Agustin Roman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Agustin Roman |
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| Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Miami | |
Bishop Roman stands in front of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Miami |
| In Office | March 24, 1979–May 5, 2003 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | July 5, 1959 |
| Consecration | March 24, 1979 by Edward Anthony McCarthy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 5, 1928 San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba |
| Died | April 11, 2012 (aged 83) Miami, United States |
Agustín Aleido Román Rodríguez (born May 5, 1928 – died April 11, 2012) was an important leader in the Catholic Church. He served as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami. An auxiliary bishop helps the main bishop of a large church area called an archdiocese. Bishop Román was also known as the Titular Bishop of Sertei, which is an honorary title.
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Early Life and Studies
Agustín Román was born in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba. His parents were Rosendo Román and Juana M. Rodríguez.
He studied philosophy at the San Alberto Magno Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba. Later, he studied theology in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Theology is the study of religious faith and practice.
He continued his education in the United States. He earned a Master's degree in Religious Studies from Barry University. He also received a Master's degree in Human Resources from St. Thomas University.
Becoming a Priest
Agustín Román became a priest on July 5, 1959. He was assigned to serve in the Diocese of Matanzas in Cuba. He worked in parishes (local church communities) and guided young Catholics.
In 1961, the government in Cuba expelled him. He was forced to leave the country along with 130 other priests. They left on a Spanish ship called Covadonga.
From 1962 to 1966, he lived in Temuco, Chile. There, he worked as a spiritual director and teacher. He also served in a local church.
In 1967, he moved to Miami, United States. He became a chaplain at Mercy Hospital. A chaplain provides spiritual care in places like hospitals.
Bishop Román also helped lead different church groups. He worked with committees that focused on Hispanic people and migration. He also directed the Charismatic Movement, which is a spiritual movement within the church.
Serving as a Bishop
On February 6, 1979, Pope John Paul II chose Agustín Román to be an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Miami. He officially became a bishop on March 24, 1979. He was the first Cuban bishop in the United States.
From 1979 to 1997, he led the Ministry of Pastoral Service. This ministry helped many different groups of people. It supported Hispanic, Haitian, and Black communities. It also helped families, young people, the sick, and prisoners.
From 1997 to 2003, he also directed the Ministry of Persons. This ministry focused on supporting priests, religious sisters, and lay people (church members who are not clergy).
Helping During Prison Riots
In December 1986, there were riots in U.S. federal prisons. Cuban detainees (people held in custody) were protesting. They were worried about being sent back to Cuba.
The prisoners asked Bishop Román to help. They wanted him to be the mediator, or someone who helps two sides talk and find a solution. He helped end the crisis peacefully.
Because of his actions, ABC News named him "Person of the Week." They called him a "man of compassion" and "humble spirit." When people called him a hero, Bishop Román said, "A bishop, a priest, is a servant, not a hero."
Bishop Román retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Miami on May 5, 2003. This was because he turned 75, which is the age when bishops usually retire.
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity
Bishop Román was very closely connected to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami. This shrine is a special church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
He helped raise money to build the shrine and oversaw its construction. He was the shrine's director starting in 1967. Even after he retired in 2003, he remained active there as its Rector Emeritus. He was seen as a main voice for Cuban-American Catholics living outside Cuba.
He spent much of his retirement time at the shrine.
His Passing
Bishop Román passed away on April 11, 2012, at the age of 83. He suffered a cardiac arrest (a sudden stop of the heart) at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. He was taken to Mercy Hospital nearby, where he died.
Many people came to honor him. There was a visitation and wake at the shrine. His funeral Mass was held at the Cathedral of Saint Mary in Miami. Many bishops and priests from different countries attended. He was buried at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said, "Bishop Roman was the Felix Varela of our time." Felix Varela was another important Cuban priest and philosopher. Many leaders, including Florida's Governor Rick Scott, offered their condolences.
Apostolic Succession
This list shows the line of bishops who consecrated (officially made) other bishops, leading up to Bishop Román:
- Archbishop Edward Anthony McCarthy † (1965)
- Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter † (1931)
- Archbishop John Timothy McNicholas OP † (1918)
- Tommaso Pio Cardinal Boggiani OP † (1908)
- Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val y Zulueta † (1900)
- Mariano Cardinal Rampolla del Tindaro † (1882)
- Edward Henry Cardinal Howard † (1872)
- Carlo Cardinal Sacconi † (1851)
- Giacomo Filippo Cardinal Fransoni † (1822)
- Pietro Francesco Cardinal Galleffi † (1819)
- Alessandro Cardinal Mattei † (1777)
- Bernardino Cardinal Giraud † (1767)
- Pope Carlo della Torre Rezzonico † (1743)
- Pope Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini † (1724)
- Pope Pietro Francesco (Vincenzo Maria) Orsini de Gravina OP † (1675)
- Paluzzo Cardinal Paluzzi Altieri Degli Albertoni † (1666)
- Ulderico Cardinal Carpegna † (1630)
- Luigi Cardinal Caetani † (1622)
- Ludovico Cardinal Ludovisi † (1621)
- Archbishop Galeazzo Sanvitale † (1604)
- Girolamo Cardinal Bernerio OP † (1586)
- Giulio Antonio Cardinal Santorio † (1566)
- Scipione Cardinal Rebiba †
