Formation

Bishop Castaño made his novitiate in El Desierto where he also made his profession on December 30, 1963. He made his solemn profession of vows in the convent of Suba on January 28, 1967 and was ordained to the priesthood on December 8, 1971. He accomplished his studies of the humanities at the Liceo of the University of Antioquia in Medellin, La Linda, and El Desierto de la Candelaria.

He studied philosophy in Suba and theology in the Pontifical University Javeriana, Bogotá obtaining a licentiate degree. He received a doctorate in the Theology of Religious Life in Madrid, Spain. He also specialized in Biblical Theology in Rome and studied tropical medicine in Madrid.

Bishop Castaño was made a corresponding member of the Colombian Academy of Church History on November 14, 1993. He has published “El problema de Dios en el mundo actual”, “El concepto bíblico teológico luz-tinieblas en San Juan”, and several articles on religious formation. He also collaborated in the preparation of “Studium Sapientiae”, the formation document of the Augustinian Recollects.

Assignments

After ordination to the priesthood, he was assigned to the seminary in La Linda, Manizales. In 1974, he was transferred to Spain for studies and, upon his return was named prior and master of novices in La Linda. In 1980, he was named General Councilor of the Order in Rome and, in 1982 Provincial Secretary and, later, prior and professor in La Linda. He was elected prior provincial and held that office between 1989 and 1993.

In 1994, he was named superior of the missions and pastor of San José in Yopal, Casanare. Once again, he was transferred to La Linda as prior of the community. In 2001, he became the prior of the community of Manizales and pastor of the parish of Sagrado Corazón. He was prior, once again, of the Major Seminary of Philosophy, San Agustín, of La Linda when, on November 13, 2006, he received notice that Pope Benedict XVI had chosen him to be the Auxiliary Bishop of Cali. He was ordained bishop on January 27, 2007.

Diocese

The archdiocese of Cali has an extension of 2, 504 square kilometers and a population of 2, 563, 177 inhabitants. The Catholic population is 2, 178, 700. There are 304 diocesan priests, 999 priest religious, and 18 permanent deacons. The present archbishop is Juan Francisco Sagasti Jaramilo, C.I.M. and his auxiliaries are: Julio Herando Garcia Peláez, Luis Adriano Piedrahita Sandoval and Alejandro Castaño Arbeláez.

Connection arquicali@andinet.com

Province
Our Lady of Candelaria

Year of ordination Episcopal

2007

Lema
Servi vestri sumus