A Congratulations Note

"worry about the poor and marginalized, to listen to everyone"

Jaume Pujol Balcells

The pope appointed in 2004 to Jaume Pujol Balcells archbishop of Tarragona , replacing Archbishop Lluís Martínez Sistach. He was born on February 8, 1944 in Guisborough (Lleida), received his early education in the HH. Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation and the HH. Marist Guissona. His university education took place in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bRome and Pamplona. He holds a PhD in Educational Sciences and Theology with a thesis entitled "Catechesis in the Church's pastoral mission."

Jaume Pujol was ordained a priest on August 5, 1973 in Madrid, i ncardinado in the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei . Since 1976 heads the Department of Pastoral and Catechetical School of Theology at the University of Navarra and since 1997, the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences campus. Since 1983 is Professor of Religious Education course.

On hearing the news of his appointment, the Catalan priest was particularly grateful to John Paul II and recognition for his predecessor in the seat Episcopal Tarragona. "From the beginning, I have entrusted to St. Paul and St. Fructuoso, and I put under the intercession of the Virgin Mary with the invocation of Our Lady of the Cloister. Many times he had called by that name, it is the same dedication with which we venerate the Blessed Virgin in Guisborough (Lleida), a town where I was born and received the Christian faith. I also have entrusted to Saint Josemaría Escrivá, who was lucky enough to live in Rome for eleven years " . Professor Pujol added an invocation to the Virgin of Montserrat, "filial visited many times, so you can to complete the mission entrusted to me " .

On his new responsibility in the Church, said: " I return to Catalonia, of which I have never separated, and where are my family and my cultural roots and Christian. I go to the Archdiocese of Tarragona eager to learn from everyone, with the desire to serve. I follow and know the pastoral needs of my land. I feel the urgency of working to evangelize our society Catalan, which is the main objective of the Provincial Council of Tarragona. As there is said, the Church's mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ to all men without any coercion, to communicate to believers of divine life by the grace of the Holy Spirit through the sacraments, and to help the faithful to live in faith and love. I would also, according to the major issues the council, be an element of unity, worry about the poor and marginalized, listen to everyone. "