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PUERTORICO-DIOCESE Mar-12-2008 (290 words) With map. xxxi
Pope establishes new diocese, names new bishop in Puerto Rico
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has established the Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico, and named Father Eusebio Ramos Morales to be its first bishop.
The new diocese, the sixth in Puerto Rico, was created with territory taken from the Archdiocese of San Juan and the Diocese of Caguas.
The Vatican announced the establishment of the new diocese and the nomination of the 55-year-old bishop March 11.
Bishop-designate Ramos was born in Maunabo Dec. 15, 1952, and studied science and biology at the University of Puerto Rico. He was a high school teacher before entering the seminary.
He studied philosophy and theology at Bayamon Central University in Puerto Rico, with the Jesuits in Mexico and at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Fla. He also earned a degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
After his ordination to the priesthood June 3, 1983, he served in parish ministry, as spiritual director at the Caguas seminary and as rector of the seminary. He returned to parish ministry for several years and taught dogmatic theology at the seminary.
At the time of his nomination as bishop, he was pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Fajardo and moderator of the Caguas priests' council.
According to the Vatican, 293,000 people live within the boundaries of the new diocese and almost 98,000 of them are Catholic. The Vatican said there are 21 parishes in the diocese, served by 17 diocesan priests and five priests belonging to religious orders. There are three seminarians, 21 permanent deacons and religious women from five different orders working in the new diocese.
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