USA, Christi Jentz/mkf. Today, October 15, 2009, Pope Benedict appointed Fr Fernando Isern, 51, Cuban-born, currently a pastor and high-school president in Miami, as bishop of Pueblo, Colorado, USA, succeeding Bishop Arthur Tafoya, who’s retiring 19 months after reaching the canonical age of 75. In 2007, Fr. Fernando Isern sealed his Covenant of Love with the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen, and Victress of Schoenstatt.
The bishop-elect is the second Cuban-American so elevated in a year; that said, Isern is the first US Hispanic priest directly named a diocesan bishop by Pope Benedict. Born in Havana in 1958, Isern emigrated with his family to the States when he was 3. Ordained in 1993, he’s served in parish work ever since, taking on the added responsibility as head of a high-school last year. Bishop- elect Isern will be ordained on Thursday, December 10th at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pueblo, Colorado.
Media in the US wrote of Fr. Fernando Isern as “affiliated to the Schoenstatt Movement”. Indeed, he is. He very often celebrated Holy Mass with the Schoenstatt Movement in Miami, visited Schoenstatt Shrines in Puerto Rico, USA and Argentina, and finally in 2007 sealed his Covenant of Love in the presence of some 90 Schoenstatt members in Miami.
It is a father’s love that unites me to its laity, priests and religious.
In a first statement, Bishop Fernando Isern writes: “The love of Christ has urged us in a variety of other ways and ministries in the Church, for example, detention ministry and I have, therefore, adopted the Episcopal motto, “Caritas Christi Urget Nos” (2 Cor 5, 14).”
These are the words written on Schoenstatt’s Covenant Medals…
Bishop Isern continues: “As Bishop of the Diocese Pueblo, it is a father’s love that unites me to its laity, priests and religious. The diocese encompasses Southern Colorado, an area with great natural beauty and diversity. Its people are rightfully proud of their history and cultural contributions. It is the love of Christ that urges us to now embrace each one as our own and to entrust ourselves to the generosity and hospitality of its people, as we recite the beautiful prayer of St. Theresa of Avila, whose feast we celebrate today, “Let nothing disturb thee; nothing frighten thee. All things are passing. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God. God alone suffices.”
Fr. Fernando, be sure that the Schoenstatt Family from their Shrines will accompany your service as father and shepherd with their prayers and contributions to the Capital of Grace.
Congratulations! We are so delighted to get the good news. Our Lady is watching over us and this is an extension of the love she has for us. The far west area in Phoenix is very infant in its growth, almost two years and the making of our covenant of love was so close now pending the recovery of Fr. Langsh who is recovering from an injury. This news showers us with hope and patience to perservere. God Bless you Bishop Fernando Isern, and my our Lord continue to bless you abundantly.
With lots of Love,
Members of MTA:
Gil Sena, Rachel Ruby, Jim Gnotta, Marguerite Graves, Steve and Deb Sniegowski, Richard & Maryalvin Gonzales and Jeane Gagon
Fr. Fernando, the Schoenstatt family in Nigeria is very happy about your nomination, may the love of Christ and Our Lady that urges you make you a successful shepherd. You are assured of our continuous love and prayers.