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Diocese of Monterey Witnesses Installation of Its Fifth Bishop

By James Herrera
Monterey Herald
January 30, 2019

https://www.montereyherald.com/2019/01/30/diocese-of-monterey-witnesses-installation-of-its-fifth-bishop/

The Installation ceremony for Bishop Daniel Garcia at Madonna Del Sasso Church in Salinas on Tuesday. (Vern Fisher – Monterey Herald)

The fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey, Daniel E. Garcia, was installed in an elaborate celebratory mass and ceremony that included many faithful, fellow clergy from brothers, sisters, priests, bishops and included the reading of the Apostolic Mandate issued from the head of the Catholic Church himself – Pope Francis.

The installation ceremony, mass and reception was held on Tuesday afternoon for hundreds of people on the grounds of Madonna Del Sasso Church and Catholic School in Salinas.

“… It’s my desire to get to know you and for you to get to know me. For me to see and visit the various and awesome communities and parishes that are located throughout the four counties of our diocese. As I said at my press conference, and I say again to you today, I want to walk with you and to serve you. I want you to help me to wash the feet of our brothers and sisters around us. Especially those who are most vulnerable and often get lost in the midst of our policies, our politics, and structures in the church and outside of the church,” said Bishop Garcia during his homily.

The new Bishop said he was humbled and moved by his appointment to be the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey by the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Christophe Pierre the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America speaks at the Installation ceremony for Bishop Daniel Garcia at Madonna Del Sasso Church in Salinas on Tuesday. (Vern Fisher – Monterey Herald)

Surrounding Bishop Garcia on the altar was Papal Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Pope’s representative to the United States; Cardinal Roger Mahony, retired Archbishop of Los Angeles; Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez; Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Cordileone; third Bishop of Monterey, Sylvester Ryan; and Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Monterey.

Bishop Wilkerson was the interim Bishop of Monterey after fourth Bishop Richard Garcia died in July of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

“I realize that I follow the legacy of a good man in Bishop Richard Garcia who served you well,” said Bishop Daniel Garcia.

Bishop Richard Garcia was known for his very personable, welcoming and friendly demeanor. As a spiritual shepherd, he had a special concern for the poor, the incarcerated, migrant workers and immigrant communities.

“I do come to share with you my gifts, as limited as they may be. But hopefully with the joy and hope that we will learn from each other. As we continue to build upon what is already been established and given to us in this local church,” said the newly-installed Bishop Garcia.

New Bishop Daniel Garcia blesses the visiting Cardinals at Madonna Del Sasso Church in Salinas prior to his Installation ceremony on Tuesday. (Vern Fisher – Monterey Herald)

The ceremony started at the main doors of Madonna Del Sasso Church with the Rite of Reception of the Bishop where Archbishop Gomez presented Bishop Garcia to Bishop Wilkerson who welcomed him and presented the new Bishop with the Reliquary Cross which Bishop Garcia reverenced with a kiss. Bishop Ryan offered holy water to Bishop Garcia who then sprinkled himself and all who were present at the entrance.

During the Rite of Installation, Archbishop Gomez introduced Pope Francis’ representative to the U.S. Archbishop Pierre who read the mandate appointing the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey. The letter was held up and shown to the Diocesan Consultors. Archbishop Pierre then led Bishop Garcia, the New Shepherd of the Church of Monterey, to his chair. He was then presented his Pastoral Staff, the symbol of the Office of Shepherd, from Archbishop Gomez.

Bishop Daniel Garcia, 58, was raised in Cameron, Texas. He has a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and a Master of Divinity from the University of St. Thomas/St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, as well as a Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

In 2014, he was appointed as the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Austin. Before that, he served for 18 years as the founding pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Austin.

Bishop Daniel Garcia’s family attended his installation ceremony and mass, along with family of Bishop Richard Garcia.

Cardinal Roger Mahony (center) at the Installation ceremony for Bishop Daniel Garcia at Madonna Del Sasso Church in Salinas on Tuesday. (Vern Fisher – Monterey Herald)

Bishop Garcia begins his ministry in the Diocese of Monterey just as it recently released its Report of Credible Allegations, a review of the files of all clergy with known allegations of sexual misconduct as well as a review of the files of all currently active clergy in the Diocese of Monterey to determine if any allegations of sexual misconduct with a child against any clergyman currently in ministry exist.

Thirty clergymen were listed as having been credibly or plausibly accused of sexual misconduct with a child going back to the 1950s.

The report, released on Jan. 2 has been criticized as not being inclusive enough in that it specifically did not include, 1) Religious or extern priests who were not ministering in the name of the Diocese of Monterey (were not assigned by the Bishop of Monterey but, rather, were working in the name of their religious orders); and, 2) Priests of the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno where the abuse is alleged to have occurred in what is now the geography of the Diocese of Fresno.

According to two groups critical of the report, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, and BishopAccountability.org, the Diocese of Monterey report was short at least 18 names.

 

 

 

 

 




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