WEST PALM BEACH | Nearly 900 delegates from parishes in the Diocese of Palm Beach gathered May 24, Pentecost Sunday, for the 38th Diocesan Encuentro at Cardinal Newman High School, sponsored by the Office of Hispanic Ministry. Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez participated for the first time in the annual meeting, sharing his perspective and experiences with the enthusiastic crowd.
Father Duván Bermúdez, diocesan director of Hispanic ministry, thanked the bishop for his presence and his desire to talk about Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), an apostolic exhortation of Pope Leo XIV that focuses on love for the poor and marginalized.
Bishop Rodríguez explained that Dilexi Te, released Oct. 4, 2025, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, was a continuation of an encyclical written by Pope Francis called Dilexit Nos (“He Loved Us”), focusing on the Sacred Heart of Jesus as our source of love and compassion. Pope Francis had started working on Dilexi Te, but was unable to finish it because of his final illness and death. Pope Leo put the finishing touches on it.
“Dilexi Te is an ardent and passionate appeal from the Holy Father to the entire church and to all people of good faith to not forget about the poor, and not to forget about those who suffer in our world,” the bishop told the Florida Catholic. “It has five chapters centered on the reality of the poor as an essential component of what the Church is and of what the Church is called to do. The Church is not to be understood as a community of faith indifferent towards the poor, but rather as a community of brothers and sisters founded by Jesus to serve the poor and to be always close to the poor’s needs and to bring about hope, especially to those who suffer.
“The core concern of Dilexi Te is the deprivation of dignity that unfortunately so many people have to endure, have to struggle with, because of the unfair situation that we are living in today’s world,” he added.
During his Encuentro talk, Bishop Rodríguez pointed to the pectoral cross he was wearing depicting the cross of Tlaxcala, the first diocese founded in Mexico in 1525. “I brought this because this is a sign of the presence of the Gospel and of the Catholic faith in the American continent since more than 500 years ago. We need to remember who we are and understand that our faith was not born yesterday. We need to remain very closely united to the Holy Father and to the Church,” he said.
Following Bishop Rodríguez’s presentation, participants gathered in small groups to share reflections and dialogue about how to live a closer, supportive and committed faith with those who most need God’s love. The groups later presented their thoughts on the pope’s document to the larger group while explaining posters they created to represent their concerns.
Many children at Encuentro helped prepare a banner with an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with the words “Sagrado Corazón, Enseñanos a Amar” (Sacred Heart, Teach Us to Love). The musical procession by the children into the school gymnasium was a highlight for the parents and grandparents in attendance.
In the day’s closing Mass, Bishop Rodríguez reflected in his homily on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and local communities. Several clergy joined him in the celebration, including Father Bermúdez, Father Nestor Rodriguez of St. Joan of Arc in Boca Raton, Carmelite Father Christopher Iannizzotto of St. Jude in Boca Raton, Father Jaime Dorado of Centro Pastoral San Juan Diego in Fort Pierce and Father Robinson Aza of St. Luke in Palm Springs. Deacons Lorenzo Isaias and Rafael Capó assisted the bishop and priests.
Leaders in the Office of Hispanic Ministry expressed gratitude for the many parish liaisons, other volunteers and participants for making the complex event possible.
For information about local ministry to Hispanics/Latinos, visit www.diocesepb.org/ministriesoffices/ministries/hispanic-ministry/ or contact the office at 561-775-9544.
