New
Auxiliary Bishop Ordained for Newark Archdiocese The Most Reverend Nicholas A. DiMarzio, Bishop-Designate of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Administrator of the Diocese of Camden, and the Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, were co-consecrators. This festive and moving multi-lingual liturgy, which took place at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, was significant in several ways. Bishop daCunha is the first Brazilian-born priest to be named a bishop for service in the United States, and the first member of his religious congregation to be named a bishop. In his homily during the ordination liturgy, Archbishop Myers stated: “Bishop daCunha, you have experienced that moment which all other bishops have – a communications by phone, letter or telegram informing you of the Holy Father’s decision to call you to the Office of Bishop. You know the feeling of unworthiness. But you also have faith in the power of God. “ We in the Archdiocese of Newark are ever so happy and grateful that you said, “Yes” as you have generously and beautifully in your years of priestly service among us. We are a particular Church of great ethnic diversity. While this brings its own challenges, it brings many more gifts. “We are proud and grateful for the active participation in the lives of our parishes of people literally from every part of the globe. The human family is well represented here in the Archdiocese.” In referring to the role of the Bishop to a local Church, the Archbishop said, “These ministers are Servants of God and Servants of God’s people. They are instruments of His peace and of His love, which He offers through Jesus Christ, the sole mediator between God and man.” The Archbishop also spoke briefly of the new bishop’s motto, and its relevance to today’s concerns in the Church. “But as Bishop daCunha has so wisely gleaned from Holy Scripture, ‘Sufficit Tibi Gratia Mea’ – My grace is sufficient for you. No matter how dark the sky, no matter how bleak the outlook, no matter how weak we feel in the face of terrible problems – My grace – the Grace of Jesus Christ – is sufficient for us to carry on. And we shall.” In remarks to the gathered assembly delivered in English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, Bishop daCunha said: “As this beautiful celebration unfolded in this majestic Cathedral here this afternoon, one question kept coming to my mind. ‘What am I doing here?’ And the voice of God within me said, ‘I called you and brought you here.’ I say this with the hope that this becomes as clear to all of you as it is to me that this is all God’s doing.” The new Bishop also spoke to members of his family, who traveled to Newark from Brazil for the ordination, to the members of the Vocationist religious community to which he belongs, and to the many parishioners in attendance from St. Michael’s, Newark and St. Nicholas, Palisades Park, where he has served as a priest in the Archdiocese. “I want you all to know how important it is for me and for the Church that you are here today. Your presence, your faith, your prayers and your friendship are all deeply appreciated. We are making history here today and you are part of this historical moment. The first Brazilian to become a bishop in the United States and the first Vocationist to become a bishop. I say this with the humility of one who is absolutely certain that it is not my own merit that made this happen, but the Goodness of the Lord. He made this happen. All I had to do was say ‘Yes.’” Bishop Edgar M. daCunha was ordained a priest on March 27, 1982 in Newark for the Society of Divine Vocations, a religious congregation founded in Italy in 1920 to serve the poor. He has served his entire priestly life in the Archdiocese of Newark. The 50 year-old Bishop is the son of Josefa and Manoel daCunha of Nova Fatima, Bahia, Brazil. He was born on August 21, 1953 and attended local schools. He is a graduate of the Universidade Catolica Fatima dos Salvados with a degree in Philosophy. He studied for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, NJ. After ordination in 1982, Fr. daCunha served as a parochial vicar at St. Michael’s Parish, Newark. He then served in St. Nicholas, Palisades Park, becoming pastor of the parish in 1987. Both parishes are staffed by priests from the Society of Divine Vocations. From 1994 until 2000, Fr. daCunha served as director of the Vocationary, the house of formation that the Society maintains in Florham Park, NJ. In this role, he was responsible for leading young men through the discernment process and toward service in religious life with the Vocationist Fathers and Brothers. He returned to pastorship in 2000 as pastor of St. Michael, Newark. Pope John Paul II named him titular Bishop of Ucres and Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark on June 27, 2003.
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