In his first six months as shepherd of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida, Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez has been on a mission to connect with and get to know the faithful of his new home — one parish at a time.

So far, Bishop Rodríguez has made “pastoral visits” to seven parishes, each lasting three days, with his eighth taking place this week. He plans to visit all 55 across the diocese, as well as the 20 schools attached to them.

Each visit, he said, has been a moment of tremendous joy.

“I am having fun visiting the parishes and getting to know the communities that we have here,” Bishop Rodríguez told The Tablet in a conversation about his first six months in Florida. “Every time that I go to a parish or a school, it’s like a big party. It’s amazing.”

Bishop Rodríguez arrived in Palm Beach from the Diocese of Brooklyn, where he served most recently as pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Corona. He was appointed to the Diocese of Palm Beach by Pope Leo XIV on December 19, 2025, and was ordained and installed there on Feb. 24. Since, he has not only worked to meet the faithful of southeast Florida, but he has begun tackling a laundry list of short- and long-term goals for the diocese, which will embark on an 18-month long synod process this fall that will result in a 10-year plan.

Bishop Rodríguez’ arrival to the diocese, and the synod he has now planned, comes at a time when the diocese is experiencing growth in both parishes and schools.

“We are growing. We are expanding,” he said, noting his plans to open two more parishes, one each in the southern and northern parts of the diocese. “We look forward to a future of vibrancy and expanding evangelization.”

Among his current priorities is addressing the needs of youth and young adults.

Bishop Rodríguez has recently opened a house of discernment for men considering the priesthood, noting that increasing vocations are essential given the diocese’s growth.

He has also established a foundation to help families navigate federal and state scholarship assistance — a first step toward his “dream” that one day Catholic education in the Diocese of Palm Beach is free of charge for all families.

Further, Bishop Rodríguez has tasked each parish in the diocese with hiring a professionally trained youth minister to help meet the needs of youth and families.

“If we don’t have youth ministers, we are simply not going to be able to connect with the new generations, which is essential,” Bishop Rodríguez explained. “And from a vocational point of view … in the parishes a young man and a young lady can hear the Lord’s call, by engaging in the experiences that their parish offers to them.”

Another immediate priority, he explained, is expanding and enhancing the scope of the diocese’s child safeguarding and safe environment policies, regulations and procedures. With the permission of Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop Rodríguez brought on Maryellen Quinn, director of the Office for the Protection of Children and Young People in the Diocese of Brooklyn, and Elizabeth Harris, the office’s victims assistance coordinator, to serve as advisors to the Diocese of Palm Beach on safeguarding efforts.

“We are going to expand [our efforts] a little bit more to make sure that we are really getting safer every day,” Bishop Rodríguez said.

Another goal for the future, he added, is expanding end-of-life care in the diocese.

“We don’t have a Catholic hospice facility, and we are looking into that because that is something that is needed,” Bishop Rodríguez explained. “We are not happy, at all, about how our seniors in need of hospice care are treated, and we would like to engage that ministry as soon as possible.”

Even as Bishop Rodríguez detailed his plans and priorities while speaking with The Tablet, he kept going back to the joy he is experiencing in his new home. He highlighted a recent kickoff Mass for World Youth Day attendees — some 700 from the diocese — he celebrated at a “packed” Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, and the “party” afterward.

I’m really very, very blessed with so many things happening and so many beautiful opportunities to get to know this amazing part of the people of God, which is the Diocese of Palm Beach,” he said. “[Palm Beach] is a culture of enthusiasm for life. They are people of joy, people of enthusiasm. They like parties a lot.

“It’s an atmosphere of contagious joy and optimism, and faith.”

The Tablet spoke with Bishop Rodríguez for about 40 minutes. Before even one question was asked, he made sure to greet the faithful of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“Hello, my dear people in Brooklyn and Queens,” Bishop Rodríguez said. “I am very happy to say ‘hello’ and to reconnect with you this way.”