ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ ORDAINS NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP ALEX ACLAN
May 16, 2019  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

–Bishop Aclan to serve San Fernando Pastoral Region of Archdiocese–

Archbishop José H. Gomez, today at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, ordained Bishop Alejandro (Alex) Aclan as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Ordination Mass was concelebrated by Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishops Edward Wm. Clark, Marc V. Trudeau, David G. O’Connell, Robert E. Barron, and Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal Roger Mahony along with Retired Bishops Thomas J. Curry and Gerald E. Wilkerson. The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, presented the mandate from the Apostolic See at the Ordination Mass, which was concelebrated by Los Angeles priests and bishops from throughout the state.

Thousands of Catholic faithful representing parishes, deacons, orders, seminarians and ministries from throughout the Archdiocese, along with interfaith and civic leaders, attended the Ordination.

In his homily (attached), Archbishop Gomez addressed Bishop Aclan, saying “So, my brother Alex, God has called you in this time and place, in this moment in the Church. Today he consecrates you and appoints you to be a bishop — in a time of renewal and reform in the Church. It is a time, as we know, with shadows and uncertainty. But it is also a time of bright hope and new possibilities.”

“My brother, Jesus reminds you today in the Gospel that as a bishop — you are not a “lord,” but a servant. You are not a “master,” but a father,” added the Archbishop.

Pope Francis named the new Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles on March 5, 2019. Following his ordination, Auxiliary Bishop Aclan will serve as the Episcopal Vicar for the San Fernando Pastoral Region.

“Sharing in the priesthood of Christ and exercising our priestly duties brings about reconciliation and peace, something that our Church needs so much of in our time, and that we can all help bring about. Christ is all about reconciliation and peace and we know from the gospel of John that his prayer is that we be one,” said Bishop Aclan. “Ours is a church that is very diverse, and the challenge is great. I ask that we continue to pray for our archdiocese, and do so even more, so we too can achieve our ultimate goal – oneness in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Bishop Aclan is the third of eight children born to a devout family raised in the suburbs of Manila, Philippines. In an interview with Angelus magazine, Bishop Aclan shared that although his father was a decorated war hero, he is most grateful to his father “for living out a different kind of service” in his dedication to his family and community. Full story is available at https://angelusnews.com/news/pablo-kay/meet-las-newest-bishop-a-proud-filipino-immigrant.

Bishop Aclan was ordained to the priesthood in 1993. He served as parochial vicar at St. Finbar Parish in Burbank from 1993-1996 before becoming the Vocations Director for teenagers at Queen of Angels Minor Seminary from 1996-1999. He then served as parochial vicar at St. John of God in Norwalk 1993-2000, and as pastor at St. Madeleine Parish in Pomona from 2000-2011. Bishop Aclan served as Associate Vicar for Clergy from 2012-2015 and as Vicar for Clergy until 2018 and has currently been on sabbatical.

Bishop Aclan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from the University of Santo Tomas, Dominican University in Manila, Philippines, in 1971. He migrated to Los Angeles from the Philippines with his family in 1982, and had been employed by University of Santo Tomas, San Miguel Corporation and Citibank in the Philippines, and Union Bank in Los Angeles before entering St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest Archdiocese in the United States with approximately five million Catholics. For more information please visit www.la-archdiocese.org and www.facebook.com/CatholicLosAngeles.

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For the digital press kit, visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_8zD7QIgoir_4lYHHtKrNE-6AZLr9odC?usp=sharing.