Bishop Ramirez to Announce Successor Thursday

The Sun-News
January 9, 2013

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_22336622?fb_comment_id=fbc_197986227009384_755356_198093533665320#f170d5543fded88

In this October file photo, Bishop Ricardo Ramírez... (Norm Dettlaff/Sun-News file photo)

LAS CRUCES - Almost 16 months after announcing his retirement as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, Bishop Ricardo Ramírez will announce his successor at 10 a.m. today.

"The Vatican has not released any names to us at all," Susan Roberts, diocese spokeswoman, said regarding Ramírez's replacement. "We will be just as interested as everyone else to learn who our new bishop will be."

The announcement will take place in the foyer of Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, 1240 S. Espina St. Because it is not an especially large foyer, the announcement is being limited to invited guests. However, Roberts said a Mass to celebrate the new bishop's appointment will likely be conducted afterward, and that would be open to the public.

Ramírez has been the first and only bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces. In 1982, Ramírez was appointed by Pope John Paul II to lead the newly formed Diocese of Las Cruces.

The Diocese of Las Cruces is 45,000 square miles - essentially the size of Pennsylvania - and includes 45 parishes and 44 missions. The diocese includes 10 counties in southern New Mexico, from the Arizona border east to the Texas state line. Communities include Las Cruces, Mesilla, Anthony, Hatch, Sunland Park, Deming, Lordsburg, Silver City, Truth or Consequences, Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Ruidoso, Roswell and Hobbs.

Ramírez took the newly formed diocese and has directed it for slightly more than 30 years. In the last three decades, Ramírez reached

out to others to build communities of love, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation, his supporters say.

"Bishop Ramírez is a humble shepherd whose lifelong endeavors have made a unique contribution in affirming life's spiritual dimension," Roberts said. Ramírez is an educator, theologian, peacemaker, and spiritual leader for all faiths. He is well-known for his unifying multicultural and ecumenical approach to evangelization and service.

Roberts said Ramírez will continue to live in Las Cruces, and assist the new bishop and the diocese if called upon.

Visit the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces website: www.dioceseoflascruces.org/

New bishop

A new bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces will be announced at 10 a.m. today.

The announcement will be made in the foyer of Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, 1240 S. Espina St., in Las Cruces.

The new bishop will succeed the Most Rev. Ricardo Ramírez.

Ramírez has been bishop of the Las Cruces Diocese since it was formed in 1982.

Ramírez announced his retirement in September 2011, when he became 75 years old.