Archbishop José Gomez has announced regional assignments for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ four new auxiliary bishops, marking a new chapter for L.A.’s Roman Catholic Church.
The assignments also mean a new leader has been appointed to oversee the San Gabriel Valley — an area healing after the death of beloved local Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell earlier this year. The Rev. Brian Nunes will oversee the San Gabriel Pastoral Region, which covers East Los Angeles, San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.
The L.A. Archdiocese has a total of five pastoral regions serving its vast, diverse Catholic community; which stretches from Long Beach and the east San Gabriel Valley, across the San Fernando Valley and up to Santa Barbara.
“It is important to remember that all of our Auxiliary Bishops are ordained to serve, not only the region they are assigned to, but the entire family of God in Los Angeles,” Archbishop Gomez wrote in a Wednesday, Aug. 8 email announcement to the archdiocese. Gomez said he decided on the assignments “after prayer, reflection and consultation.”
Monsignor Albert M. Bahhuth will serve as Episcopal Vicar for the San Fernando pastoral region, which covers the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley areas. Rev. Slawomir S. Szkredka will oversee the Santa Barbara region, which also takes in Ventura County. Rev. Matthew G. Elshoff, a Capuchin Franciscan Friar, will serve in the Our Lady of the Angels Region, which covers downtown and central Los Angeles, and west to Malibu.
The four bishops-elect were first appointed by Pope Francis on July 18. The occasion marked the first time the Pope has appointed four auxiliaries at one time for any diocese, officials said. They will be ordained at a special Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Sept. 26.
Bishop-elect Nunes 58, said Wednesday said that he hopes to be a “presence of healing and accompaniment” for the San Gabriel Valley.
“People are grieving and mourning…
Read the full article here
