Raymundo Joseph Peña (February 19, 1934 – September 24, 2021) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.[1] He served as the bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville in Texas from 1995 to 2009, bishop of the Diocese of El Paso in Texas from 1980 to 1995 and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in Texas from 1976 to 1980.
Raymundo Joseph Peña | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Brownsville titular bishop of Trisipa | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Brownsville |
| Appointed | May 23, 1994 |
| Installed | August 6, 1995 |
| Term ended | December 9, 2009 |
| Predecessor | Enrique San Pedro |
| Successor | Daniel E. Flores |
| Previous post(s) | Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio Bishop of El Paso |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 25, 1957 by Mariano Simon Garriga |
| Consecration | December 13, 1976 by Francis James Furey, Patrick Flores, and Thomas Joseph Drury |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 19, 1934 |
| Died | September 24, 2021 (aged 87) San Juan, Texas, US |
| Motto | Haz todo con amor (Do everything with love) |
| Styles of Raymundo Joseph Peña | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Biography
editEarly life
editBorn in Corpus Christi, Texas on February 19, 1934, Raymundo Peña was the son of Cosme A. Peña and Elisa Ramon Peña. He attended both public and parochial schools in Robstown, Texas, then went to St. John's Seminary and Assumption Seminary, both in San Antonio, Texas.
Priesthood
editPeña was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Corpus Christi on May 25, 1957, at Corpus Christi Cathedral by Bishop Mariano Garriaga.[2][3]
Peña was named as diocesan youth director in 1970, holding the position until 1976. In 1969, Peña was also appointed pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Corpus Christi, serving there until 1976. He became editor of the Texas Gulf Coast Catholic paper in 1970, along with vice-president of the Senate of Priests.[3]
Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio
editOn October 16, 1976, Pope Paul VI named Peña as titular bishop of Trisipa and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He was consecrated at the Convention Center Arena in San Antonio on December 13, 1976, by Archdiocese Francis Furey.[2][3]
In 1977, Peña was named as vicar general for the archdiocese as well as executive director of the Office of the Laity. In April 1979, after the death of Archbishop Francis Furey, Peña served as administrator sede vacante for the archdiocese until the installation of Patrick Flores as archbishop later in 1979.[3]
Bishop of El Paso
editOn April 4, 1980, Pope John Paul II appointed Peña as Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso, He was installed on June 18, 1980.[2]
Bishop of Brownsville
editOn May 23, 1995, John Paul II appointed Peña as Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville. He was installed on August 6, 1995.[2]
On December 6, 2004, the Dallas Morning News published a report on how Peña handled accusations of sexual abuse against a foreign priest. Basil Onyia, a Nigerian priest, arrived in Diocese of Brownsville in 1999 and was assigned as assistant pastor of the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle. In January 2009, Peña received complaints from two women in the parish that Onyia was touching them inappropriately. He told Onyia to stop it. In April 2000, after a woman filed a police complaint, Peña transferred Onyia. Later in 2000, two priests complained to Peña about Onyia's conduct. In January 2001, Peña asks Onyia's bishop in Nigeria to recall him. In February 2001, the relatives of a developmentally disabled girl accused Onyia of rape. Peña finally suspended Onyia, who fled to Nigeria to avoid arrest.[4]
Resignation
editPeña submitted his letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville to the Congregation for Bishops upon reaching 75. His resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on December 9, 2009.[2]
Raymundo Peña died in San Juan, Texas on September 24, 2021, at age 87.[2]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Raymundo J. Peña biography.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bishop Raymundo Joseph Peña [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "past bishops – Diocese of Brownsville". Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ "The Case of Father Basil Onyia, Dallas Morning News, December 6, 2004". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
External links
edit
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville Archived December 20, 2017, at the Wayback Machine