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Bishop's Column |
| Compassion an dmercy. The calling to do His unfinished work. |
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Most Reverend James A. Tamayo, D.D. The beatitudes for our final issue of the 2003 year, blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God and blessed are they who are persecuted because of Christ, for theirs is the kingdom of God, are very fitting for both our Holy Father Pope John Paul II and the recently beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to the Holy See and witness these extraordinary events in our modern Catholic history. Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa personify the beatitudes as they have made a noble effort to live in a Christ-like fashion. Their generosity, love and compassion serve as the example for us to follow. Realizing that not all pilgrims can afford to visit the Holy See, Pope John Paul II instead chose to travel to every end of the earth to bring his message of hope, peace and God’s love. Equally, visions of Mother Teresa dressed in the traditional garb of a white, blue-bordered sari live vividly in my recollections of her dedicated service of evangelization and social justice. An indomitable spirit drove both our Pope’s quest for world peace and Mother Teresa’s compassion for the poorest of the poor and the infirmed. Their entrega to Jesus is, and was, without question. “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus,” Mother Teresa’s biography stated at the beatification. Their faith is cement solid and often unparalleled. Listening to our Holy Father’s homily and his address to the pilgrims attending the beatification further inspired me as the humble bishop of this diocese to further support the essential ministries that serve the afflicted, displaced and unfortunate. In our diocese alone, we face the challenges of the colonias, immigration, the homeless, the abused and the hungry. And like our Pope and Mother Teresa, we must make every effort to humbly serve our Lord in showing compassion for our fellow brothers and sisters. We often become inspired to help the needy during the Christmas season and this is good. But the less fortunate require help year-round. We must all strive to be more Christ-like by making a commitment to visit, listen and make a difference in someone’s life. The smallest act of compassion and mercy resonates tremendously in an impoverished community because you do it in the name of our Lord and His unconditional love for humanity. As I prayed that day among the thousands of faithful pilgrims, I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to serve Him and His flock. I thanked Him for providing our diocese with brave Christian soldiers ready at the call to do His unfinished work. And I gave thanks for the outstanding leadership evident in our men and women religious as well as the laity. Finally, I thanked God for sending us cornerstones of compassion in Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa. Their presence on Earth is an example that He does todo con amor! |
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| Feature Stories |
| A Different Kind of ‘PADRE’ |
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He calls himself an unabashed Chicano priest. |
Guest Columnist |
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How amazing God is! Today I am asked to reflect on peace. |
| From the Bishop |
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| From the Editor |
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I didn’t put two and two together until I saw his face. It all came back to me very quickly. |
Cover Story |
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You cannot be a peacemaker until you are at peace with yourself and with our Lord |
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Diocese of Laredo |
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