November 20, 2009 |
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Feedback on new bishop: ‘Colorado? Wow’Parishioners react with joy — and sadness — to Father Fernando Isern’s appointment as bishop of the Pueblo diocese. 
ANA RODRIGUEZ–SOTO | FC Posted: 10.15.09 MIAMI | When told that her pastor, Father Fernando Isern, had been appointed bishop of Pueblo, Colo., Eldi Cox did a double take. “Oh my gosh! I didn’t even know. Wow, in Colorado? Wow,” said the mother of six, who has been a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes in Kendall for the past two years. “It doesn’t surprise me that he is becoming a bishop because to me he always had the mark of a bishop. I always thought it,” Cox said. “What surprises me is the location. But I always thought he would eventually become a bishop.” Tom Halfaker, who for the past five years has served as principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School, said, “I have mixed emotions. We’re absolutely thrilled for Father Fernando. They could not have found a pastor more caring and more humble who puts his people first than Father Fernando. We’re sad because we’re losing him.” Halfaker said that Father Isern had addressed the school’s 660 students via the public address system Oct. 15, the day his appointment was announced. He explained the process of becoming bishop to them and also visited some of the classrooms. “I’m totally shocked,” said Father Eric Zegeer, who served his first assignment as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes and is currently serving at All Saints Parish in Sunrise. He described his former pastor as “a man of prayer with a very gentle disposition. He is very approachable and I always used to see him in prayer both at the adoration chapel at the church and also at the rectory.” “A very humble, prayerful pastor has been chosen to be the bishop of Pueblo, Colorado. It is God raising the humble and giving them great things to do,” said Miami Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Estévez, who was Bishop–elect Isern’s rector at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. Bishop Estévez praised the new bishop’s ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes. “He helped expand the school, he had real challenges, and he had a multitude of people to tend to. He had a number of young priests to farm and teach them pastoral ministry and he did it quite well. I think it was a witness to charity: the charity of the Good Shepherd who gives his life for the flock. That attracted the attention of the bishops,” Bishop Estévez said. He was alluding to the process by which, every three years, bishops from each province suggest the names of priests they believe would make good bishops. The list is kept by the apostolic nuncio in Washington, D.C., who forwards three names to the Holy See when a diocesan see is vacated. “Bishop–elect Isern is a priest who loves his priesthood, and who lives a life of prayer and trust in God,” said Sister Marisa Ducote of the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart, who serves as principal of Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School in Miami. In addition to his duties as pastor, Bishop–elect Isern has served as president of the high school since 2008. Father Michael Davis, former president of Archbishop Carroll High School and priest in–residence at Our Lady of Lourdes for six years, described the new bishop as “a prayerful man with a docile temperament and pastor’s heart. I think he will be a superb bishop. He is so kindly and I think his pastor’s heart will give the Diocese of Pueblo the shepherdly care that they deserve.” “I’m surprised that he is going that far away to the other side of the country,” Father Davis added. “He is going to have to pack some winter clothes and coats because it is a whole different world there.” “It is a joyous day for the Church in Miami and the Church in Colorado,” said Augustinian Father Richard Mullen, who was parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes from 2002 to 2005 and is currently serving at Little Flower in Hollywood. “We should all direct our prayers in asking the Holy Spirit to guide and direct him in his new responsibilities as a successor to the apostles.”
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