Mexican bishop's generosity pays benefits as vocations flourish

Published: 2006-04-05

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) -- When Bishop Jose Andres Corral Arredondo became bishop of the brand-new Diocese of Parral, Mexico, in 1992, he had only 11 priests for a diocese covering nearly 30,000 square miles. He asked for help from other dioceses, but got little response, he said. But today the diocese in the Mexican state of Chihuahua has 50 diocesan priests and 32 seminarians, Bishop Corral said through a translator during a recent visit to Nashville. Nine of those priests serve in the United States, including three in Nashville. "I decided I am going to send the priests that I can ... to dioceses that need them," said Bishop Corral. "It's one of the main reasons my diocese has been blessed with so many priests." Bishop Corral is scheduled to ordain two priests later this year and five more next year. The Mexican bishop sent his first priest to Nashville at the invitation of Salvatorian Father Richard Gagnon, diocesan director of Hispanic ministry and pastor of St. Luke Church in Smyrna.

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