Bishop Ruiz on eve of anniv. celebration Fri, 4 Feb 2000 08:13:25 -0500 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - PRENSA NUEVO AMANECER Translation by: DUANE EDIGER from El Diario de Yucatan, January 24, 2000 Bishop Samuel Ruiz recognized that much remains to be done in the Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas and expressed fear because of expectations generated by the pastoral work carried out over the last 40 years. On the eve of the celebration marking 40 years as Bishop of this diocese, he said he was going to disappoint the hundreds attending the evening Mass, because he had "nothing to say." And he ended by saying that he is still "too immature" to undertake the tasks ahead. Accompanied by Bishop Raul Vera Lopez, who called him a prophet, he emphasized that the richness of these last days’ experiences gave him a feeling of great happiness but also one of being "overwhelmed and almost afraid in the face of the tremendous responsibility our humble and small diocese carries on its shoulders." He added that people observing the pastoral work from around the world "have generated expectations that did not originate here, but from the way we are looked on so caringly by others, from the way in which God’s action has proliferated in our midst. I am a bit startled," he insisted, "seeing all the expectations people have, that have been placed upon us. I have a great hope that the Lord will not abandon us." He said that small tasks and the strong testimony of the humblest, in addition to the blood of the martyrs, is crying out not for vengeance but for the presence of he Lord. "Greater fruits are to come," he said. And he pronouced himself in favor of ecumenism. Bishop Vera Lopez asserted that "don Samuel is a prophet who lives in the heart of God." He pointed out that in spite of 40 years of work in this diocese, don Samuel Ruiz recognizes that there are many things yet to be done. In closing, he emphasized, "Your pastoral plan is in your pastoral heart, which is encased in the heart of God… you have given us the key to your secret: to enter into the heart of God in order, from there, to build the project that God desires." The newly reasigned Bishop of Saltillo added with sentiment, "We have a lot to do, wherever we are." PRENSA NUEVO AMANECER-NUEVO AMANECER PRESS-N.A.P. PARA CONOCERNOS, VISITE NUESTRA PAGINA DE WEB: http://www.nap.cuhm.mx/nap0.htm DIRECTOR GENERAL: ROGER MALDONADO-MEXICO Coordinacion: Susana Saravia (antes Anibarro) Director NAP-Europa: Darrin Wood Director de Comunicacion Alternativa NAP Mexico-USA: Rodrigo Bengochea-Mexico. NAP: amanecer@cuhm.mx y amanecer@aa.net UNA PRENSA EN APOYO A LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS ******************************************** ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytcamer-02.04.00-08:13:22-29556