From the desk of Fr. Mike ...

 

This past weekend, Archbishop José Gomez assumed the office of Archbishop of Los Angeles on Cardinal Roger Mahony's 75th birthday. (February 26th, 2011).  As the Hispanic presence continues to grow in huge numbers in the United States Catholic arena, it was only natural that our Holy Father would name Archbishop Gomez to the largest diocese in the country.  There are over 5 million Catholics in the LA area, of which 70% are Mexican or Mexican-American.  It takes us back to our history, when the Spanish came to California to bring the Faith, and the large numbers of Spanish, and later Mexicans, who came to California.  In those early days, all the bishops were Spanish, and some from Mexico.  Things are reverted and now the reality of the Southwest.  The new archbishop of San Antonio, Texas is from Mexico, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Stiller.  Of the other bishops serving California, the dioceses of Sacramento, Monterey, San Bernardino, and now Los Angeles have Hispanic bishops.  It is without a doubt that the new Bishop of Fresno will also be Hispanic.  The bishop before Bishop John Steinbock was Bishop Joseph J. Madera, from Mexico.

As the Metropolitan Archbishop, Archbishop Gomez also has the responsibility for the southern dioceses in the state of California. That means he is responsible for gathering bishops for meetings and  discussing the needs of the lower half of the state.  The other Metropolitan in California is the Archbishop of San Francisco who takes responsibility for Northern California, Nevada and Guam.  It will be the responsibility of Archbishop Gomez to be the principle ordaining Prelate at the Episcopal Ordination of the new Fresno bishop, in the event that our new bishop has not already been ordained.  We can be sure that he will be visiting the diocese from time to time.

We also give thanks to God for the ministry of Cardinal Roger Mahony.  Cardinal Mahony, a priest of the Fresno Diocese, ordained at St. John's Cathedral in Fresno in 1962, served as priest, pastor, head of Catholic Charities, Chancellor, and Vicar General in our diocese before being ordained an  Auxiliary Bishop of Fresno in 1975, with his Episcopal Ordination at the Selland Arena, Fresno Convention Center.  In 1980, then Bishop Mahony was named the Bishop of Stockton, where he served until 1985, when he was named by Pope John Paul II as the new Archbishop of Los Angeles to replace Cardinal Timothy Manning (also a former Bishop of Fresno, 1967-73).  In 1990, Archbishop Mahony was created a cardinal by the Pope.  At the time of his retirement, he will have concluded 25 years as head of the Church of Los Angeles.  In his time, the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels was built and dedicated.

In a recent conversation with Cardinal Mahony, he told me he will be spending more time in his cabin in Fish Camp, which is within our parish boundaries.  I told him that he is welcome here at any time to celebrate Mass .  We can plan on seeing the retired cardinal around town.  Keep     him in prayer as he transitions into this new life.