III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 443 

Honoring the life and legacy of Auxiliary Bishop Agustı ́n Roma ́n. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 26, 2012 

Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. MENENDEZ) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life and legacy of Auxiliary Bishop Agustı ́n 

Roma ́n. 

Whereas Agustı ́n Roma ́n was appointed auxiliary bishop of 

the Archdiocese of Miami, Florida in 1979, becoming the 

first Cuban to be appointed bishop in the United States; 

Whereas Agustı ́n Roma ́n was expelled from Cuba in 1961 by 

the regime of Fidel Castro, along with many other 

Roman Catholic priests; 

Whereas Agustı ́n Roma ́n ministered in Chile for 4 years before coming to Miami, Florida in 1966, where he quickly 

became a spiritual leader and advocate for the Cuban 

community in Miami, as well as for many other immigrant communities, including Haitian refugees; 

Whereas Agustı ́n Roma ́n was fluent in Latin, English, 

French, and Spanish, and served on the Bishops’ ComVerDate Mar 15 2010 05:42 Apr 27, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR443.ATS SR443

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•SRES 443 ATS 

mittee for Hispanic Affairs, worked as a hospital chaplain, and became episcopal vicar for the Spanish-speaking 

people of the Archdiocese of Miami; 

Whereas Agustı ́n Roma ́n was the son of humble Cuban peasants, which influenced his commitment to humility, tenacity, and unceasing devotion to his ministry in southern Florida; 

Whereas Agustı ́n Roma ́n was instrumental in the construction of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity on Biscayne 

Bay, which serves as a monument to the patron saint of 

Cuba, the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year; 

Whereas in 1980 Agustı ́n Roma ́n served as a mediator during 

the Mariel boatlift incident, helping more than 100,000 

Cubans flee the island and safely resettle in the United 

States; 

Whereas Agustı ́n Roma ́n helped negotiate a peaceful resolution to the 1987 riots of Mariel prisoner uprisings in 

Federal prisons, earning him national recognition for his 

compassion, gentility, and humble spirit; 

Whereas after his retirement at the age of 75, Agustı ́n 

Roma ́n remained active at the Shrine of Our Lady Charity, greeting visitors and responding to letters from fellow 

Cuban exiles; and 

Whereas Agustı ́n Roma ́n passed away on Wednesday, April 

11, 2012: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes and honors the life of Agustı ́n 

3 Roma ́n; 


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•SRES 443 ATS 

1 (2) recognizes and honors the spiritual leader2 ship of Agustı ́n Roma ́n and his dedication to free3 dom and faith; 

4 (3) offers heartfelt condolences to the family, 

5 friends, and loved ones of Agustı ́n Roma ́n; and 

6 (4) in memory of Agustı ́n Roma ́n, calls on the 

7 United States to continue policies that promote re8 spect for the fundamental principles of religious 

9 freedom, democracy, and human rights in Cuba, in 

10 a manner consistent with the aspirations of the peo11 ple of Cuba. 

Æ 


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