Barrow, Monsignior Brown's milestone

It would go back to the year 1981, around the month of July. At that moment I was busy with my tasks as executive secretary of the First Congress of the Black Panamanian, an historic event without precedent for its scope in Panama, which was held between the 10th and 13th of September of that year at the ATLAPA convention center. Among other things, my errands led me to organize meetings with civil society's different organizations and national personalities, to explain the meaning of this conclave and to call upon them to participate in it. It was under these circumstances that I got to know Oscar Brown, who at that time had already distinguished himself in the national clergy. I recall the warmth with which he received me and the attention he paid to the explanation of motives that I offered him. Since then, and even when I no longer had contact with him, I have held the greatest respect for this man of God.

More that two decades later, another historic happening makes me once again focus my attention upon Oscar Brown. It's his recent election as the president of the Panamanian Episcopal Conference, which, for the first time since its creation on June 30, 1958, elected an Afro-Panamanian bishop to lead it. The Episcopal Conference is the top collegial body of the Catholic Church in our country.

To put this note in its context, it's worthwhile to notice that throughout its institutional presence on the isthmus the Catholic Church has relied upon a basically European staff of priests and prelates. It wasn't until recent decades that there was an increase in the ordination of nationals, and in particular those of African descent. As part of this dynamic, which arises from a diversity of factors, the institution has elevated three bishops of the black race --- correction, four, given that Monsignior Rómulo Emiliani, a Colon native, has openly claimed as his the Afro-Panamanian identity on a number of occasions. Carlos Ambrosio Lewis (retired) and Uriah Ashley, the current suffragan of the Diocese of Penonome, both descendants of Antillean immigrants, are the other two bishops to consider in addition to Monsignior Oscar. With all of this, until now the event highlighted here hasn't happened. It's without doubt something singular.

Understand that the Panamanian Episcopal Conference gathers in its breast the highest authorities of the different dioceses of which it is composed. It is through it that, twice per year according to its statutes, the ecclesiastical hierarchy makes pronouncements about pastoral and social situations of national interest. It's worthwhile to point out that the Panamanian Episcopal Conference makes up part of the Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM), upon which falls the role of regional coordinator of the Catholic Church.

Oscar Mario Brown Jiménez was born in Panama City on August 6, 1937. He's the son of George M. Brown and Eugenia Jiménez de Brown, both now deceased. Monsignior Brown is one of three siblings. He did his primary studies at the Jose De Obaldia School and his secondary at the "Glorious Eagles' Nest," the Instituto Nacional. For his preparation as a priest he studied at the Catholic University of Chile, where he obtained an undergraduate degree in theology (1973), and at the Los Santos Angeles Custodios Seminary in Santiago, Chile. His priestly ordination took place on January 20, 1974. Monsignior Brown also has a degree in holy scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute (Rome, 1980).

Between 1974 and 1977 Oscar Mario Brown Jiménez was vice-rector, then rector, of the San Jose High Seminary, and administrative vicar of Nuestra Señora de Fatima. From 1980 to 1984 he was parish priest of the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church. From 1984 to 1986 he was head of the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church.

From his episcopal ordination, which came down on February 22 of 1986, the monsignior has held various episcopal posts, among which are counted auxiliary bishop of Panama (1986-1995); teacher and rector of the San Jose High Seminary (1989-1995); president of the Commission on Vocations, Clergy and Seminaries; President of the Commission on Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Dialogue; and president of the Commission on Missionary Animation. He has participated in the Synod on the Initial and Permanent Training of the Clergy, the Santo Domingo Episcopal Assembly and the Synod on the Church in America.

Monsignior Oscar Mario Brown Jiménez is bishop of the Diocese of Santiago, Veraguas. He assumed this post on February 11 of 1998. And as has now been recounted, during the next four years --- that is, until 2007 --- he will also lead the Panamanian Episcopal Conference.

Congratulations, Monsignior President!

Alberto S. Barrow N. is an attorney and community activist and heads Panama City Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro's anti-discrimination office.

Also in this section:
Barrow, Monsignior President
Fisher, Scarlet Letters
Clare, Bush's immigration plan
Human Rights Watch, Guantanamo prison camp
Weisbrot, Promising the Moon, delivering unemployment
Jackson, Ancient wisdom still holds true
Gutman, A Guatemalan legal nightmare

opinion

Oscar Brown: Monsignior President