Bishop Flores shares message of compassion, unity this Easter weekend

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SAN JUAN — The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle was filled to capacity Wednesday as an estimated 3,000 parishioners attended the annual Chrism Mass.

The event saw representatives from the 72 parishes and 44 mission churches in the Diocese of Brownsville. Many in attendance were there to show support for the dozens of priests as they renewed their commitment to priestly service.

They were also there to witness Bishop Daniel E. Flores consecrate the Chrism and bless the other sacred oils before it is distributed to the parishes within the diocese to be used throughout the year.

After the Mass, the mood was festive as parishioners cheered for and took photographs of the priests of their respective dioceses outside of the Basilica.

Inside the Basilica, Flores took a moment to reflect on the state of the Catholic church in the Rio Grande Valley and share a message for the Easter weekend.

Echoing the homily he’d delivered moments earlier to a crowd from all four counties of the Rio Grande Valley, the bishop urged his congregation to be compassionate.

“The message is we really have to care about each other, and especially take care of the most vulnerable,” Flores said. “That was kind of the message tonight.”

Flores said that being able to share his message with a larger audience at the Basilica representing the entirety of his diocese felt like an opportunity to recommit “to being agents of the compassion of Christ and of hope in the world.”

Given the current state of the country, which has caused division between individuals on a political spectrum, Flores said that his congregation has remained united.

“There’s people who have different views on things. That’s not new,” Flores said. “I think in the Valley, there’s people who obviously vote differently and think differently about political issues.”

“But in the church, I think we have a pretty good sense that people recognize that fundamentally our faith calls us to be united — and in faith, be a people of mercy,” he continued. “We do that locally, and maybe that differs to what the solutions are, but I don’t find a lot of acrimony in the parishes. I really don’t.”

He referenced Pope Francis’s message to the Synod of Bishops in which he urged unity despite difference of opinions.

“We really need to be an example to the world of how you could have strongly different views on things, but still not sort of have to end up in an argument or in a fist fight,” Flores said. “That’s part of the witness of the communion of the Church. We really do need to recognize that what unites us in the faith and the charity that we’re supposed to offer to the world is that the love of Christ in the world is bigger than our disagreements.

“It could get, you know, somewhat testy, but I think actually the Valley is a fairly blessed place in terms of that we’re not as polarized as I know exists in other places.”

The bishop acknowledged that there is growing fear among people uncertain of President Donald Trump’s new policies — specifically immigration. Faith-based humanitarian organizations have fallen under the sights of conservative political offices, particularly Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which continues to face legal scrutiny under the state attorney general.

Still, Flores said that the Church will find other means to keep separated families connected and provide assistance to needy individuals.

“The people are affected, and the Church simply responds to people,” Flores said. “That’s the way it works. It’s happening all across, and we have people who respond to it.”

He described the fears associated with the new immigration policies as “very real”. He said that the Church as well as lawmakers can not be blind to what is happening “como que si no esta pasando, as if it’s not happening.”

“I mean, how can we make an immigration policy if nobody ever talks to immigrants,” Flores asked. “I just don’t understand this, because it’s people. As long as the church is keeping it real and keeping it human, then sooner or later the political structure of both parties need to kind of come to a decision as to, ‘Is this really what we want?’”

“We’ll continue to help people,” he continued. “I mean, we won’t break the law, but we’ll continue to help people.”

Despite the vitriolic rhetoric that may consume and divide many of all backgrounds, Flores called on the people of the Rio Grande Valley to try to put worry aside and celebrate the Easter weekend with family and friends, and as a community.

“There’s a lot of worry in the world. There’s a lot of uncertainty and sort of anxiety, but one of the things that’s a gift here in the Valley is that people take the occasions to gather and to have a celebration, to have food,” Flores said. “You know, you can’t let things keep you from having a joyful experience. That’s what the announcement of the resurrection is.”

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