Statement
of The Very Reverend Fr. Louis Caputo, S.D.V., The Society of Divine Vocations and I are extremely happy and thankful for the election of our confrere, Fr. Edgar daCunha, to be auxiliary bishop of Newark. We express our gratitude to His Holiness, John Paul II, to the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Montalvo, and to His Excellency, Archbishop John Myers of Newark. Bishop Edgar daCunha, S.D.V. is the first Vocationist Bishop. He was born in a Vocationist parish, baptized by a Vocationist priest, received his early education in our Vocationary, and has always been fascinated by the charism of our congregation and the holiness of our founder, the Venerable Fr. Justin Russolillo. In his 21 years as a priest, Fr. Edgar has been an excellent representative of our community and has rendered very important services within the US Delegation as Vocation Director, Pastor, Religious Superior, Novice Master, member of the General Chapter, and Delegate of the Fr. General. In the footsteps of Fr. Justin, Bishop daCunha has made his option for the poor and dedicated his life to foster and educate vocations to the priesthood and religious life. He has been aiming at divine union, our ultimate goal, by promoting universal sanctification. I am sure he will be a great bishop, an industrious and humble service of the saints, by bringing to his ministry the rich Vocationist spirituality, the untamable optimism of Fr. Justin, based on a profound esteem for every human being. For us, a very small religious community, it will be difficult to replace Fr. Edgar in his leadership role. His elevation to the episcopacy creates a big hole in the US Delegation of the Vocationist Fathers, but we are happy to offer him to the Church of Newark and to the universal Church. I entrust Bishop Edgar daCunha, S.D.V. to our Lady of Divine Vocations and to Venerable Fr. Justin, so that he may be a bishop according to the heart of Jesus, and pray that he may be a great “saint and sanctifier.” As I have been proud of him as a brother, friend and co-worker, so I hope to be always proud of him as a Bishop. The presence of 16 Vocationist priests that have come from Italy, Brazil and India to participate in the liturgy of his ordination, as well as the presence of Mother General, Vicar General and Treasurer General of the Vocationist Sisters, is but a small expression of the esteem and love that he enjoys within our Congregation. God’s blessings and ours! September 3, 2003
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