INSTALLATION

Bishop James Tamayo installed as first bishop of Laredo

 By Paula Espitia

 Laredo, Texas -- Thousands witnessed a historic moment for the church in Texas as Bishop James A. Tamayo was installed as the first bishop of Laredo August 9, 2000.

Over 2,000 filled the main hall of the Laredo Civic Center for the installation liturgy, while hundreds more packed into an adjacent banquet hall to view it on television.

In his homily, Bishop Tamayo, 50, acknowledged that the event was long awaited by the border communities. “We have walked a journey led by faith -- a journey that leads us to build the kingdom of God,” he said.

More than 100 priests and 25 bishops filled the temporary area around the altar, which was designed to resemble the sanctuary of the new diocese's cathedral, San Agustin.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, papal nuncio to the United States, read the official letters establishing the Diocese of Laredo and appointing Bishop Tamayo.

“This is a historic moment for Texas,” he said. “We extend our congratulations and best wishes.”

The new diocese runs along the Rio Grande River, has a predominantly Hispanic Catholic population of nearly 200,000 and encompasses seven counties -- three-and-a-half each from the Diocese of Corpus Christi and the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

It covers 10,905 square miles, and has 47 priests, 21 deacons, 11 brothers and 83 sisters serving in 27 parishes, 21 missions and 7 Catholic schools.

Laredo, with a population of nearly 200,000, is the largest city in the area. It was formerly part of the Corpus Christi Diocese, where Bishop Tamayo had served 17 years as a priest -- including three as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Laredo.

The second-largest city in the new diocese is Eagle Pass, with about 21,000 people.

Msgr. Alejandro Salazar, appointed the first chancellor of Laredo, welcomed the congregation, including the visiting bishops and clergy from Texas, surrounding states and Mexico.

“Bishop Tamayo, you know well this part of the Lord's vineyard,” said Msgr. Salazar, who previously was chancellor of Corpus Christi. “We are confident that under your leadership the church of Laredo will move forward into the next millennium in faith, hope and charity.”

Flanking Bishop Tamayo during most of the liturgy were Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, where Bishop Tamayo served as an auxiliary for the past seven years, and Bishop Edmond Carmody of Corpus Christi.

Archbishop Patrick Flores of San Antonio was unable to attend the installation due to recent back surgery.

Bishop Tamayo described the beginning of a new diocese as a time of hope.

“Hope leads, as light leads in the darkness,” he said. “We have walked in faith together. Now we gather at a crossroads.”

He alluded to William Holman Hunt's famous painting, “The Light of the World,” portraying Christ knocking at a door that has no outside latch.

“The handle is on the other side,” he said. “It's up to you and me to make the free decision to open wide the door to Christ.”

Near the close of the liturgy, Bishop Tamayo walked down side aisles in the convention center carrying two bouquets of roses which he placed in front of images of the two patrons of the new diocese -- Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Augustine. The congregation applauded as he knelt down for a brief moment of prayer before each image.

A public reception followed in the banquet hall as the crowds waited in long lines to meet their new bishop.

Holy Cross Brother Richard Daly, director of the Texas Catholic Conference, the lobbying arm for the Texas bishops, said, “What began 150 years ago in Galveston, when the church was first established in Texas, has been completed here in Laredo.”

He said the Texas bishops have been working on establishing the Laredo Diocese for many years because of the common concerns shared by the border communities -- including unemployment, poverty and immigration issues.

“Bishop Tamayo is the best person to lead the church of this part of South Texas. The Holy Father has sent an incredible episcopal leader to lead the church of Laredo,” said Brother Daily. “The wonderful mosaic, that is the Catholic church in Texas, is complete.”

As an auxiliary in Galveston-Houston, Bishop Tamayo worked primarily with the Hispanic population. He is a member of the U.S. Catholic Conference's Committee for Hispanic Affairs.

Msgr. Tom Davis, who served as the Episcopal Vicar of the Western Vicariate of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, which is now encompassed by the new diocese, said he sensed “a lot of unity” in the congregation.

“Everyone was united in love for Christ and the church and I think it was well begun,” said Msgr. Davis, who is also the pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Laredo.

He said the new diocese will help to unite the border communities and will strengthen the border-bishop alliance.

Pat Campos, the youth director of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Laredo, said she was happy to have their former pastor back as the new bishop. “He was always helpful to the youth of Laredo. We need more programs for them here,” she said.

Father Ted Montemayor, born and raised in Laredo, traveled to the event from Los Angeles, where he works as a Salesian of St. John Bosco with youth and vocation formation.

“It’s a new beginning,” said the priest. “I think exciting things will happen with someone here giving direction to the church. We always felt so far away from the center of the diocese.”

Beginning a new diocese is a formidable task, but Father Montemayor repeated Bishop Tamayo’s feelings of hope. “I think we always have to feel hopeful. That’s part of the Gospel and part of our faith history— to always have hope. I feel like new beginnings like this will energize people to feel inspired.”

Roxanna Guerra, director of Laredo's Catholic Social Services, said, “This is the most wonderful, wonderful thing that could have happened to Laredo. We've been waiting for the new bishop, now we can get moving and accomplish everything we had on the shelf. We've known him for many years. We know the many things he can accomplish and he will have our total support.”'

Laredo is the 15th diocese of the San Antonio province, which covers the entire state of Texas. In number of dioceses San Antonio is the largest ecclesiastical province in the United States. It is third-largest in the world superseded by Porto Alegre and Sao Salvador da Bahia, both in Brazil.