New saint from Mexico 'one of us,' south Texas Catholics told

Published: 2006-10-16

SAN ANTONIO (CNS) -- One of the church's newest saints is truly "one of us," Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of San Antonio and retired Archbishop Patrick F. Flores told the Catholics of south Texas. The two archbishops spoke at a press conference in San Antonio days before Pope Benedict XVI canonized Mexican Bishop Rafael Guizar Valencia, who came to south Texas during his exile from Mexico because of government persecution of the Catholic Church. "In this man of God we have a jewel -- someone to pray to and to ask for his intercession," Archbishop Flores said. "My prayer is that the people get to know him." Appointed bishop of Veracruz, Mexico, in 1919 by Pope Benedict XV, the new saint preached missions at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Austin. At his Oct. 15 canonization, St. Rafael became the first bishop born in the Americas to be declared a saint.

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