Luis R. Zarama

Last updated


Luis Rafael Zarama Pasqualetto
Bishop of Raleigh
Bishop Luis R. Zarama.png
Bishop Zarama in 2017
Diocese Raleigh
AppointedJuly 5, 2017
InstalledAugust 29, 2017
Predecessor Michael Francis Burbidge
Previous post(s)
Orders
OrdinationNovember 27, 1993
by  John Francis Donoghue
ConsecrationJuly 27, 2009
by  Wilton Daniel Gregory, Eusebius J. Beltran, and John Francis Donoghue
Personal details
Born (1958-11-28) November 28, 1958 (age 66)
NationalityAmerican
Denomination Roman Catholic Church
Residence Raleigh, North Carolina
MottoDeus caritas est (God is love)
Styles of
Luis Rafael Zarama
Coat of arms of Luis Rafael Zarama Pasqualetto (Raleigh).svg
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Bishop

Luis Rafael Zarama Pasqualetto (born November 28, 1958) is a Colombian-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh in North Carolina since 2017. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta from 2009 to 2017

Contents

Zarama is the first Hispanic bishop of Raleigh and the first to be born outside the United States. He is the first Colombian bishop to lead an American diocese.

Biography

Early life

Luis Zarama was born on November 28, 1958, in Pasto, Nariño, Colombia, the oldest of the six children of Rafael Zarama and Maria Pasqualetto de Zarama. [1] [2] Deciding to become a priest, Luis Zarama entered the seminary of Pasto in 1982. While at the seminary, Zarama taught at local high schools in Pasto. He also studied philosophy and theology at the Universidad Mariana in Pasto. [3]

Zarama went to Bogotá in 1987 to study canon law at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. After earning his licentiate, he emigrated to the United States in 1989. [4] [5]

Priesthood

Zarama was ordained into the priesthood by Archbishop John Francis Donoghue for the Archdiocese of Atlanta at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta on November 27, 1993. [1] [4] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Zarama as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Atlanta. [3] At the same time, he was appointed as an advocate for the Ecclesiastical Province of Atlanta court of appeals, holding that post until 1997. [3]

In 1996, the archdiocese appointed Zarama as administrator of St. Helena Mission in Clayton, Georgia, and pastor of St. Mark Parish in Clarkesville, Georgia. [6] He later said that the mountains of Northern Georgia reminded him of Colombia and that his time there was a great learning experience. [7] The next year, he also assumed the position of defender of the bond for the archdiocese. [3] Zarama became an American citizen on July 4, 2000. He remarked: "I'm happy here, I choose to be here, and I feel like I'm part of the system as a citizen." [8]

Donoghue named Zarama as assistant director of the Vocations Office in 2000. In 2006, Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory named him as vicar general. [3] In 2007, the Vatican raised Zarama to the rank of chaplain of his holiness. [3] In addition to his duties as vicar general, Wilton named Zarama as judicial vicar in 2008 and designated him as the archbishop's delegate to North Georgia's Hispanic community. [9] [10]

While in Atlanta, Zarama was also a member of the Committee for Continuing Education of Priests and the priest personnel board.

Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta

Coat of arms as Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta Coat of arms of Luis Rafael Zarama Pasqualetto.svg
Coat of arms as Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta

On July 27, 2009, Zarama was appointed auxiliary bishop of Atlanta and titular bishop of Bararus by Pope Benedict XVI. [1] He received his episcopal consecration on September 29, 2009, with Gregory as the principal consecrator and Donoghue and Archbishop Eusebius Beltran as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of Christ the King. [1]

While serving as auxiliary bishop, Zarama remained vicar general and judicial vicar for the archdiocese. [11] Zarama presided over the Sunday mass and delivered the homily at the Steubenville Atlanta Youth Conference in 2016.

Bishop of Raleigh

Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, North Carolina Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral - Raleigh, North Carolina 06.jpg
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, North Carolina
Tridentine Mass, with priest facing the altar Traditional Latin Mass - Elevation.jpg
Tridentine Mass, with priest facing the altar

On July 5, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Zarama as bishop of Raleigh. He was installed on August 29, 2017, at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh. [1] He became the first Hispanic and non-native bishop of Raleigh and the first Colombian-born bishop to lead a Catholic diocese in the United States. [12] [13]

On August 13, 2018, after the resignation of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick for the sexual abuse of minors, Zarama stated that he would pray for the renewal of church leadership and the courage to take the necessary steps to end clerical sexual abuse. [14]

After the release in August 2018 of the Pennsylvania grand jury report on sexual abuse of minors in that state, Zarama called the revelations "sad" and "shameful". He voiced his support for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' goals to investigate, report, and resolve recent accounts of sexual abuse and for the Catholic Church to do so with higher level involvement of the laity. He asked for Catholics to continue to pray for all victims of abuse, stating that they are the Church's priority. [15]

On March 12, 2020, Zarama waived the obligation to attend Sunday mass during the COVID-19 pandemic. [16] On March 14, 2020, Zarama cancelled all weekend masses until further notice and directed all Catholic schools in the diocese to comply with Governor Roy Cooper's executive order to close all schools in North Carolina for a minimum of two weeks. [17] [18] On March 16, Zarama officially suspended all masses. [19]

In October 2021, Zarama responded to the apostolic letter Traditionis custodes , regarding continued use of of the Tridentine Mass (or Latin mass), that was issued by Pope Francis. [20] Zarama reduced the number of Latin masses being celebrated and prohibited them on Sundays until after 1:00 PM. [20] He also allowed one Latin mass every month on Wednesday evenings. Zarama continued to allow additional Latin masses at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral and the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary. [20]

Zarama also stipulated that the parishes could continue using Epistle and Gospel Bible readings in Latin, but the English translations must come from the Ordo Lectionum Missae or the 2011 edition of the New American Bible. [20] Zarama decreed that "only priests who have received faculties" from him could celebrate the Latin mass. [20] His ruling went into effect on January 1, 2022. [20]

In 2022, Zarama addressed the Archdiocese of Atlanta Eucharistic Congress. [21]

Viewpoints

Immigration

On September 5, 2017, Zarama issued a statement in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), calling for comprehensive immigration reform. [22]

Gun violence

On June 28, 2023, Zarama and the other seven bishops of the Province of Atlanta issued a statement calling for gun control legislation. [23]

LGBTQ rights

On February 8, 2019, Zarama released a statement supporting Reverend Christopher VanHeight of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Durham. VanHeight had banned barring Durham City Councilors Vernetta Alston and Jillian Johnson from speaking at a Black History Month event at Immaculata Catholic School because they were lesbians who openly supported same-sex marriage. [24] [25]

Coat of arms

Zarama's coat of arms contains a blue field with an extra wide chevron of gold (yellow). This device gives the illusion of two mountains; a gold one and a blue one. The gold mountain (the chevron) is charged with a scattering (semé) of red crosses to represent Pasto in Colombia." The lower mountain (part of the blue field) has a golden lion's head to represent Mark the Evangelist, the titular patron of the parish in Clarkesville, Georgia, on a mountain, where Zarama served as pastor. Above the chevron are a gold rose for Thérèse of the Child Jesus, also known as "The Little Flower," and a silver (white) lily for Saint Joseph, who is Zarama's patron saint. Zarama selected as his episcopal motto the Latin phrase Deus Caritas Est (God is love), the title of an encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI.

The achievement is completed with the external ornaments which are a gold episcopal processional cross, that is placed in back of and which extends above and below the shield, and the galero hat, with its six tassels, in three rows, on either side of the shield, all in green. These are the heraldic insignia of a bishop.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Egan</span> American Catholic cardinal (1932–2015)

Edward Michael Egan was an American Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Bridgeport from 1988 to 2000 and as Archbishop of New York from 2000 to 2009. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles</span> Archdiocese in California

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the southern coastal portion of the U.S. state of California. The archdiocese's cathedra is in Los Angeles, and the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, and its present archbishop is José Horacio Gómez Velasco. With over five million professing members and weekly liturgies celebrated in 32 languages, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is numerically the single largest and most ethnically diverse archdiocese in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in North Carolina, United States

The Diocese of Raleigh is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church that covers eastern North Carolina in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archbishop of Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in California, USA

The Diocese of Stockton is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the Central Valley and Mother Lode region of California in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archbishop of San Francisco

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta</span> Catholic ecclesiastical territory

The Archdiocese of Atlanta is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction, or archdiocese, of the Catholic Church in northern Georgia in United States. The archdiocese is led by a prelate archbishop, who also serves as pastor of the mother church, the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta. As of 2023, the archbishop of Atlanta is Gregory Hartmayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston</span> Diocese of the Catholic Church

The Diocese of Charleston is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church for the state of South Carolina in the United States. Currently, the diocese consists of 96 parishes and 21 missions, with Charleston as its see city. As of 2023, the bishop of Charleston is Jacques Fabre-Jeune.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in North Carolina, United States

The Diocese of Charlotte is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in western North Carolina in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Georgia, United States

The Diocese of Savannah is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in southern Georgia in the United States. The mother church of the diocese is Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah. The patron saint is John the Baptist.

John Francis Donoghue was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina from 1984 to 1993 and as the fifth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in Georgia from 1993 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Oklahoma, USA

The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church of western Oklahoma in the United States. The mother church of the archdiocese is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas</span> Roman Catholic archdiocese in Kansas, USA

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is a Latin Church ecclesiastical province, or archdiocese, of the Catholic Church in eastern Kansas in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Joseph Jugis</span> American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church

Peter Joseph Jugis is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was the bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina from 2003 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church (Mableton, Georgia)</span> Church in GA, United States

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, located in Mableton, Georgia, is the home of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta. The community was founded in 1995 and established as a personal parish in 1999 by Archbishop John Francis Donaghue. The church (building) was purchased in 1999 and consecrated by Archbishop Donaghue in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Francis Burbidge</span> American prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1957)

Michael Francis Burbidge is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the bishop of the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia since 2016. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania from 2002 to 2006 and as bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh in North Carolina from 2006 to 2016. He previously served as the chairman of the Pro-Life Activities Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2021 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile</span> Latin Catholic archdiocese in Chile

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile is one of the five Latin metropolitan sees of the Catholic Church in Chile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cali</span> Latin Catholic jurisdiction in Colombia

The Archdiocese of Cali is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Colombia. Its episcopal see is located in the city of Cali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Villavicencio</span> Catholic archdiocese in Colombia

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Villavicencio is an archdiocese located in the city of Villavicencio in Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory John Hartmayer</span> American prelate of the Catholic Church

Gregory John Hartmayer, O.F.M. Conv. is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. A Conventual Friar Minor, he serves as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in Georgia, having returned to the archdiocese where he worked from 1995 to 2011. From 2011 to 2020, Hartmayer served as bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Talley</span>

David Prescott Talley is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as bishop of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Shlesinger</span> American bishop of the Catholic Church (born 1960)

Bernard Edward "Ned" Shlesinger III is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in Georgia in 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Cheney, David M. "Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama Pasqualetto [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  2. "Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama". Diocese of Raleigh. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Pope Names Bishop Zarama as Bishop of Raleigh | USCCB". USCCB. July 5, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Patrick, Jessica (June 10, 2018). "Latino leader of the week: Luis Rafael Zarama". WRAL News. Capitol Broadcasting Company. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. "Father Luis Zarama Named Second Vicar General; Msgr. Paul Reynolds To Pastor St. Brigid Church". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta . Archived from the original on August 17, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  6. Brockhaus, Hannah (July 5, 2017). "Colombian-born bishop to head Raleigh diocese". Catholic News Agency. EWTN. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  7. Keiser, Gretchen (September 7, 2017). "Bishop Zarama travels to Raleigh with message of God's love - Georgia Bulletin". georgiabulletin.org. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  8. Rakoczy, Rebecca. "Priests reflect on becoming citizens". Catholic Online.
  9. Palmo, Rocco (July 27, 2009). "Joy in Hotlanta". Whispers in the Loggia. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  10. Nelson, Andrew (September 4, 2008). "Msgr. Zarama Named Judicial Vicar". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta . Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  11. "Monsignor Luis R. Zarama Named Auxiliary Bishop For Archdiocese of Atlanta". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta . Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  12. KILLENBERG, SAM. "Having a Hispanic bishop will 'bring more people to the faith,' some in Triangle say". News & Observer. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  13. Shimron, Yonat (August 15, 2017). "The next bishop of Raleigh is from Latin America — like many in his flock". Religion News Service. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  14. "Catholic sex abuse Pennsylvania report: Former NC priest | News & Observer". Archived from the original on August 15, 2018.
  15. Zarama, Luis (August 17, 2018). "Statement from Bishop Zarama in response to the extensive report of clergy abuse". Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  16. "Bishop says: Protect each other". March 16, 2020.
  17. "Catholic Diocese of Raleigh cancels Masses due to coronavirus | Raleigh News & Observer". Archived from the original on March 15, 2020.
  18. "Bishop says: Protect each other". March 16, 2020.
  19. "Bishop says: Protect each other". March 16, 2020.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rousselle, Christine (October 22, 2021). "Bishops of Lake Charles, Raleigh Issue Statements on Latin Mass". National Catholic Register . Irondale, Alabama . Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  21. "Bishop Zarama addresses Eucharistic Congress in Atlanta". Diocese of Raleigh. August 2, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  22. "Bishop Zarama responds to administration's decision to end DACA". Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. September 5, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  23. "Bishops of Atlanta Province call for 'decisive action' on gun safety, mental health legislation". Diocese of Raleigh. June 28, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  24. "Immaculata Catholic School shut down after gay City Council member's talk is canceled". 9th Street Journal. Durham, North Carolina. February 9, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  25. "Statement regarding Immaculata Catholic School". Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh . February 8, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Raleigh
2017present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta
20092017
Succeeded by
-