In his homily, Msgr. Giambattista Diquatro underscored the figure of the Good Shepherd. God is the Pastor of Israel, and in Christ, the Good Shepherd, God and man are united. “The Resurrected Christ, by his Word, calls to participate in the Church. He is the Living Pastor within the apostles and their successors, and whose Spirit leads to the complete truth in order to give life and to spread this gift." He addressed the new bishop, saying: "God came into his life from the moment he received the waters of baptism and Jesus is asking him to feed his sheep, to have faith and to love his flock."
He asked him that just as he has responded to the Good Shepherd, he must teach the disciples to say yes. He must offer himself to the people who awaits him as their pastor. "The Church of Bocas welcomes and awaits you as their pastor. The Church of Bocas must also welcome their pastor with the gift of love, that they may love, in their pastor, the Good Shepherd who gives life for His sheep." The Nuncio concluded by inviting the new bishop to take upon himself the words of Saint Augustine: "I desire to know myself and to know you, to act out love for you, and not for myself, to deny myself in order to follow you, to distrust myself in order to trust you, to be poor for you in order to take pleasure in you eternally. "
A Living Church who offers life and hope
The new Prelate of Bocas del Toro, MonsignorAníbal Saldaña, gave a brief speech before concluding the celebration. He expressed his joy in seeing a Church alive, "committed to the values of the Gospel, especially to its first and fundamental value, that is, Life, a life worthy of human beings which is not only a patrimony of a few, but a joy shared by all. "
He addressed the people of Ngobe-Bugle and Naso, expressing his joy because "the Church offers these marginalized people a liberating Word of life and hope: The Word of God, who in Jesus, became human and a friend, who does only give comfort, but also saves. "
The new bishop also greeted the English-speaking people of Bocas. "Their ancestors, many of whom were from the English-speaking Caribbean islands, became part of this country, long before the birth of the republic. Their Afroantillan roots are the pride of Bocas del Toro and Panama. For Catholics, and the brothers from other religious denominations, this your servant welcomes you in the love of Christ. I am sure that through the ecumenical dialogue, we can together, move forward on the path of unity ardently desired by Christ. "
The new bishop of the prelature of Bocas del Toro thanked the work of his predecessor, Monsignor Augustín Ganuza from whom he receives"a living church,with missionary awareness, that faces the challenge of inculturating the Gospel among the people of Ngobe-Bugle and Naso."
A Moving Farewell of Monsignor Ganuza
After nearly forty years of presence in Bocas del Toro, Monsignor Jose Agustin Ganuza bid goodbye with these touching words: " You, brothers of Bocas del Toro, have captivated me,by the many years of fellowship you had with me. I have been captivated by your generous reception, your understanding and your help, by your cooperation, by your way of loving. So, now I must ask you “to set me free.” Let me be freed, so that I may leave this afternoon in serenity and at peace with everyone. As I have loved you and I love you, you can be sure that, using words of Scripture , I will always remember you, and I will take you with me like a tattoo on my arm, like a mark on my heart. "
A great number of faithful present in the celebration
Numerous faithful from the parishes of Bocas, Changuinola, Almirante and Kankintú filled the cathedral. The liturgical celebration went on as indicated in the ritual and concluded with the Eucharist. As in great feasts, the singing , offerings and applauses added color to the celebration.
Msgr. Giambattista Diquattro, Apostolic Nuncio of His Holiness to Panama, presided the celebration as the Principal Consecrator, accompanied by two Augustinian Recollect bishops as Co-Consecrators, Msgr. Agustín Ganuza, bishop emeritus of the Prelature, and Msgr. Jose Luis Lacunza, president of the episcopal conference of Panamana. There were other eight Augustinian Recollect Bishops present: three from Colombia, Alejandro Castaño, Olavio López and Héctor Javier Pizarro; one from Costa Rica, Ángel San Casimiro; two from Perú, Emiliano Cisneros and Fortunato Pablo, and one from Guatemala, Mario Molina. Six bishops from Panama also participated in the said celebration: Pablo Varela, Oscar Mario Brown, José Domingo Ulloa, Uriah Asley, Fernando Torres and Audilio Aguilar.
Fr. Javier Guerra, Prior General, Alfonso Lorda, Prior Provincial of Our Lady of Consolation, José David Niño, Prior Provincial of Our Lady of Candelaria, and Franciso Sevolani, Prior Provincial of St. Rita were also present. Missionaries from Bocas del Toro, religious from various communities in Panama and other Augustinian Recollects from Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Mexico also came for the celebration.
After the litrugical celebration, food was served to the guests at the Parish Hall. At the end of the celebration, Monsignor Saldaña stayed already in the island ready to begin his pastoral work and Monsigor Ganuza went back to Panama with the other religious who attended the ordination.