On Sunday, May 11, 2014, with a procession leading from the esplanade near the local subway station to the Assumptionist shrine and basilica in Santiago, Chile, faithful from many parishes in the Western Region of the archdiocese greeted their new auxiliary bishop, Most Rev. Galo Fernández, who has responsibility for this zone.

He was welcomed at the church, dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, with banners and applause. As he entered, in a meaningful gesture, three pastoral agents gave him his new crozier. The Mass he then celebrated was an opportunity for those gathered to thank the Lord for his episcopal consecration and to pray for him.

In his opening remarks Bishop Galo Fernández shared how special it was holding his first Eucharist as bishop in this basilica with so much tradition. He rendered thanks to Mary and entrusted to her his ministry. He also greeted all the mothers present on Mothers' Day and thanked all in attendance for their love and support.

In his homily he said: “It is the figure of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, that I must imitate and make present…. Jesus tells us that he is gate and this reminds us that we must enter through him. It is the Lord who calls us. A vocation is a call and I say 'Yes.' We must never stop entering, we must not fall into the temptation of thinking we're already 'there' and others are outside. We must never stop knocking at the door, asking humbly for permission to enter, and to be the people of God --- and I must be the first to do so."

He continued: “We must be a Church with doors wide open, a Church that goes out to meet others in order to share our joy and our happiness in knowing Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus opens all doors; the experience of Christ Risen boils over and we cannot stay quiet”.

He concluded by underlining that the shepherd knows his sheep and they him, creating a special bond. "This is the kind of shepherd I wish to be. To know is to live with the other, It is to experience what the other experiences.... their joys and their sorrows. The Lord calls us to know the life of the least among us. May God give me the boldness to live my ministry in this way”.