Ordination bittersweet for friends of Bishop Flores
Kristen Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Photos by Larry A. Peplin
Published December 8, 2006
In the front row for the ordination ceremony are (from right) Bishop Flores' mother, Lydia Flores; his aunt, Lamar Jenkins; his younger brother, Albert Flores; and other relatives. | It was something of a bittersweet celebration at the ordination of Bishop Daniel Flores last Wednesday for the people who have been his friends — they are happy for his elevation, but sad to see him go so far away.
Elda Garcia, Bishop Flores' former secretary at Corpus Christi Cathedral, said although they'll miss him, his friends understand that his relocation to Detroit is all part of God's plan. "The people here are going to be so blessed," she said after his ordination Nov. 29. "He is a very loving, caring person.
"We're going to miss him deeply," she said.
Rachael Vasquez, who works in the music department at Corpus Christi Cathedral and drove from Texas with Garcia for the ordination, said she had a hard time coming up with words to describe how she felt on Bishop Flores' ordination day. Her happiness for him was tempered because she felt the loss of a leader and friend, she said.
Vasquez said Bishop Flores was a down-to-earth and humble person. Garcia said he was the kind of boss who was always making sure everything was all right — and insisted she continue to call him Fr. Danny even after they learned he was to become a bishop, she said.
Nancy Carlisle, who has known Bishop Flores for most of her life and who said Bishop Flores was her spiritual director, said he was the most humble priest she's every known. She's been joking with him for the past 15 years or so about how he was going to be a bishop one day, she said.
"He would always say, 'I don't want that,'" she said. "He's so humble; so unassuming. He's a loving servant of Jesus."
Garcia said she wanted to be at the ordination to support Bishop Flores. "The whole time coming here we were preparing ourselves for the celebration," she said. "This is like a big wedding."
She was thrilled to be a part of the celebration of the Eucharist with him, she said, adding that he had focused on and showed the word of God with the congregation in Corpus Christi.
"He draws (people) to Jesus in that way — with his words," she said.
Carlisle, who flew in from Texas for the ordination, said Bishop Flores has "the most loving heart of a priest you could ever get." "It's a blessing to Detroit," she said.
"Everyone in South Texas just loves him."
If long-time friends of Bishop Flores were both happy for him and sad to see him go, people in the Detroit area, especially Hispanics, were thrilled at the elevation of the archdiocese's first Hispanic bishop.
Marcela Nieto, a member of the Pontiac Catholic Community cluster, said after the ordination that she had chills. She said his words about the love he has for his family and the support he has received were "beautiful."
"It was amazing to hear him speak in Spanish," she said.
Alejandra Barnes, also a member of the Pontiac Catholic Community cluster, said she is praying for more services in Spanish and is confident that he can be of help to the Hispanic community.
Nieto added that she thought Bishop Flores had a peaceful face. "You see him, you feel the peace in your heart," she said.
Cardinal Adam Maida and other bishops in attendance
lead the applause for newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Flores.
more Daniel E. Flores Ordination Photos
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