By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami

JACKSONVILLE � Calling himself �a link in a chain� that began when Spanish missionaries planted a cross on the sands of St. Augustine, Bishop Felipe de Jes�s Est�vez began his ministry in Florida�s mother diocese by urging the faithful to commit themselves to �proclaim anew the Gospel of the cross.�

�It was here that the Gospel message entered North America through the gate of Florida,� Bishop Est�vez told a joyous crowd that filled St. Joseph Church for the two-hour, bilingual installation Mass that was televised live on EWTN, TV Marti (which broadcasts to Cuba) and live-streamed on the diocesan and archdiocesan websites. �Therefore it is not unusual that a Hispanic-American comes to you today, to continue with new vigor the glorious work of evangelization in Florida.�

Filled with the pomp and pageantry of 2,000 years of Catholic tradition, the Mass began with a long procession of deacons and priests from the Diocese of St. Augustine and the Archdiocese of Miami, where Bishop Est�vez served as priest and auxiliary bishop for most of his priesthood. The procession continued with Knights of Columbus, Knights and Dames of Malta and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, followed by bishops from outside the United States, including Haiti and Cuba, around the country and the entire state of Florida.

Applause rang out when Bishop Est�vez entered the church. Then, Msgr. Jean-Francois Lantheaume, counselor of the apostolic nunciature and representative of the papal nuncio in the United States, read aloud the apostolic mandate by which Pope Benedict XVI �relieved� Bishop Est�vez of his duties as auxiliary bishop of Miami and assigned him new �rights and responsibilities� as chief shepherd of the Diocese of St. Augustine.

Father Michael Morgan, diocesan chancellor, then showed the mandate to the diocese�s College of Consultors and held it up for the congregation to see. Immediately afterward, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, metropolitan of the Province of Miami, and St. Augustine�s retired bishop, Victor Galeone, led Bishop Est�vez to the presidential chair. They also handed him the crosier, or shepherd�s staff, symbolizing his new office.

The rite of installation concluded with representatives of various diocesan groups and ministries � from the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine and students representing the diocesan schools to the chief of an ancient Appalachee tribe � walking up to greet the bishop and offer him their congratulations and welcome.

�As the new bishop of St. Augustine, I pray we are graced with a new Pentecost for the Church in America,� Bishop Est�vez said during his homily. �The Church of the Eucharist needs to be born again and again, worshiping the living, triune God, the absolute priority of our lives.�

�True worship leads to true service,� Bishop Est�vez continued. �Like the one who loved us and gave himself for us, we are called to humbly serve our neighbor. We are to love each person as Christ, who shed his most precious blood for everyone without exception. � I pray that we might be energized by the Eucharist and always seek to honor the Eucharistic Lord! I also pray that we might be a force to bring about a more civil and just society, a society of love that manifests the harmony and peace of the Eucharistic kingdom in our midst.�

As a visible sign of that harmony, the prayers of the faithful were recited in a number of languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog (Philippines), French, Korean and English.

�He wants to be very inclusive,� said Carmen Valdivia, vice president of Operation Pedro Pan Group, the organization created by the children who came to the U.S. from Cuba via the Pedro Pan program in the early 1960s. Bishop Est�vez is a �Pedro Pan�, as they call themselves, and continues to be involved in the group, which now dedicates itself to charitable works on behalf of children.

�We feel that everything is connecting. We�re very excited,� said Valdivia, who attended the installation Mass along with the group�s president, Carmen Roma�ach, and second vice-president, Juan Pujol.

Valdivia was referring to the circular nature of the history that has brought Bishop Est�vez to St. Augustine: Pedro Pan was facilitated by Msgr. Bryan Walsh, an Irish priest who worked in Miami and wound up helping Cuban immigrants; Father Felix Varela, who grew up in St. Augustine, was a Cuban priest who wound up helping Irish immigrants in New York; and now Bishop Est�vez, a Pedro Pan, comes home to the diocese that nurtured Father Varela.

�He�s been walking with us as a spiritual leader,� Pujol said of Bishop Est�vez. �We�re going to miss him.�

Sister Christine Zimorski, on the other hand, a Sister of St. Joseph of St. Augustine who worked in Miami, said she was �ecstatic� that Bishop Est�vez has been assigned here.

Her general superior, Sister Jane Stoecker, who also worked many years in Miami, said she was �hopeful that he will share his holiness with us. I see him as a very strong man, very humble, and very holy. All of those graces will not only affect the Diocese of St. Augustine, but will have a very positive effect on our congregation.�

�It�s a big job,� said Jim Kersten, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church who attended the installation Mass. He was referring to St. Augustine�s 170,000 Catholics.

�That�s a large flock. I know God has chosen him for a reason,� Kersten continued, referring to Bishop Est�vez. "He�s up to the task.�

To see a slideshow of Mass photos, go to the Diocese of St. Augustine website.