The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord provided the setting for the episcopal ordination of Monsignor Elímar Gerardo Carvajal Durán as the third Bishop of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The celebration took place on August 6 at the Holy Spirit Parish in Esparza.
During the Mass, Bishop José Manuel Garita Herrera of Ciudad Quesada stated that this event constitutes “a true word of God for this moment of grace,” because the Transfiguration “sheds light on the identity and mission of every pastor in the Church.”
A ministry at the service of Christ
Addressing the new bishop, he reminded him that the episcopal ministry will be marked both by moments of joy and by the weight of the cross. “There is no permanent Mount Tabor without passing through Calvary,” he affirmed, recalling that every act of self-giving lived out in faithfulness leads to the glory of the Risen One.
He also emphasized that episcopal authority is authentic only when it reflects the face of Christ. “The bishop shares in that lordship precisely—not to dominate, but to serve,” he stated, stressing that the people of God need shepherds whose lives reflect the light of the Gospel.
In the same vein, he emphasized that the people of God need pastors whose lives reflect the message of the Gospel. “Authenticity is more convincing than many speeches, and holiness remains the Church’s strongest argument,” he said.
Prayer, the foundation of the ministry
Monsignor Garita recalled that a bishop is called to speak “from Christ” and not merely about Him. “Before being a teacher, he must be a disciple; before teaching, he must spend a long time listening to his Lord,” he said, emphasizing that every pastoral mission must be grounded in a daily encounter with God.
He also emphasized that prayer must remain at the center of the episcopal ministry, above all other pastoral duties. “Above all, the people expect their bishop to be a man of God,” he stated, noting that only those who spend a great deal of time in the presence of the Lord can recognize Him in the poor, in priests, in wounded families, in young people, and in those who have lost hope.
He also recalled that the Church entrusts the new bishop with the mission of teaching, sanctifying, and governing the people of God. In that service, he invited him to lead the community “with tenderness and closeness, with patience and charity,” without neglecting the clarity and firmness characteristic of the Gospel.
The bishop of Ciudad Quesada emphasized the importance of closely supporting the priests of the diocese. “Love them sincerely; get to know them by name, by their stories, and also by their wounds,” he said, urging people to listen to them before judging them, to correct them with charity, and to make them feel that they are never alone.
A Church close to the realities of the people
He also emphasized that the new bishop will find a diocese rich in human resources, but also facing challenges that call for an evangelizing response. Among these, he mentioned poverty, unemployment, insecurity, migration, the fishing industry crisis, and various pastoral needs.
Faced with these challenges, the bishop asked the new bishop not to be discouraged by these realities, but to view them through the eyes of Christ. “Listen to the cry of the poor and walk with them,” he said, urging him to promote “a Church that reaches out, builds bridges, proclaims hope, and is a living presence of God’s mercy wherever despair seems to prevail.”
During his homily, he expressed “sincere appreciation and deep gratitude” to Monsignor Óscar Gerardo Fernández Guillén for the 23 years he spent shepherding the Diocese of Puntarenas. He thanked him for “his witness, his faithfulness, and the legacy he leaves to this Church today,” highlighting the generosity with which he carried out his ministry.
The prelate concluded by inviting the new bishop to ensure that his life and ministry are a constant reflection of the Good Shepherd. “May those who encounter you discover in you something of the light of Christ,” he said, before entrusting his episcopal service to the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
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