A Jubilee Night with a Familiar Face
During Hispanic Heritage Month the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark hosted a Jubilee Mass — and standing near the altar was Bishop Pedro Bismarck Chau, though most people just call him Bismarck. It was one of those nights where tradition, faith and a little hometown pride all showed up wearing their Sunday best.
From Chaos at Home to Chance in the U.S.
Bismarck’s story reads like the kind of life-turn that could be a movie: born in Nicaragua in 1967, he grew up amid the horrors of civil war. At 16, with danger closing in, he slipped across the southern border and arrived in the U.S. undocumented, full of fear and grit — and a determination to find a safer, better life.
An Unexpected Calling (Later Than Most)
He didn’t predict he’d end up in clerical robes. After becoming a U.S. citizen and living a handful of different lives, Bismarck answered a spiritual calling at age 40 and entered the priesthood. Then, in early September, he reached another milestone: he was installed as the first Nicaraguan-born bishop in the United States — a title that still makes him shake his head in humble amazement.
Walking in Others’ Shoes — Literally
Now he helps Joseph Cardinal Tobin run parts of the archdiocese, focusing especially on Hudson County and immigrant communities. He’s not coming from a distance with theory — he’s walked the route many others take and knows the fear, the hope and the hustle. That lived experience fuels his mission: to be a loud, caring voice for people who often feel invisible.
Practical Help, Not Just Pretty Words
Bismarck talks about the church as a place that should do more than preach — it should connect people to real resources, make them feel less alone, and stand with them while they figure things out. Translation: fewer platitudes, more paperwork assistance, advocacy and actual help finding what folks need.
That Humbling Moment on the Floor
Becoming a bishop included one very dramatic, very old-school ritual: lying flat on the sanctuary floor. For him, it was more than tradition — it was a personal prayer to “die to self” so something larger could live through him. If you’ve ever taken a nap during a boring meeting, this was the spiritual version — and somehow way more meaningful.
Why It Matters
Bismarck’s rise is about more than a title. It’s a story about resilience, faith and the messy, hopeful business of building a life in a new country. For immigrants in New Jersey and beyond, his presence is a reminder that someone who’s been where they’ve been is paying attention — and is ready to speak up on their behalf.
