Chapter 11

Declaración del Obispo McElroy al ser nombrado por el Papa Francisco Participante en la Asamblea Especial del Sínodo de los Obispos para la Región Panamazónica

9/21/2019
Statement by Bishop McElroy on being appointed by Pope Francis as a Participant in the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region

(SAN DIEGO) – Recognizing the particular ministerial and ecological challenges of the Pan-Amazon Region of South America, Pope Francis will convene a Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in Rome from October 6-27. Three North Americans have been named to serve as “Synod Fathers”: Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who heads the Vatican Dicastery (Department) for Laity, Family and Life; Cardinal Archbishop Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston; and Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San Diego. Here is Bishop McElroy’s statement on the appointment:

“I am deeply honored that the Holy Father has appointed me Synod Father for the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region.

“This Synod will deliberate on issues of critical importance in the life of the Church, focusing on both the richness and challenges of the Catholic communities of the Amazon, as well as fundamental questions of pastoral and theological depth that affect the Church throughout the world.

“I am excited to meet with Pope Francis and all the participants of the Synod, and I have great hope that this meeting will be a great grace for all men and women of faith, as well as for the well-being of our planet. ”

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About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pham’s coat of arms depicts a red boat on a blue ocean, which is crisscrossed by diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is often referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, who was known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic and cultural communities. The red of the boat, the beehive and the tongues of fire allude to the blood of the martyrs.

About the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.

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