Statement by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS
The Archdiocese of San Antonio — as well as the Catholic Church and the entire country — mourn the passing of a good and faithful servant, Archbishop Emeritus Patricio Fernandez Flores.
In his four-and-a-half decades of ministry as a bishop, Archbishop Flores gained the most satisfaction from being a servant. He always tried to live up to his motto, “Work not for myself, but for all others.” He sought foremost to be of assistance to other people.
Archbishop Flores felt right at home with the diversity we have in the archdiocese. We have a great mixture of nationalities here, and he felt comfortable with everyone. “We should not let our differences divide us; we should let our differences enrich us.” He repeated this statement constantly throughout his many years of ministry. It is a clarion call for our times, when divisions in the nation seem more pronounced than ever.
From his own upbringing, Archbishop Flores strongly believed that families are the hope of the church and the hope of the world, and the church and the world are only going to be as strong as the family. He never pointed a condemning finger, but offered a helping hand, asking, “How can we help families, that they will become the loving families and respect“
This servant of God and missionary disciple of Jesus Christ thought everyone has to be helped to realize the greatness of what they have in their family — and especially in their spouse and children.
So, he asked us to work and do what we can, without getting discouraged.
Well done, Good and Faithful Servant. Enjoy the splendor of your heavenly reward.
We should not let our differences divide us; we should let our differences enrich us.” Archbishop Patricio Fernando Flores