The Holy See announced two new episcopal appointments for the Colombian Church. Monsignor Germán Medina Acostawho since August 2021 had been serving as auxiliary bishop of Bogotá, He was appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop of the Diocese of Engativá; and the Father Edwin Raul Vanegas Crowwho served since April 10, 2024 as Territorial Episcopal Vicar of San José in this same jurisdiction, He was named Auxiliary Bishop of BogotáBoth pastors have been trainers and rectors of the Conciliar Seminary of Bogotá.
Monsignor Germán Medina was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bogotá on August 14, 2021 by Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, archbishop of Bogotá and president of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia. Subsequently, he was appointed Episcopal Vicar of Evangelization and Episcopal Vicar for Announcement, Faith Formation and Dialogue with Culture, as well as a member of the Presbyteral Council.
Following this new appointment by the Holy Father, Monsignor Medina will replace Monsignor Francisco Antonio Nieto Súa in the Diocese of Engativá.who had been pastor of this jurisdiction since July 2015. In September 2023, Monsignor Nieto turned seventy-five, the age limit for exercising this ecclesiastical office.
For his part, Father Edwin was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Bogotá on December 4, 1999 by Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz (RIP). He is a specialist in Fundamental Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (2009), a graduate in Theology from the Pontifical Bolivarian University (2011) and completed doctoral studies in Theology at the Pontifical University Comillas – Madrid (2015). After serving as Rector of the Major Seminary since 2018, he was appointed by Cardinal Rueda Aparicio to accompany the urban and rural communities of the Vicariate of San José, located in the southeast of Bogotá, where it covers the territory of 4 localities of the capital and 11 municipalities of Cundinamarca.
Now, the priest will join Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio and Monsignor Alejandro Díaz García, also auxiliary bishop of Bogotá, in the mission of shepherding the Primate See of Colombia.
Biography of Monsignor Germán Medina Acosta
Monsignor Germán Medina Acosta was born in Bogotá on February 25, 1958.
He completed his secondary studies at the Minor Seminary of Bogotá (1975) and his Philosophy (1978) and Theology (1982) studies at the Major Seminary of Bogotá. He holds a degree in Theology (1989) from the Pontifical Javeriana University. He has a Master’s degree in Community Psychology (1996) from the Pontifical Javeriana University. He is a specialist in Ethics and Pedagogy of Values (1998) from the Pontifical Javeriana University. He has a Doctorate in Theology (2002) from the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome. He was ordained a priest on June 11, 1983 by Cardinal Aníbal Muñoz Duque, for the service of the Archdiocese of Bogotá.
Among his pastoral assignments, the following stand out:
-Parochial vicar at Our Lady of Ave Maria (1983).
-Member of the team of directors of the Minor Seminary of Bogotá (1984).
-Coordinator of the archdiocesan Youth Ministry team (1985). Chaplain at Colegio del Rosario (1986).
-First Chaplain at the National University and Parish Priest at the Holy Guardian Angels (1996).
-Archpriest of Archpresbytery No. 1.3 (1999).
-Member of the team of trainers of the Major Seminary (2002). Member of the Permanent Diaconate Council (2003).
– Member of the Presbyteral Council (2008).
-Rector of the Major Seminary of San José (2010).
-Member of the Presbyteral Council (2014).
-Parish priest in San Juan de Ávila (2015).
-Member of the Presbyteral Council, representing the Territorial Episcopal Vicariate of San Pedro and facilitator of the archdiocesan team for ongoing formation (2016).
-Ratified as a member of the College of Consultants, appointed territorial episcopal vicar of San Pedro and general vicar of the Archdiocese of Bogotá since June (2017).
-On July 11, 2021, he was appointed by Pope Francis as Titular Bishop of Aradi and Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá. His episcopal ordination was on August 14, 2021, that same day he took office.
Biography of Monsignor Edwin Raúl Vanegas Cuervo
Father Edwin Raúl Vanegas Cuervo was born in Bogotá on May 21, 1975.
He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Conciliar Seminary of Bogotá. He was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Bogotá on December 4, 1999 by Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz.
He is a specialist in Fundamental Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome (2009), a Bachelor of Theology from the Pontifical Bolivarian University (2011) and completed doctoral studies in Theology at the Comillas Pontifical University of Madrid (2015).
After serving as Rector of the Major Seminary since 2018, in April of this year, he was appointed by Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, archbishop of Bogotá, to accompany the urban and rural communities of the Territorial Vicariate of San José, at the Headquarters. Primate of the Colombian Catholic Church.
Among his pastoral assignments, the following stand out:
– Parish Vicar of Saint Mary Mother of Jesus (1999).
– Parish priest of San Juan Neumann (2000 – 2004).
– Member of the Archdiocesan Vocation Ministry Team (2005-2006).
– Trainer (2009 – 2018) and Rector (2019 – 2024) of the San José Conciliar Seminary of Bogotá.
– Archdiocesan Coordinator of Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue (2013 – 2016)
– Archdiocesan Animator for the Permanent Formation of the Clergy (2018).
– Territorial Episcopal Vicar of San José (2024 to date).
