Monsignor Manuel Ureña Pastor, Archbishop Emeritus of Zaragoza, will preside over the Mass of St. George

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Zaragoza, will be in charge of preaching and praising the figure of our Patron Saint George at the next Mass. 23 d'abril.

Don Manuel Ureña Pastor is already an old acquaintance of all bathers, having preached on several occasions in our locality, being the last time he was among us, the Major Mass of the Feast of the Relic of 2011 which he himself presided over.

From his biography we can highlight that he was born in the neighboring Valencian town of Albaida on 4 of March of 1945. Carrying out his studies of Primary Education in the National Schools of his town. Entering in 1959 in the Metropolitan Seminary of Montcada (Valencia), where he attended the Elementary and High School, and the Five Years of Ecclesiastical Studies, obtaining in June of 1970 the title of Bachelor of Theology.

From 1968 a 1973, studied Higher Studies in History and Geography at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the Literary University of Valencia. Getting in 1973 the Degree in Theology in the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical University of Salamanca with a dissertation on “The subject of God in the young Leibnitz”.
Receiving the 14 July 1973, the priestly ordination in Valencia at the hands of the then Mr.. Metropolitan Archbishop, S. I. Rvdm. Mons. Jose Maria Garcia Lahiguera. Starting the priestly ministry in September, as vicar, in the parish of Our Lady of the Olive grove of Alaquàs (Valencia), and at the same time, he teaches Pastoral Theology, of Fundamental Theology and of Theology of the faith in the Faculty of Theology “Sant Vicent Ferrer” of Valencia.

In September of 1976 is sent to Rome to study superiors of Philosophy in Pontifical University of Santo Tomás. There you will get it in April of 1984 the degree of Doctor of Philosophy with a Doctoral Thesis on the thought of the German neo-Marxist philosopher Ernst Bloch, titled: “Ernst Bloch: a teleological interpretation - immanent of reality ”that deserved the highest academic qualification.

In 1980, is appointed Director of the College "Sant Joan de Ribera", Burjassot (Valencia), and professor of Metaphysics and History of Ancient Philosophy at the Faculty of Theology of Valencia. Also teaching for two semesters the subjects of Philosophy of Religion and History of Medieval Philosophy.
In 1987 he is appointed a member of the Blochsgesellschaft, in the then Federal Republic of Germany.

The 8 July 1988 Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of the Diocese of Ibiza, being consecrated on September 11 of the same year. I, from 20 d'April 1990, simultaneously his episcopal ministry in Ibiza with that of Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Menorca.

In July of 1991, Pope John Paul II transferred it to the newly created Diocese of Alcalá de Henares, naming him, at the same time, Apostolic Visitor of the Major Seminaries of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Andalusia and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ibiza.

In 1992, the then President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference and Archbishop of Zaragoza, S. I. Rvdm. Mons. Elijah Yanes Alvarez, appointed him National Councilor for Spanish Night Worship.

In July of 1998 is named Bishop of the Diocese of Cartagena, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Alcalá de Henares and Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Murcia.
Promoted to the Archdiocese of Zaragoza on 2 d'April 2005, began to exercise his apostolic ministry on 19 June of the same year, at the same time as he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Cartagena and Grand Chancellor of the University of Sant Jordi de Zaragoza.

In the Spanish Episcopal Conference he has been a member of the Episcopal Commissions for Social Pastoral Care, of Seminars and Universities, and the Episcopal Committee "Pro vita". He is currently a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith
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His philosophical research revolves around Marxist thought and postmodern thought.

In theology, has worked the thought of Catholic theologians Karl Rahner and Hans Urs von Balthasar; i, in Protestant theology, he became very familiar with Protestant theologians Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His scientific work is already more than 60. And his main publication is the book “Ernst Bloch, a future without God?” (BAC MAJOR, Madrid, 1986).

Monsignor Manuel Ureña Pastor, in addition to being the Archbishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Zaragoza, he is the Favorite Son of Albaida, Gold Medal of the City of Murcia, Defender of Zaragoza 2008, Premi IACOM (Aragonese Institute of Communication), Carlos Sanz Foundation Award 2010, Knight of Honor of Ntra. Mrs. del Pilar, Medal of Honor of the Diocesan Hospitality of Ntra. Mrs. from Lourdes, Doctor Honoris Causa from the Catholic University of Sant Antoni de Murcia, Medal of Honor of the Sant Valero Group, Silver Cross of the Order of Merit of the Civil Guard Corps 2012.

And of the pastoral commissions received, it is worth noting that he was a Member of the Commission for Teaching and Catechesis of the Episcopal Conference., (1993-1996; 1996-1999; 1999-2002; 2002-2005; 20005-2008; 2008-2011), Member of the Standing Committee of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (2011-2014), Member of the Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith and Grand Chancellor of the University of Sant Jordi de Zaragoza.