Month: December 2020
ONLINE – Exequial mass on Tuesday, Dec.29 at 11:00 a.m.
To the Priests, Consecrated and Lay Faithful of the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul
On the evening of Tuesday, December 22, at about 11:13 p.m.,
our Brother and Father Bishop Rubén TIERRABLANCA GONZALEZ OFM, Titular Bishop of Tubernuca and Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul, passed away at the age of 68, called by our heavenly Father. He had been hospitalized at Koç University Hospital since December 2. In this sad circumstance, we present our condolences to his sister Mrs. Celia, to the Religious Family of the Friars Minor, to all his close collaborators and to the faithful of the Vicariate who mourn his loss. May the Lord reward our Brother and Father Bishop Ruben for the gift of his consecrated life in the service of the Church, and may the Lord Jesus receive him as a good and faithful servant in the joy of his kingdom.
An exequial mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 29 at 11:00 a.m. in the Cathedral absente cadavere, and burial will follow after the mass in Feriköy Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. Seats are limited, and entrance to the cathedral will be allowed only to those who have an official ticket from their parish.
The ceremony will be broadcast on SAT-7 TÜRK. It is recommended that you participate primarily by attending the live broadcast on SAT-7 TÜRK. For those who wish, it is possible to visit the Cathedral for a prayer of suffrage.
Due to the limitations imposed by the pandemic, you may leave a message of condolence on this site: https://www.facebook.
MONS. LORENZO PIRETTO HAS BEEN APPOINTED APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF ISTANBUL
The Holy Father has appointed H. E. Mons. Lorenzo Piretto, O.P. Arcbishop Emeritus of Izmir and Apostolic Administrator of the same circumscription, as Apostolic Administrator the vacant seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul and of the Exarchate for the faithful of Byzantine rite residing in Turkey.
Requiescat in Pace
H.E. Monsignor Ruben TIERRABLANCA GONZALEZ OFM
S.E. Mons. Rubén TIERRABLANCA GONZALEZ, OFM, was born in Cortazar, in the Diocese of Celaya (Mexico), on August 24, 1952, to Julio TIERRABLANCA and Maria GONZALEZ.
After attending the Franciscan Pío Mariano Seminary for secondary education in his native land, he entered the novitiate on August 22, 1970.
He studied at the College Santa Cruz in Queretaro (Mexico) and at the Saint Anthony Seminary in El Paso, TX (USA) for philosophy and theology. Subsequently, in Italy, he attended the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.
He made his religious profession in the Order of Friars Minor on 2 August 1977, and received priestly ordination on 29 June 1978 in his hometown of Cortazar.
S.E. Mons. Rubén TIERRABLANCA GONZALEZ, OFM, ordained as Guardian (Superior) of the Friars Minor of Istanbul and of the International Fraternity for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Dialogue in Turkey, and parish priest of the Parish of Santa Maria Draperís in Istanbul in 2003. He commissioned as Vicar Apostolic of the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul in 2014; he was serving as the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Turkey since 2018.
Monsignor Ruben hospitalized due to the Covid-19 disease. He passed away last night 22.12.2020 at 11.42 pm due to multi-organ failure due to Covid-19.
125th anniversary of the Coronation of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Dearly beloved,
Pope Francis is granting all the faithful of the world the possibility of obtaining an indulgence while staying at home on 12 December on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Coronation of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
On this occasion, I want to invite you to pray for our Bishop Ruben.
I suggest that you pray for him tomorrow, 12/12 at 12 noon so that we can have a communion in prayer in the Vicariate that Bishop Ruben desires.
Let us pray to the Lord Jesus that, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, He may grant Bishop Ruben the grace of good health.
You can use the attached poster to invite others to pray.
Peace and Good
Br Pawel Szymala OFMCap, vic.del.
Appointment of new Archbishop of Smyrna
Resignation and appointment of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Izmir (Turkey)
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir (Turkey), presented by His Excellency Mons. Lorenzo Piretto, OP.
The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Metropolitan of İzmir the
Reverend Father Martin KMETEC OFM Conv.,
Currently Superior of the Community of Conventuals of Büyükdere, Istanbul.
Curriculum vitae
S.E. Msgr.Martin Kmetec O.F.M. Conv. Was born on November 10, 1956, in Ptuj, Slovenia. He completed his institutional studies of Theology and Philosophy in his religious Province in Slovenia, in which he made his simple profession on September 25, 1977, and the solemn profession on October 4, 1982. He obtained a Doctorate in Theology, with a specialization in Dialogue and Religions in the University of Ljubliana. In addition to Slovenian, he speaks Turkish, French and Italian. He was ordained as a priest on June 29, 1983. He has held various positions in his Order: Rector of the minor seminary, Missionary in Lebanon, Superior of various Convents. He was also Vicar Custos of the East and the Holy Land of the Friars Minor Conventual from 2014 to 2018. From 2011 to 2020 he was in the Convent of St. Mary in Büyükdere, Istanbul, but in the role of Superior only from 2018.