Father Eusebio Hernández earned a degree of Doctor of Canon Law at the University of Comillas and his licentiate in Civil Law at the Universidad Coplutense, after completing his philosophy and theology studies at the Augustinian Recollect major seminary in Marcilla, Navarra.
His appointment was announced on January 29 at the Diocesan Seminary of Tarazona, Zaragoza. “The proposal caught me by surprise. Certainly God’s ways are an inscrutable mystery,” the future bishop stated in his greeting to the faithful of Tarazona. During the same ceremony of introduction, the Augustinian Recollect recalled the words of Saint Augustine: “If the Church asks for your services, obey God with a humble heart,” and added: “In the midst of my doubts and hesitation, I am comforted by the assurance that if the Lord asks us to offer a service, his grace will make up for our deficiencies and limitations.”
Father Eusebio took advantage of his first words to the faithful of Tarazona to address the priests of the diocese as their “fellow priest and friend,” making it clear to them that they would be “from this moment on the main subject of my attention and interest. Count on me always.” He asked the religious men and women to show “joy in your fidelity to your charism” and commended the future of the diocese to the prayers of the contemplative nuns. He invited the lay people to “assume the responsibility that we bear together.” The future shepherd spoke words of concern to the sick and to the suffering, particularly “those who are struggling under the hardships of the economic crisis and unemployment.”
The prior general of the Order, Miguel Miró, has moved from Rome to accompany thefuture bishop of Tarazona. The Diocese of Tarazona has been vacant since March 20, 2010, when the former bishop, Demetrio Fernández, was appointed titular of the diocese of Córdoba, Andalucía. In his new office, he has continued acting up to now as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tarazona as well.
Biographical Sketch
Augustinian Recollect Father Eusebio Hernández Sola was born in Cárcar, Navarra, on July 29, 1944, the oldest of four children of Ignacio Hernández (+ 1973) and Áurea Sola.
The Bishop of Cordoba and apostolic administrator of Tarazona, Demetrio Fernandez,announces the appointment of his successor, Eusebio Hernández. He entered the minor seminary of the Order of Augustinian Recollects in Lodosa, Navarra, on September 12, 1955. He studied liberal arts and philosophy at the seminary in Fuenterrabía, País Vasco, from 1958 to 1963. He entered the novitiate in the Order´s monastery in Monteagudo, Navarra, in 1963 and made his first profession there on August 30, 1964. He pursued his theological studies in Marcilla, Navarra, from 1964 to 1968. Here he made his solemn profession in 1967 and was ordained a deacon in 1967 and a priest on July 7, 1968.
His first pastoral assignment was as parochial vicar of Saint Rita Parish in Madrid. While there he began his studies in Canon Law at the University of Comillas, conducted by the Jesuits. In 1969 he was transferred to the university residence Augustinus in the same city as spiritual director for the 160 university students residing there. He continued his studies in Canon Law, which concluded with a doctor’s degree in 1971. He then studied Civil Law at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid from 1969-1974. During the 1974-75 academic year he did his juridical practice at the university and in the Madrid courts.
His 35 years of work in a Roman congregation will bring to the Church in Spain his experience of catholicity and openness to the universal Church. On November 3, 1975, he began his work in the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in Rome. Since 1976 he has been director of the department of formation and promotion of religious life. He has been in charge of the writing and publication of the documents of the Congregation, and has also been the director of a two-year school of Theology and Canon Law of the Consecrated Life. Since 1995, he has been the capo ufficio of the Congregation. The superiors of the Congregation have entrusted him with a multitude of assignments in numerous countries throughout the world. He has participated in various congresses on the consecrated life, bishops’ meetings, and vocation conferences. During all this time he has also offered his assistance in the pastoral services of the Order in Rome.
His appointment as Bishop of Tarazona was published on January 29, 2011. He will receive episcopal ordination on March 19, the feast of Saint Joseph.