By Ana Rodriguez Soto - Florida Catholic newspaper
Father Gary de los Santos, ordained in May, gives the thumbs up sign as he joins a long line of archdiocesan priests processing into St. Mary Cathedral for the ordination of Bishop Enrique Delgado, auxiliary bishop of Miami and the first Peruvian to be ordained a bishop in the U.S. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Among those who attended the ordination of Bishop Enrique Delgado as auxiliary bishop of Miami were Bishop Peter Eaton, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, and behind him, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. Standing at right is Father Patrick O'Neill, director of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations for the archdiocese. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Bishop-elect Enrique Delgado stands between his two priest chaplains at the start of the ordination Mass. At left, Father Michael "Happy" Hoyer, pastor of St. Gregory in Plantation, and at left, Father Alberto Rios, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Arequipa, Peru. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Representatives of the Confraternity of El Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles), a revered Peruvian devotion, and women religious who work in the archdiocese, take part in the ordination Mass for Bishop Enrique Delgado, the first Peruvian to be named a bishop in the U.S. (TOM TRACY | FC)
The symbols of the office of bishop: ring, miter and crosier, await the ordination rite of Bishop-elect Enrique Delgado, seated in back with his priest chaplains, Father Alberto Rios, vicar general for the Archdiocese of Arequipa, Peru, and Father Michael "Happy" Hoyer, pastor of St. Gregory Church in Plantation. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Bishops from throughout Florida, along with Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the U.S. (center, front) take part in the ordination Mass for Bishop Enrique Delgado as auxiliary bishop of Miami, the first Peruvian to be ordained a bishop in the U.S. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Bishop Enrique Delgado's oldest brother, Rafael Delgado, proclaims the first reading at the ordination Mass. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Father Michael "Happy" Hoyer presents Bishop-elect Enrique Delgado to Archbishop Thomas Wenski, asking, in the name of the people of God, that he be ordained a bishop. Father Hoyer was present in Peru when Father Delgado was ordained a priest. The new bishop spent six months living with Father Hoyer before entering the seminary, to learn about parish life in South Florida. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the U.S., reads the letter from Pope Francis appointing Bishop Enrique Delgado auxiliary bishop of Miami. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Bishop-elect Enrique Delgado shows the papal bull appointing him auxiliary bishop of Miami, which he just received from the hands of the papal nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Christophe Pierre. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Bishop-elect Enrique Delgado, his back to the camera, listens as Archbishop Thomas Wenski delivers his homily at the ordination Mass. Seated at either side of the archbishop are his co-consecrators, Bishop Felipe Estevez, left, of St. Augustine, and Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, both former archdiocesan priests. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski questions Bishop-elect Enrique Delgado about his resolve to fulfill his episcopal ministry as his co-consecrators, Bishops Felipe Estevez, left, and John Noonan look on. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Bishop-elect Enrique Delgado lies prostrate on the sanctuary of St. Mary Cathedral as bishops, priests and the congregation pray the Litany of the Saints. (TOM TRACY | FC)
The choir from St. Katharine Drexel Parish, where Bishop Enrique Delgado is pastor, sing at his ordination to the episcopacy. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski lays hands on Father Enrique Delgado, calling down the Holy Spirit and at that moment ordaining him bishop.(ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Co-consecrator Bishop Felipe Estevez of St. Augustine lays hands on Bishop Enrique Delgado, calling down the Holy Spirit. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Co-consecrator Bishop John Noonan of Orlando lays hands on Bishop Enrique Delgado, calling down the Holy Spirit. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Two deacons hold the Book of the Gospels above the head of a kneeling Bishop Enrique Delgado as Archbishop Thomas Wenski recites the Prayer of Ordination, which recalls the importance and role of the bishop within the Church. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski anoints the head of Bishop Enrique Delgado with the oil of chrism. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski presents Bishop Enrique Delgado with the Book of the Gospels, commissioning him to "evangelize with patience." (TOM TRACY | FC)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski presents Bishop Enrique Delgado with his ring, a sign of his spiritual marriage to the Church. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski places the miter, another symbol of his office, on the head of Bishop Enrique Delgado. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski hands Bishop Enrique Delgado his crosier, a sign of his shepherding and governing office. (TOM TRACY | FC)
At the conclusion of the ordination rite, fellow Peruvian Bishop Lorenzo Leon, emeritus of Huacho, Peru, exchanges a kiss of peace with Bishop Enrique Delgado. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Bishop Enrique Delgado reacts to applause from the congregation and his fellow bishops as he takes his place among them after the ordination rite. At right is his fellow Miami Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino.(ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Bishop Enrique Delgado reacts to applause from the congregation and his fellow bishops as he takes his place among them after the ordination rite. (ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC)
Bishop Enrique Delgado's brother, Mario Delgado, along with his sister-in-law, Carmen Delgado, and niece Daniela Delgado take up the offertory. (TOM TRACY | FC)
A choir, composed of singers from St. Mary Cathedral and other archdiocesan churches, sings during the Mass of ordination for Miami's newest auxiliary bishop, Enrique Delgado. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Bishop Enrique Delgado gives Communion to one of his five sisters. (TOM TRACY | FC)
His voice quivering with nervousness and emotion, Bishop Enrique Delgado addresses the congregation at his ordination Mass, switching as needed from English to Spanish. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Bishop Enrique Delgado poses after the ceremony with members of the St. Katharine Drexel choir who sang at his ordination. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Bishop Enrique Delgado poses with Father Michael "Happy" Hoyer and his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Jimmy Perez. Father Hoyer has known Bishop Delgado since a few months before he entered the seminary in Miami. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Bishop Enrique Delgado takes a selfie after the ceremony with members of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. (TOM TRACY | FC)
Photography: TTracy and ARSoto | FC
MIAMI | As applause and cheers filled St. Mary Cathedral, Miami’s newest auxiliary bishop placed his hand on his heart, bowed his head gently, and smiled.
Bishop Enrique Delgado’s gesture at his ordination ceremony — repeated also during his emotional remarks at the end — typified the humility and the attitude with which he assumes his new role. As he told the people of his parish, St. Katharine Drexel, at the solemn vespers the night before:
“I have always said I am a parish priest for the people and now I am going to be a bishop for the people, because the mission of the Church is to serve,” he said. “Jesus said it very clearly that we have to be servants of the servants, and that is what a priest and a bishop is called to be, so I just want you to see me always as a servant of the Lord.”
The former industrial engineer, who also holds a master’s degree in economics with specializations in finance and accounting, and a doctorate in practical theology, is the first Peruvian to be named a bishop in the U.S. He becomes Miami’s 11th auxiliary bishop. Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Miami in 1996 in his native Lima, he has served as pastor of two parishes here: St. Justin Martyr in Key Largo from 2003 to 2010, and St. Katharine Drexel in Weston since 2010.
“In stature, a small bishop. But in life in the Spirit, very big,” said Father Michael “Happy” Hoyer, describing his longtime friend.
Photographer: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
Archbishop Thomas Wenski lays hands on Father Enrique Delgado, calling down the Holy Spirit and at that moment ordaining him bishop.
Father Hoyer, pastor of St. Gregory Parish in Plantation, has known the new bishop since before he entered the seminary, when he spent six months at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, where Father Hoyer was pastor, learning about parish life in Miami.
Father Hoyer was part of the group of Miami priests who traveled to Peru for Bishop Delgado’s priestly ordination. And he was one of two priest chaplains at his ordination to the episcopacy Dec. 7 at St. Mary Cathedral. The other was a link back home: Father Alberto Ríos, the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Arequipa, Peru.
The role of the priest chaplain in the ordination rite is to present the bishop-elect for ordination, which Father Hoyer did. Immediately after, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S., read the apostolic letter from Pope Francis appointing Father Delgado “titular bishop of Aquae Novae in Proconsulari” and auxiliary bishop to Miami. (All bishops must have a see, or geographic area to govern. Auxiliary bishops and others who do not head dioceses are made “titular” shepherds of dioceses that no longer exist.)
“Is he a good choice? Yes,” said Father Hoyer, noting that no priest starts out with the expectation of becoming a bishop. “But when the Spirit calls…”
In fact, Bishop Delgado told Father Hoyer that when Archbishop Pierre called him back in October to ask if he would be willing to serve as bishop, “I had to say yes.”
“The Holy Father and the Holy Spirit [are calling]. How are you going to say no to that?” Father Hoyer said, adding that his friend is “very excited and very happy. His life will change. He mentioned that” before the ceremony.
Among the others who are very happy with the new bishop’s appointment are his numerous family members. Bishop Delgado is the fourth of 12 children born to Rafael and Carmen Delgado.
“My mother … is watching me in heaven, and my father … is watching me in the internet,” the new bishop noted in his closing remarks, alluding to the live-streaming of the ordination Mass on the archdiocesan website, YouTube and Facebook.
“She would really be very happy,” said Bishop Delgado’s oldest brother, Rafael, referring to their mother, a daily Massgoer, who died a few years ago.
Rafael Delgado was part of a 27-member contingent of siblings, nieces and nephews who traveled to Miami for the ordination; 12 of them from Lima, the rest from Virginia and other parts of the U.S. Their father, now in his 90s, opted not to travel for the ordination.
“He was always close to the Church,” Rafael said of Enrique. So the family was not terribly surprised when, at the age of 31, he decided to leave a successful career in the secular world to enter the seminary. “The surprise came when he said he was coming to Miami to study” — a place where he really had no connections.
And now, he’s an auxiliary bishop here.
“Really, it’s like a dream,” Rafael Delgado said. “Being a bishop is a special grace.”
A grace and a privilege that Bishop Delgado is taking quite seriously, according to Father Hoyer. Prior to the ordination Mass, he said, the new bishop told him, “I pray every night that I will do the Lord’s will in everything I do.”
To which Father Hoyer said he replied, “The mere fact that you are asking all the time to do God’s will means you are doing God’s will.”
