The Episcopal ordination of Monsignor Alfonso Raimo

It was celebrated this morningat 10.30, on the Primaziale Cathedral of Salernoil Ceremony of Episcopal Ordination of the Rev. Monsignor Alfonso Raimo, appointed, final April 30, by Pope Francis, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, with registered workplace in Termini Imerese. Presiding over the Eucharistic Celebration was the Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, His Excellency Monsignor Andrea Bellandiwith the Co-Consecrating Bishops alongside, His Excellency Monsignor Pasquale CascioArchbishop of Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi and Vice President of the CEC and His Excellency Monsignor Antonio De LucaBishop of Teggiano-Policastro and CEC Secretary, within the presence of round 20 Archbishops and Bishops coming not solely from Campania, together with His Excellency Monsignor Peter WhyBishop of the Diocese of Dedza -Malawi, in addition to of the Civil and Navy Authorities, mayors and representatives of different religions.

«Nearly 26 years have handed for the reason that final episcopal ordination of a member of the Salerno clergy and exactly from Acernese, Monsignor Michelle De Rosaappointed Bishop of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant’Agata de’Goti – started His Excellency Monsignor Bellandi – As we speak’s occasion, after so lengthy, should subsequently be learn, initially, as an indication of specific consideration and affection that the Holy Father has paid, with the election of Don Alfonso, to our native church, guardian of the stays of the apostle and evangelist Matthew. And, on the similar time, it represents an additional expression of his pastoral care in the direction of all of the church buildings and his Pastors – for the great of the trustworthy – in order that the Gospel of Christ could be introduced with ever larger effectiveness and capillarity.”

Within the homily, the Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno goes on: “The letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy, which was first proclaimed, reminds us of the genuine which means and horizon of the Episcopal Ministry, inserted within the succession of the apostolic ministry. Paul reminds his brother Timothy – ordained bishop himself – to bear witness to the Lord not with a spirit of timidity, however of power, charity and prudence. Like Paul, Timothy too was thus constituted a messenger, apostle and trainer and like him subsequently known as to present his entire life to bear witness to the Lord and his Gospel, not fearing the inevitable struggling and misunderstandings that such testimony might entail, relying solely on to divine grace. In truth – Saint Paul reminds us once more – he known as us with a holy vocation, not on the idea of our works, however based on his plan and his grace».

His Excellency Monsignor Bellandi, subsequently, quoted a brief passage taken from the speech given by Pope Francis to clergymen and consecrated individuals on his current journey to Verona, to recollect the necessity to «welcome the decision acquired, welcome the present with which God shocked us. If we lose this conscience and this reminiscence, we danger placing ourselves on the middle as a substitute of the Lord; with out this reminiscence we danger changing into agitated round initiatives and actions that serve our causes greater than that of the Kingdom. We additionally danger dwelling the apostolate within the logic of selling ourselves and in search of consensus, making an attempt to make a profession, and that is very unhealthy, as a substitute of spending our lives for the Gospel and for a free service to the Church”, he added.

«The trail of the disciple can’t be completely different from that of the divine Grasp obedient to the Father, in order that the Gospel should at all times be introduced, in each circumstance, applicable and inappropriate, as Paul will write later on this letter to the disciple. That is our first obligation as bishops: to announce to the women and men of our time the luminous reality of Christ and to suggest the joyful expertise of communion within the church, with the enjoyment of the Gospel and the liberty, frankness, parrhesia of testimony» continues HE Monsignor Bellandi, then addressing Monsignor Raimo immediately. «The kinds with which your Episcopal Ministry should categorical itself, expensive Don Alfonso, are additional illuminated by the ordination ceremony that we’re going to perform. These are kinds that can discover clarification, specifically, within the dialogue to which I’ll shortly invite you: constancy to the apostolic succession, evangelical proclamation, custody of the deposit of religion, ecclesial communion with me and with the opposite Bishops underneath the steering of the Successor of Peter, care of the Christian individuals and their ministers, welcoming the poor, looking out for individuals who are lacking, perseverance in prayer. This will probably be your each day train, which will probably be supported by fraternal collaboration with me and, I hope, by the love and esteem of our Presbytery, along with the instance of religion, hope and charity that our individuals at all times handle in abundance to speak to us and to which, in a spirit of synodality, we Pastors are always known as to look».

After expressing some reflections on the textual content of the Gospel of Saint Matthew heard, specifically, to humility as a vital disposition of thoughts that should information our steps, the Archbishop confirmed that Monsignor Raimo will proceed to be his first collaborator within the management of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, however «from at present in your new episcopal dignity. Let it – along with these of religion and charity – might or not it’s the advantage of hope that guides and helps you, this advantage that you just needed to recall each in your episcopal motto (hope doesn’t disappoint), and within the coat of arms, via the picture of the anchor, current within the Letter to the Hebrews. In truth, simply because the anchor pulls and holds the ship regular even within the midst of a stormy sea, so – wrote the poet Pèguy – the little hope pulls religion and charity. She is small and humble, however it’s she who makes us stroll, as a result of her basis is what’s most trustworthy and certain there could be: the love that God himself has poured into our hearts», he concluded.

Visibly excited, Monsignor Raimo: «I’ve tried in useless to gather and order scattered ideas that crowd my ideas today and chase one another in confusion, usually arousing conflicting emotions. To make extra stable the concern that has been rising as at present’s date approaches, the phrases of Cardinal Martini who acknowledged that when somebody has been known as to the ministry of the episcopal presidency, he’s positioned in a roundabout way on a candelabra and should give the great instance to many, particularly clergymen. I’m comforted by the prospect of having the ability to proceed to serve the Church in Salerno-Campagna-Acerno in continuity with what I’ve tried to do in my 34 years of priestly life, particularly in these final 4 years as Vicar Normal of the Archdiocese . – he stated – I sincerely thank our Archbishop Monsignor Bellandi for providing me this chance, inserting his belief in a stranger, and much more for confirming me in service after having met me. If within the first case he closed one eye, within the second he closed each», he added smiling.

“Throughout this time, expensive brothers, the truth that usually emerged from the day of the announcement of my appointment by the Pontiff, regarding the years which have handed for the reason that final episcopal consecration of a presbyter of our archdiocese, has been a supply of disorientation and embarrassment. . Since then I’ve been accompanied by the reminiscence of many clergymen who, as a consequence of their pastoral perspective, depth of doctrine and holiness of life, would have been extra worthy of being in my place. The query arises spontaneously. Why to me? Conscious of my apparent limitations and the fragilities which have emerged over the various years of priestly life and pastoral dedication, I can sincerely confess that I’ve by no means desired the Episcopate. Despite the fact that I make an effort to recall my previous commitments in reminiscence, I can’t discover advantage, or, not less than, I now not discover any advantage than my fellow clergymen. Cardinal Martini in a well-known booklet devoted to the Episcopate wrote: amongst males there’s a weak spot known as ambition from which it is very important know easy methods to defend oneself as a lot as potential. Pray for me in order that the ambition I’ve lacked doesn’t tackle the options of presumption and ostentation. I do not discover any advantage in myself (I hope I am not responsible of false modesty) and having to discover a motive for this election, I discover consolation within the expressions utilized by St. Leo the Nice: He, in order that I like him very a lot, has forgiven me a lot: and to point out his marvelous grace he bestowed his presents on him in whom he discovered no titles of particular advantage. If I actually have to seek out advantage, I do not discover it in myself, however in all those that through the course of my priestly life supported me with fixed prayer, inspired me, forgave me, particularly the members of the three parish communities who had been entrusted to me and to whom I used to be entrusted with the care and progress of my Ministry – he urges Monsignor Raimo– Proceed to hope in order that the reproach of St. Gregory the Nice who blamed the sloth of some who, regardless of having assumed the priestly workplace (on this case episcopal), don’t perform the works that the workplace entails”.

READ THE INTERVIEW WITH MONSIGNOR RAIMO