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'Took my breath away'
Detroit's first Hispanic bishop-designate surprised by appointment, thanks God for opportunity to serve

Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published November 3, 2006
Listen to the audio by clicking   throughout this article or use

Photo by Larry Peplin Bishop-designate Daniel Flores of Corpus Christi, Texas, is greeted with a hug from Cardinal Adam Maida Oct. 28 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. At age 45, Msgr. Flores will become the youngest bishop in the United States and the first Hispanic bishop to serve in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Detroit — Bishop-designate Daniel Flores said he was taking calls in his office at the cathedral rectory in Corpus Christi, Texas — and late for a meeting — when he got the call that he would be the next auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

 The news took his breath away, he said.

"It was quite a shock," said Bishop-designate Flores, who added that he was still numb several days after learning of the news.

Bishop-designate Flores, 45, formerly of the diocese of Corpus Christi, will be ordained as bishop Nov. 29. Pope Benedict XVI's decision to make him an auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese was announced Saturday, when Bishop-designate Flores was introduced to the archdiocese.

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 youngest bishop in the United States.

In his words transcript & audio At his introduction, Bishop-elect Daniel E. Flores addressed many topics...   On Detroit: " I look forwared to serving with all my strength and energy, to serve all the people in the archdiocese .... I am a priest of Detroit now, by the will of the Holy Father, and I look forward to learning and serving in this, my new home."   On his age: "I must admit I am young, though not as young as I use to be, and I have a great deal to learn about how to serve the people of this archdiocese. But, I am also a priest who has learned this much; that to work hard for the glory of God and the good of his people is the path to life."   On priestly formation: "I have spent a great deal of my priesthood actively involved in the formation of future priests, and I know how important the archdiocesan seminary is to the future of the Church in Detroit... I will do all that I can to support the important work that takes place here (at Sacred Heart Major Seminary)."

Bishop-designate Flores said he was looking forward to working with Cardinal Adam Maida and other bishops, priests and deacons in the archdiocese, as well as the rest of the faithful.

"I offer to all the people of the archdiocese all the heart and mind and strength that God gives me," he said. "I thank God for the opportunity to serve."

After comments in English, Bishop-designate Flores addressed the crowd in English and Spanish. Cardinal Maida called the announcement "a tremendous gift and blessing to help nurture the faith in the vineyard of our local church."

He quoted Bishop Edmond Carmody, of Corpus Christi, who called bishop-designate Flores "a great person and leader, who has served the diocese as a kind, pastoral, intelligent, highly organized, dedicated priest-servant."

Cardinal Maida indicated that Bishop-designate Flores' ministry will include a special focus on the Hispanic concerns in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He pointed out that with 130,000 Hispanic Catholics, the Hispanic community is no longer an emerging ethnic group, but the Church of today.

 Bishop-designate Flores said he hopes to be the kind of bishop who listens to people and learns about their particular situations so he can know how best to serve.

"I use the phrase 'with all the energy that I have' because I really do believe in giving your best effort to something,'" he said. "… The work of the kingdom is the work that requires us to roll up our sleeves and to throw our mind and will into it."

 Bishop-designate Flores said he was looking forward to becoming familiar with the Hispanic communities in the archdiocese, visiting the parishes and families and preaching the Gospel.

"I believe that the Hispanic communities all over the United States have a great deal to contribute culturally by their faith, and by their witness to faith, to a renewal of culture of the United States," he said.

 He said he was excited when he learned he was coming to Detroit. His mother, who lives in Corpus Christi, was also excited and proud but concerned that Detroit was so far away from Texas.

He said his family, of two brothers and one sister, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews, is very close, and that they were all happy for him and his new opportunity.

 "I'm looking forward to being able to do what I think is important: preach the Gospel, build up the Church, encourage people to help each other, and to discover what I consider the great secret of the Gospel, which is only by giving do we receive," he said.

During a reception afterward, Bishop-designate Flores took time to speak with and get his picture taken with guests, many of them Hispanics who were able to attend on short notice.

Bishop-designate Flores was born in Palacios, Texas, baptized in Zapata, Texas, and grew up in Corpus Christi. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Corpus Christi in January 1988 and has served the diocese as rector of Corpus Christi Cathedral and as chancellor, among other positions.

Bishop-designate Flores also served in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, on the formation faculty and as vice-rector of 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.

In the Detroit archdiocese, Bishop-designate Flores will join Auxiliary Bishops Earl Boyea, John Quinn and Francis Reiss and retired Auxiliary Bishops Moses Anderson, SSE, Thomas Gumbleton and Walter Schoenherr.

Bishop-elect Flores Interview Audio
Listen to the actual interview audio by clicking   below or use

 Getting the news?

 Telling mother.

 A bishop who listens.

 Message to Detroit Priests.

 Hispanic diversity.

 Hispanic contributions.

 Building "Community of Faith"

 Goals as a new auxiliary bishop

 A new Detroit Tigers fan?

 Coat of Arms, episcopal motto?