joy in that," exclaimed Bishop Tamayo. "However, at the onset we needed to build the structure of the diocese and lay a solid infrastructure."

For example, upon returning to Laredo, Bishop Tamayo did not have a full-time assistant or a secretary.

"I remember when Bishop used to come over here to make copies and stuff because there was no one else to help him," recalled KHOY Vice-President Bennett McBride, whose office is situated on the same grounds as the Chancery.

"(On-air personality) Joe (Jimenez) and I were pretty much it back then. There wasn't a staff like you have today. And even now it's not a full staff. Everyone wears more than one hat."

Bishop Tamayo realizes that a diocese entering its third year still has plenty of growing pains to come, including finances.

"Today, there is a great concern about financial resources and fiscal accountability. We want to be sure that the donations received from the people through the Sunday collection are put to good use," he explained. "The bishop is not just the spiritual leader of the diocese, but also the chief administrator of the Church's temporal goods. Just as in any business, I oversee all operations and am concerned with the growth of the diocese, the establishment of new churches and missions, as well as developing new pastoral ministries with competent personnel."

Evidently, everyone working for the Diocese of Laredo wears more than one hat _ beginning with Bishop Tamayo.

Anyone who has ever come into contact with the bishop can feel his tranquility and gentleness because of his peace with the Lord and his continuing effort to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

"Jesus said, `If you wish to be my disciple take up your cross and follow me.' You say those words, but sometimes you don't understand the depth of their meaning. We know that the life we're called to lead is not an easy life and that it has its sacrifices. There was a time during the first five years of my priesthood that I really felt the weight of the cross, the sacrifice, the commitment and the entrega. That is the one time I remember pleading before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, `Lord, I did not know how heavy this cross would be.' Yet, I didn't ask for Him to take it away from me. I didn't say, `I don't want it anymore.' I said, `It's heavy. Help me. I can't do this without you.' I'm grateful for that moment. It made me realize that the priesthood is not a rose-colored life of everyone loving you, everyone complimenting you and everyone opening the door for you. Instead, there's a sacrifice. But with that comes maturity and a renewed commitment."

This moment of commitment continues to renew Bishop Tamayo's commitment to bring the good news of salvation to God's people. And a new voice for the bishop to deliver this message arrives in the form of this premiere edition of La Fe.

"I'm very excited about our new publication La Fe," said Bishop Tamayo. "This magazine allows me to speak directly to the people of the diocese. Although I can't preach at every parish every Sunday, I can express my thoughts and feelings through La Fe, knowing that the magazine will reach the people and enter their homes bringing Jesus' message of faith, hope and love to everyone who reads La Fe.

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