Washington D.C., Apr 27, 2011 / 08:41 am
Pope Benedict appointed Bishop Felipe de Jesus Estevez, a former auxiliary bishop of Miami, to lead the northeastern Florida diocese of St. Augustine.
“I congratulate Bishop Estevez on his appointment,” Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said on April 27. “He brings many gifts to Northeast Florida – as a priest, he has served as a pastor, spiritual director, seminary rector, and as a very effective preacher of retreats and missions.”
Bishop Estevez, 65, will replace current St. Augustine Bishop Victor Benito Galeone, who offered his resignation upon reaching the retirement age of 75.
“While the People of God here in South Florida rejoice over Northeast Florida’s good fortune in having Bishop Estevez as their new shepherd,” Archbishop Wenski added, “we will certainly miss him.”