Cathedral Family | Bishop Joseph Espaillat Visits CHS

The Most Reverend Joseph Espaillat is the current Director of Hispanic Charismatic Renewal of the Archdiocese of New York and the Charismatic Center, as well as the youngest bishop in the United States. He was born to Dominican-American parents and raised in the Bronx, like many of our Cathedralites!

On his recent visit to Cathedral High School, His Excellency first was given a tour by sisters Sky M. ’26 and Star M. ’26. He was touched to receive a hand drawn image of the Virgin Mary by Mary R. ’26. The spectacular artwork features Our Lady of Altagracia, the patroness of the Dominican people.

Bishop Espaillat then spoke with the rising “Five Faces” of the Class of 2026. He listened to their moving and inspiring reflections on our five core values—integrity, faith, service, respect, and hard work—and the beautiful examples of how they witness and live out these core values at school. 

Next, students in Enliven, our faith and service club, gathered in a classroom to give Bishop Espaillat an overview of the service projects and faith activities they took on this year. 

With passion and humor, Bishop Espaillat shared a powerful message about the Holy Spirit with Enliven. He called the Holy Spirit “the secret weapon” and encouraged students to let Him be the “motor” that drives their faith, leadership, and service.

Referring to the Gospel of John, Bishop Espaillat reminded students that Jesus promised never to leave us alone—He left us the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit is your advocate,” he explained, “the one who stands up for you.” 

He connected this to Jesus’ greeting to the apostles after the Resurrection, when He entered a locked room and said, “Peace be with you,” before breathing the Spirit upon them. This same greeting of peace is how a priest begins the Mass and how Pope Leo XIV first greeted the world!

In today’s world, young people often experience a deep lack of peace as they face the immense challenges of mental health struggles, social media influences, anxiety and depression, peer pressure, and the constant expectation to be ‘on.’ 

“We need to learn how to breathe again,” the bishop proposed. In fact, taking deep breaths is often suggested by therapists to combat some of these mental, psychological, and emotional struggles. He explained that we need to take the time to quiet our minds, learn to breathe, and rest in God’s presence. 

His Excellency shared, “We may find ourselves asking the Lord, ‘Why is my mind racing, why can’t I be at peace with you?’ God says, ‘Rest in me.’ You might say, ‘I can’t, Lord, I am not strong enough to overcome the challenges I face!’” But His Excellency reminded students that “The Lord invites us to share our burden with Him, to trust in Him, so when you feel like you can’t do something alone, remember that you don’t have to; share that burden with the Lord.” 

When asked for recommendations on how we can grow in relationship with God through prayer, Bishop Espaillat emphasized the need to receive Our Lord at Mass, as Christ instructed us to “do this in memory of Me.” Having attended daily Mass since he was 13, he reflected on how the Mass—whether celebrated in English, Spanish, Italian, French, or Swahili—is always the same: the making present of the Sacrifice that earned our redemption. 

In closing, Bishop Espaillat reminded students that they are the Church—and through their faith, service, and education, they have the power to “enliven the body of Christ and the world.” His advice for spiritual growth was simple but powerful:
 

• Go to Mass.
• Engage in mental prayer.
• Pray devotionals like the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
• Read the Bible.

Finally, Bishop Espaillat shared how his personal relationship with the Holy Spirit deepened over time. After signing up for a priest retreat at Franciscan University of Steubenville, he found out that it was a charismatic retreat. When he expressed his desire to know the Holy Spirit more deeply, a priest told him, “When you want the Holy Spirit as badly as you want to breathe, you’ll get it!” And he did.

With relatable stories, theological depth, and an infectious energy, Bishop Espaillat left the Enliven Club—and our entire school community—with a renewed sense of purpose and peace in the Holy Spirit.