This Morning Air episode with John Morales brought us a heart-stirring interview with Bishop-Elect Pedro Bismarck Chau, whose journey from Nicaragua to the U.S. is nothing short of miraculous.
On April 15, Bishop-Elect Chau received an unexpected call from the Apostolic Nuncio: Pope Francis had appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Newark. Still catching his breath from a packed schedule, Chau was stunned and speechless.
“How can I say no to God?” he said with awe.
Though ordained just in 2008, he now sees this as a “call within a call”—a deepening of the priesthood he cherishes.
What makes this even more powerful? He’s now the first-ever Nicaraguan-born bishop in the United States. Across Nicaragua and among exiles, hope is stirring. For a suffering people, his appointment is a reminder: God has not forgotten you.
“It was humbling,” he shared. “My brother priests and laypeople saw something in me I didn’t even see in myself.”
Born in Nicaragua, Chau came to the U.S. at age 16, undocumented and fleeing conscription. His road wasn’t straightforward—he got his GED, worked jobs, and even drifted from Mass for a time. But then, a youth retreat sparked his reawakening. His brother’s conversion helped deepen his faith, and a visiting deacon also helped him envision himself in a collar. Finally, a priest’s testimony at a retreat sealed the deal.
Still, he waited to enter seminary until he had legal status, a quiet act of integrity and trust in God.
Bishop-Elect Chau is filled with joy and readiness for his new role. Fluent in English and Spanish, he’s excited to continue serving the people of Newark—now with a shepherd’s crozier in hand.
Let’s pray for Bishop-Elect Pedro Bismarck Chau as he prepares for his ordination this September. May his story inspire all of us to listen for that “call within a call” in our own lives.
God calls us as we are—and leads us where we never imagined.
