The Vatican this week has made waves along the California coast, announcing the appointment of San Diego Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano as the new bishop to lead the Diocese of Monterey. A report from the Times of San Diego stated that Bejarano, 56, previously served as both the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of San Diego and the titular bishop of Carpi since 2020.
Bishop Michael Pham of San Diego described Bejarano as "a gentle soul and a strong advocate for peace and justice." Despite the San Diego diocese's loss, Pham expressed optimism for Monterey's gain of a bishop who embodies the heart of the Good Shepherd, according to the Times of San Diego report. Bejarano will be taking over the reins from Bishop Daniel E. Garcia, who was appointed to serve in Austin, Texas, back in July.
On the social front, the Diocese of Monterey took to Instagram to express its elation towards the appointment of Bishop-Designate Bejarano. "With joy, the Diocese of Monterey welcomes Bishop-Designate Ramón Bejarano, who the Holy See has appointed to serve as our next bishop," stated a post on the official The Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey Instagram. The diocese also called on its community to pray for Bejarano as he prepares for his new role, a sentiment that underscores the bond between a diocese and its bishop.
Bejarano's journey to this pivotal role in Monterey is grounded in humble beginnings. Born in Texas and raised in part in Mexico, he later moved to California’s Central Valley, where he supported his family through various jobs before entering the seminary, as detailed on the Diocese of San Diego’s website. His pastoral care has extended through ministries for ethnic and intercultural communities, as well as life, peace, and justice, and ecumenical and interreligious affairs, which likely informed his advocacy and leadership within the San Diego diocese. The Monterey diocese now looks ahead to a new chapter as it prepares to welcome Bejarano into its fold of approximately 368,150 Catholics in a region that spans 21,916 square miles along California’s scenic Central Coast.
