The Most Rev. Bishop Kicanas gave the homily at the Mass.
Article and top photo by Mary Alice Murphy
Additional photos courtesy of Kim Montoya
St. Francis Newman Center picnic 052719
St. Francis Newman Center picnic 052719
St. Francis Newman Center Father Bartholomew Ezenwelem, Bishop Gerald Kicanas and St. Vincent de Paul Father Oliver Obele concelebrate the Memorial Day Mass at the Gomez Peak Picnic area. Photo Courtesy of Kim Montoya
St. Francis Newman Center picnic 052719
The Bishop wears his miter. Photo Courtesy of Kim Montoya
St. Francis Newman Center picnic 052719
The altar servers for the Mass. Photo courtesy of Kim Montoya
St. Francis Newman Center picnic 052719
Altar servers and priests, including at far right, Father Prakasham Naripogula, who served at St. Francis as interim priest before Father Bartholomew arrived. Photo Courtesy of Kim Montoya
St. Francis Newman Center picnic 052719
Father Bartholomew and Father Oliver clean the vessels after communion. Photo Courtesy of Kim Montoya
St. Francis Newman Center picnic 052719
The priests, the bishop and the altar servers at the end of Mass. Photo Courtesy of Kim Montoya
Parishioners from St. Francis Newman Center Parish participated in a Mass and picnic at the Gomez Peak picnic area on Memorial Day. Father Bartholomew Ezenwelem welcomed the Apostolic Administrator Bishop Gerald Kicanas, who is serving as the head of the diocese until a new bishop arrives. The Most Rev. Kicanas gave the homily. He jointly served Mass with Father Ezenwelem, Father Oliver Obele from St Vincent de Paul Parish in Silver City, and Father Prakasham Naripogula, who served in the interim at St. Francis before Father Ezenwelem arrived.
The position of Bishop will be filled by Most Rev. Peter Baldacchino, who is to be installed on July 23, 2019, after his appointment on May 15, 2019. He will replace Bishop Oscar Cantú, who was appointed as coadjutor Bishop of San Jose in California. Cantú replaced Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, now Emeritus, who still lives in Las Cruces.