Bishop Urias Ashley

The day before yesterday Bishop Urias Ashley came to live in the seminary. Bishop Urias has just reached the age of retirement (75) but I'm not sure that the Holy See has accepted it yet. In fact, it is of no account whether or not they have accepted it because he is now laid low by illness. He has had several recent hospitalisations and is currently undergoing dialysis treatment due to damage done by diabetes.

Rather unusually, he began his episcopate as an Ordinary - that means that he was bishop of a particular see: in his case, the Diocese of Penomoné. He then was transferred to be Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Panama which is currently under the care of the Augustinian bishop, Mons. José Domingo Ulloa. There is another Auxiliary Bishop in the diocese too - as far as I know, he is Spanish in origin.

Urias' arrival to the seminary has necessitated some changes. While he is quite independent, he doesn't see well, and has some difficulty walking. It is therefore prudent that he be accommpanied whenever possible as he is inclined to like to stroll about during the day.

This is another task for the seminarians who already have a lot on their plate but it is very evident that they have great respect for this man and are very pleased to be involved as his care-givers.

In the picture you can see Bishop Urias on the left; on the right is the Augustinian Archbishop; and in the middle is the man who was Papal Nuncio here (now transferred to Ecuador) who is a Spaniard.