Argentina: Bishop Gabriel Mestre took over as parish priest in the Diocese of Chascomús

A large number of faithful arrived this Thursday in the town of Mar de Ajó, in the Diocese of Chascomús (Argentina), to accompany Bishop Gabriel Mestre in his inauguration as parish priest of Our Lady of Fátima.

The prelate assumes this new role after, last May, Pope Francis accepted his resigns as Archbishop of La Platain his own words, for issues related to the situation of recent months in the Diocese of Mar del Platawhere he had been bishop until July 2023.

At the beginning of his new task, he was accompanied by faithful from the local community, as well as representatives of the parish of Mar del Plata, in a ceremony where attendees exceeded the capacity of the temple, reaching the street.

At Our Lady of Fátima, Bishop Mestre succeeds Father Jorge Galán Ogando as parish priest, who died in March after more than 20 years at the head of the community.

A pastor who comes to give “the best of himself, which is his own life”

A heartfelt applause crowned Bishop Mestre’s profession of faith, and in his homily the Bishop of Chascomús, Bishop Juan Ignacio Liébana, recognized that the community was praying “that God sends us a pastor according to his heart. And it is seen that they prayed a lot.”

“It really is a celebration, because a shepherd comes to take charge of a flock” and give it “the best of himself, which is his own life,” he stated.

Bishop Liébana wished for Bishop Mestre “that they can celebrate and honor this friendship” with the community and that “through this friendship they can together, the shepherd and his sheep, look at Christ, look at Him who is the friend with a capital letter.” ”.

On the other hand, he wished him “the tenderness of the one who lets himself be carried away, who allows himself to be softened by this God who surprises us, and takes us along his paths and not ours… and one already puts aside so many vanities , so many things that were our securities, and tells him: you are our refuge, Lord, and I want to follow you and that you can really be my only refuge, my only stronghold.

“That is why we ask the Lord, and the community as well, that receives this gift, that together they can also walk on this path that we have been insisting or inviting for a long time, of closeness, compassion and tenderness,” he encouraged.

Bishop Mestre’s plan: Announce the presence of Christ

To conclude the celebration, Bishop Mestre addressed a few words to the community, in which he was “deeply happy,” and expressed his gratitude to God “for the gift of life, faith and vocation.”

“Give thanks to Pope Francis who allows me this service in this community and in particular to Monsignor Juan Ignacio, who opened his arms and immediately gave me the possibility of coming to serve as pastor in the diocese that he pastors in this community.”

The prelate thanked the priests, the authorities, his family, and “lay people, friends, consecrated men and women, priests, deacons, seminarians who have come from the communities that I had to shepherd, La Plata and Mar del Plata, to accompany me on this day.”

In a particular way, he thanked the community that receives him, and Bishop Liébana. Inspired by the missionary impulse of the Bishop of Chascomús, Bishop Mestre quoted Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium: “I dream of a missionary option capable of transforming everything.”

“I do not have any particular plan, but simply what the Church, through the Pope and the Bishop, asks of me, which clearly goes along this line of the joy of the Gospel,” he summarized.

“United to Jesus, united to the Virgin, under the invocation of Our Lady of Fátima, here at the parish headquarters and in the three communities that are part of this beloved parish, we can truly announce in time and out of time the presence of Christ, who “It gives meaning, strength and life,” he longed.