Faithful have high hopes for Bishop-designate Flores
Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published November 10, 2006
Detroit — Those who minister to the Hispanic community hope Bishop-designate Daniel Flores can help promote vocations, be a voice for Spanish-speaking people, and make others aware of Hispanics throughout the archdiocese.
Msgr. Flores will be ordained later this month as an auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Detroit, to lead all of its faithful but also be a voice for the growing Spanish-speaking people.
Fr. Jaime Hinojos, pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Detroit, said the news filled his community’s hearts “with hope and joy.” He’s hopeful that when Bishop-designate Flores comes to the archdiocese, more young men will be inspired to pursue the priesthood, and as a whole vocations will go up.
The language barrier may prevent young men from pursuing the priesthood further, or cause them to get discouraged if they do try. One of the things Bishop-designate Flores could help with is to raise awareness for involving such young men, to find a way to catch them so that we don’t lose them, as Fr. Hinojos said.
“Hispanics are good Catholics,” he said. “They have a lot to give to enrich the Church.”
Fr. Hinojos added that it was also great that Bishop-designate Flores speaks English and Spanish, as anyone who speaks both languages can minister to more people.
Fr. Victor Roman, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Ecorse, said he hopes Bishop-designate Flores will be a representative to everyone, including the Hispanic community. He said Bishop-designate Flores was a “special gift.”
“I hope he’ll be a bishop to all,” he said. “I’m sure he will be a voice for the Spanish-speaking people.”
Fr. Roman said he hopes his parish has the chance to meet Bishop-designate Flores.
Msgr. Donald Hanchon, pastor of Holy Redeemer in Detroit, known for its large Hispanic community, said that sometimes, people think the Spanish-speaking community is in another part of the world.
“His being here as a bishop is going to make people more aware of the Hispanics that are already here,” he said. “Really, it’s not a stretch to say that Hispanics are everywhere.”
Msgr. Hanchon said he’s also finding that more Spanish-speaking people are becoming ministers rather than being ministered to.
He said his parish cheered when they heard the news. “We’re very much looking forward to his arrival,” he said.
Down the street, at Holy Redeemer Elementary School, principal Sr. Elizabeth Fleckenstein, IHM, said people are very excited to have Bishop-designate Flores come to the archdiocese because it’s like having one of their own who will understand their culture, spirituality and language. She said she’s hopeful Bishop-designate Flores will visit the mostly Hispanic school.
“We’re looking forward to having him come and meet us,” she said. Sr. Fleckenstein added that she was thrilled when she’d heard he had a passion for education.
Bishop-designate Flores, 45, formerly of the diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, will be ordained as bishop Nov. 29. He will be the first Hispanic bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit and is believed to be the first Hispanic bishop in Michigan. He also will be the country’s youngest bishop.
He was born and raised in Texas and grew up in Corpus Christi. He was ordained a priest in 1988 and has served the diocese as rector of Corpus Christi Cathedral and as chancellor, among other positions. Bishop-elect Flores also served in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston at St. Mary’s Seminary and on the teaching faculty at the University of St. Thomas School of Theology. He was named a monsignor in 1995.
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