Casa Juan Diego receives encouragement from many sources. but especially has received encouragement from Fr. Brendan Cahilll, who will be ordained the new Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria, Texas, on June 29.
Fr. Brendan has impressive credentials. He has served in several parishes. He has more recently been Director of Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services and Vicar for Clergy for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He was rector of St. Mary’s Seminary for almost ten years.
It was refreshing to learn with the announcement and his published biography that one reason that he was so important in encouragement of our work was his specialization in his doctoral studies in Rome in the history and the theologians that were influential at the opening of the Second Vatican Council and on the Catholic doctrine on the interpretation of Scripture as developed in the Second Vatican Council. In addition, he has a Masters in Theology from Xavier University in New Orleans with a specialization on the experience and theology of African-American Catholics.
Many may not know of Bishop Brendan Cahill’s commitment to the poor and the immigrants at Casa Juan Diego, where he has celebrated Mass once or twice a month for many years. They may not know of his support for low-income workers trying to make something resembling a living wage.
Bishop Brendan Cahill is a unifier and a good listener, one who brings people together. We rejoice with him and for the people of Victoria and Texas.
Houston Catholic Worker, Vol. XXXIV, No. 3, June-August 2015.
