Today, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, will be principal consecrator of our own Bishop Gregg M. Caggianelli, as Auxiliary Bishop of the same Archdiocese. Bishop Frank Dewane (of Venice in Florida) and Bishop David Toups (our former rector and current Bishop of Beaumont, Texas) will be the co-consecrators. It will be an amazing celebration, and all of us are so proud of Bishop Caggianelli and happy for him. He will be taking care primarily of Catholics at military installations in Florida and plans on remaining in residence at SVDP, but please pray for him as he takes on these responsibilities.

Today would have been a unique day in our history even if there had not been a papal election going on, even if we had not just met our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. The first American Pope greeted us yesterday with the words of the Risen Christ, the words with which bishops normally begin every Mass: “Peace be with you” (Lk 24:36; Jn 20:19, 21). I hope Bishop Caggianelli will remember those first words of Pope Leo XIV every time he starts Mass. I hope that we may receive that peace and be able to share it with others.

Please pray for Pope Leo and for Bishop Caggianelli. May the graces of these amazing moments overflow into our hearts and through us into the hearts of others.



Sincerely yours in Christ,

Very Rev. Alfredo I. Hernández

Rector/President