For Archbishop José H. Gomez, the news announced by the Holy See March 5, 2019 meant the departure of one Los Angeles bishop and the arrival of another one.
Below are Archbishop Gomez’s full statements regarding the appointments of Bishop-elect Alejandro “Alex” Aclan as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Bishop Joseph Brennan as the next Bishop of Fresno.
Statement of Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, on Pope Francis’ Appointment of New Auxiliary Bishop Alejandro Aclan.
March 5, 2019
Good morning and welcome! Buenos días y bienvenidos! I want to welcome all of you to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
This morning in Rome, Pope Francis announced the appointment of a new auxiliary bishop to serve the family of God here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Bishop-elect Alejandro Aclan!
Our new Bishop-elect is a proud son of our vibrant Filipino community.
As many of you know, the Catholic Church here in Los Angeles is a Church of immigrants. Our Catholic family is made up of people from every continent and we carry out our ministries in more than 40 different languages.
There is such a beautiful diversity of traditions and cultures here and Bishop-elect Aclan is a great example of the immigrant spirit that makes our Church so strong and alive.
Msgr. Aclan came here from the Philippines with his family in 1982. So, this is a special moment of joy for his family and friends and for our entire Filipino community.
Our new Bishop-elect has a broad and interesting background. He worked as a programmer and systems analyst before he was ordained as a priest in Los Angeles 25 years ago. Since then, he has served in several parishes around the Archdiocese and most recently held the important position of Vicar for Clergy.
In my personal experience, our new Bishop-elect is an excellent priest and I am confident that he is going to be an excellent bishop.
Bishop-elect Aclan is a man of prayer and he has a true heart for Jesus — and a deep concern for the people he is called to serve.
And I know he will be a voice for Filipino Catholics, who are a beautiful sign of growth and renewal in our Church here in Los Angeles and throughout the country.
In the Catholic Church we believe the bishop is a sign of Jesus Christ and his love for us and his presence among us. I look forward to working with our new bishop to continue our mission of sharing the love of God here with the people of Los Angeles.
So, this is a beautiful day of joy for us. We give thanks today to God and to Pope Francis. I also want to express my thanks to the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre.
I will be privileged to ordain Bishop-elect Aclan at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on May 16. And I hope you will all be able to join us!
My friends, I have one more announcement to make before I introduce you to our new Bishop-elect.
Pope Francis also this morning appointed one of our auxiliary bishops, Bishop Joseph Brennan, to be the new bishop of the Diocese of Fresno, California, our neighbor to the northeast.
I want to congratulate Bishop Brennan and to thank him for his ministry for many years here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He has been a great priest and bishop and a good friend. I am going to miss him, and so will the people of the San Fernando Pastoral Region, where he serves as Episcopal Vicar.
But obviously, God has great plans for Bishop Brennan and the Diocese of Fresno. I know he is going to be a great bishop and God will do beautiful things through his pastoral ministry there.
So we are praying today for Bishop Brennan and also for our new Bishop-elect.
Now, I have the honor to introduce you to our new Bishop-elect, Alejandro Aclan.
Statement by Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, on the Appointment of Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Brennan to be Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno, California.
March 5, 2019
I am delighted for Bishop Brennan.
He has been a great priest and bishop and a good friend. I am going to miss him, and so will the people of the San Fernando Pastoral Region, where he serves as Episcopal Vicar.
I want to thank Bishop Brennan personally for his ministry for many years here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Bishop Brennan has the heart of a pastor. He is a man of prayer, a thoughtful leader and he has a passion to share the good news of God’s mercy and love.
Obviously God has great plans for Bishop Brennan and the family of God in Fresno. I know he will be a great bishop and God will do beautiful things through his pastoral ministry there.
With the entire family of God here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I am praying for our brothers and sisters in Fresno as they rejoice in their new Bishop.
We are praying also for Bishop Brennan as he prepares for this new adventure in his ministry.
I entrust him to the tender care of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Mother of God.
May Our Lord Jesus Christ go with him and grant him wisdom and courage.
