c. 2003 Religion News Service

NEWARK, N.J. _ To a full minute of applause, Edgar da Cunha sat decked in his new bishop’s regalia, a smile on his face, in Sacred Heart Cathedral Sept. 3, having been ordained the first Brazilian bishop in the United States.

Then the three cardinals, 25 bishops and 1,800 other people who packed the Roman Catholic cathedral in Newark sang for him in Portuguese _ the official language of Brazil _ “Cantai Ao Senhor,” or “O Sing to the Lord.”

Moments later, da Cunha (pronounced dah coon-ya) watched proudly as Newark Archbishop John J. Myers gave da Cunha’s mother a giant hug in the middle of the sanctuary, for the entire crowd to see.

It was an unforgettable day for da Cunha _ a popular priest in the archdiocese for 21 years _ and for Newark’s large Brazilian community, which helped fill the cathedral.

“I want you all to know how important it is for me and for the church that you are here today,” da Cunha told the assembled in four languages _ English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.

“Your presence, your faith, your prayers, and your friendship are deeply appreciated. We are making history here today, and you are part of this historical moment _ the first Brazilian to become a bishop here in the United States.”

The ordination of da Cunha, 50, reflects the diversity of Catholics in the United States. Latinos comprise a significant part of the church’s growth, and da Cunha is one of 24 Latinos among the 283 active Roman Catholic bishops in the United States, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is one of 27 foreign-born bishops in America.

“We are a particular church of great ethnic diversity,” said Myers, under whom da Cunha will serve as auxiliary bishop. “While this brings its own challenges, it brings many more gifts. We are proud and grateful for the active participation in the lives of our parishes of people literally from every part of the globe. The human family is well represented here in the Archdiocese of Newark.”

As auxiliary bishop, da Cunha likely will work mostly in Essex County, where he had been pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Newark since 2000. Essex is one of four counties, along with Hudson, Union and Bergen, covered by the Newark Archdiocese, which serves 1.3 million Catholics.

Da Cunha, one of 13 siblings, grew up in Brazil, which has more Catholics than any other country _ about 147 million, or 80 percent of the South American nation’s population.

He moved to the United States in 1978 to study at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah, N.J., graduating in 1982 at age 29.

He was ordained a priest for the Society of Divine Vocations, a religious society founded in Italy 83 years ago to serve the poor. He is the first member of the society to be made a bishop.

Da Cunha’s procession into the massive cathedral included three prominent cardinals: former Newark Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, now archbishop in Washington; Philadelphia Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, and Cardinal Edward Egan of New York.

“It’s very exciting and thrilling to be here,” said Jessica Ruiz, a Brazilian-American member of St. Michael’s Church. “He’s a very close friend of the family. We’re very happy to see him consecrated.”

Others praised him as approachable, amiable and humble, and da Cunha put some of this humility on display during his speech.

“As this beautiful celebration unfolded in this majestic cathedral here this afternoon,” he said, “one question kept coming to my mind: ‘What am I doing here?”’

When the laughter subsided, he continued: “And the voice of God within me said, ‘I called you and brought you here.’ I say this with the hope that it becomes as clear to all of you as it is to me that this is all God’s doing. And I thank him for it.”

DEA END DIAMANT