Read more: Local, Religion, Bishop Daniel Flores, Bishop Raymundo Pena, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Diocese of Brownsville, Brownsville, Cameron County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas
The Rio Grande Valley got a sneak peak at its new Catholic Bishop on Wednesday morning.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed 48-year-old Daniel Flores as Bishop for the Diocese of Brownsville, which oversees more than 100 churches in Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy and Starr Counties.
Flores is expected to take over for outgoing Bishop Raymundo Peña during a special ceremony at the San Juan Basillica scheduled for February 2nd.
The newly-appointed Bishop met with church leaders, parishioners and the media at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville on Wednesday morning.
"It feels so wonderful to be so close to this region," Flores said in the meeting. "I'm close to my family. I have family here in the Valley. I have family in Zapata. Tengo familia en todas partes."
Flores spoke about many issues, including immigration and border violence during the meet-and-greet.
The Corpus Christi native said he and the other bishops favor "fair and humane" immigration reform that prevents families from being divided across borders.
"I think the voice of the bishops is very clear on this across the country...that a fair and just immigration reform always protects families first," he said.
Flores currently serves as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Detroit where he has ministered to migrant farm workers and Hispanic immigrants.
The Texas native said he'll let a higher power decided what priorities the Diocese of Brownsville sets during his tenure.
"Let me simply say that the priorities are given to us by the Lord Jesus himself," Flores said. "We preach the Gospel. We announce Christ."
Flores was born in Palacios, Texas in 1961 and baptized in Zapata but grew up in Corpus Christi where he was first ordained as a priest in 1998.
The 48-year-old South Texan was appointed as a monsignor in 1995 and was appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop in Detroit in 2006.
Outgoing Bishop Raymundo Peña said he will remain in the Valley to help the church and Flores in any way possible.
Peña has presided as Bishop for the Diocese of Brownsville since 1995. He told reporters it was a bittersweet moment.
"I think it's more sweetness than bitterness because I feel comfortable with all we've accomplished together...all of us," Peña said. "I feel very happy about the man the Holy Father has chosen to succeed me."
Valley Interfaith released the following statement about the news:
"Valley Interfaith leaders wish to recognize Bishop Raymundo Peña for his many years of support for Valley Interfaith and the Texas Industrial Areas Foundation. Bishop Peña's support has extended to EPISO in El Paso, COPS/Metro Alliance in San Antonio during his many years as Bishop in Texas. Today, we welcome Bishop Daniel Flores to the Rio Grande Valley and look forward to working with him as we continue the work on issues of social justice and the common good with families in the Valley. "
-- Estela Sosa-Garza, Executive Committee Co-Chair
