California’s second Mexican-American Bishop will arrive Jan.
30
As with all swaps in management, Sacred Heart Parish congregants
know they are in for some changes when the new bishop of the
Catholic Diocese of Monterey arrives, but they are still unsure
what is in store. The new bishop, Richard Garcia, comes to Monterey
from the Sacramento area where he has served as an auxiliary
bishop.
California’s second Mexican-American Bishop will arrive Jan. 30
As with all swaps in management, Sacred Heart Parish congregants know they are in for some changes when the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Monterey arrives, but they are still unsure what is in store. The new bishop, Richard Garcia, comes to Monterey from the Sacramento area where he has served as an auxiliary bishop.
People who know Garcia say he has an easy-going and compassionate nature and will be a ‘good fit’ for the Monterey Diocese. The Reverend Ken Laverone, of the Order of Franciscans, Friars Minor, has known Garcia for more than 30 years and spoke highly of him. Laverone served in San Benito County before moving to San Francisco and said Garcia will be at home in the Diocese.
“Bishop Garcia was the auxiliary bishop in Sacramento while I was a pastor there for two years, so I worked with him in that regard,” Laverone said. “He was beloved by the people in that diocese. He has spent a lot of time in this area and went to school with several of the priests from here. He knows the area well.”
Garcia was born and raised in San Francisco and he will turn 60 in April. He was educated at St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1973. He was appointed the Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento in 1997.
Garcia precedes previous bishop, Sylvester Ryan who has been bishop of the Monterey Diocese since 1992. Bishop Ryan will be retiring to his home on Catalina Island.
In a written letter of welcome, Bishop Ryan wrote “Bishop Garcia’s Mexican-American background has provided him with deep empathy and motivation to serve the unique multicultural Catholic populations that exist in all of our California dioceses and archdioceses. Since he speaks English and Spanish fluently, he will fit well into our Anglo-and-Hispanic populations along with the other cultural traditions and people who are significant to both our history and our contemporary diocesan life.”
Garcia is only the second Hispanic bishop in California.
Though changes are in store when Garcia takes his oath, the Catholic school system is not likely to be directly affected. Garcia could not be reached for comment and local parish staff was directed not to talk to the media. He will be installed as Bishop of Monterey Jan. 30 in a Mass to be held at the Monterey Conference Center.
Patrick O’Donnell can be reached at po*******@pi**********.com.
