Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Ramón Bejarano as the new Bishop of Monterey, California. The appointment was officially announced by the Vatican on December 17. Bishop Bejarano, 56, is currently the auxiliary bishop of San Diego and the titular bishop of Carpi. He was born in Laredo, Texas, but spent his early life in Mexico before moving to California at age 18. Prior to his current role, he served in various pastoral positions within the Diocese of Stockton, including chaplain for the Migrant Ministry.
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Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Ramón Bejarano as the new Bishop of Monterey, California, on December 17, 2025.1
Bejarano, currently auxiliary bishop of San Diego and titular bishop of Carpi, fills the vacancy left by an apostolic administrator.1
Born in Laredo, Texas, 56-year-old Bishop Bejarano spent early years in Aldama, Chihuahua, Mexico.1
His family relocated to Tracy, California, when he was 18, where he worked in fields and hotel maintenance to support them.1
He studied at the Archdiocesan Seminary of Tijuana, Mexico, and Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.1
Ordained a priest on August 15, 1998, for the Diocese of Stockton, fulfilling a lifelong dream.1
Bejarano served as parish vicar at St. George in Stockton and Sacred Heart in Turlock.1
He later led parishes in Modesto, served as chaplain to the Migrant Ministry, and held roles on the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors.1
Appointed auxiliary bishop of San Diego on February 27, 2020, and ordained that July.1
In San Diego, he was vicar for ethnic and intercultural communities, life, peace and justice, and ecumenical and interreligious affairs.1
The Eucharist inspired his vocation from age seven and sustains his ministry as a "living sacrifice."1
His episcopal motto is “My soul is thirsting for you.”1
The diocese has been under apostolic administrator Bishop Slawomir Szkredka since September 2025.1
Assess the Church’s pastoral response to migrant ministry in California
The Catholic Church's pastoral response to migrants in California is deeply rooted in the state's missionary origins and its role as a historic gateway for immigrants. From the establishment of missions along El Camino Real—named after saints and Christian mysteries like San Diego, San Bernardino, and Santa Barbara—early Spanish and Mexican settlers brought their Catholic faith, laying the groundwork for a diverse ecclesial community. This heritage evolved as California became a "haven for immigrants, a new home for refugees and migrants," drawing people from every continent and enriching the Church with ethnic diversity. In Los Angeles, particularly, Christ is encountered in "Anglo and Hispanic, Chinese and Black, Vietnamese and Irish" faces, embodying the universal Body of Christ united in baptism. Pope John Paul II highlighted Los Angeles in 1987 as "the new major point of entry for the latest waves of immigrants," commending U.S. bishops for their "active collaboration in helping several million undocumented immigrants to become legal residents," reflecting the Gospel call: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Mt 25:35).
Catholic teaching frames migrants as archetypes of the Holy Family of Nazareth, exiled in Egypt, compelling the Church to affirm their "inalienable rights and dignity" through Christian charity. Pope Pius XII's Exsul Familia and Pope Francis's messages on Matthew 25 urge seeing Christ in the stranger, advocating "bridges not walls" while respecting free decisions to migrate. In Ecclesia in America, Pope John Paul II called the Church a "vigilant advocate" for migrants' rights to move freely and for their dignity, even in irregular situations, fostering "evangelical fraternity" and mutual enrichment between newcomers and locals. The U.S. bishops echo this in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, mandating care for "authorized and unauthorized" newcomers, including unaccompanied children and trafficking victims, while recognizing nations' rights to secure borders humanely. California's border proximity amplifies this duty, with the Church rejecting "open borders" but prioritizing hospitality per Leviticus 19:34.
Catholic organizations in California, especially along the U.S.-Mexico border, deliver essential aid: meals, clothing, showers, medical care, temporary shelter, family reunification guidance, and Sacraments in detention. They cooperate with governments, providing resettlement (employment, schooling, language), legal services for naturalization and court cases, and antitrafficking support—all promoting legal compliance. The USCCB's role, historic since 1917, includes programs like Safe Passages for unaccompanied children, offering foster care, home studies, and post-release services, serving thousands annually in partnership with diocesan agencies. In California, this extends to Los Angeles's intercultural ministry, integrating migrants' rich Christian heritage from Latin America. Bishops are urged to harmonize mentalities, ensuring no one feels alien, with dioceses of origin and arrival collaborating via pastoral structures. Recent orientations view migrants as a "blessing," revitalizing secularized communities through fraternity like Pentecost.
The Church confronts migration's "perfect storm" of violence, gangs, drugs, unemployment, and poor education, advocating root-cause solutions like equitable trade, development aid, and anti-corruption to enable dignified lives at home. It leads antitrafficking efforts, with Pope Francis decrying it as a "scourge upon the body of Christ," supporting laws like the TVPRA and protecting vulnerable children. Concerns persist over asylum procedures raising barriers to protection, contrary to humane policy. In California, where migrants sustain demographics amid low birthrates, integration demands hope-focused pastoral care—healing wounds, preserving faith amid despair. Pope Francis exhorts against discriminatory narratives, urging solidarity.
The Church's response excels in fidelity to Gospel charity, historical continuity, and practical impact, transforming California into a model of catholicity where diversity strengthens evangelization. No evidence links aid to incentivizing irregular migration; instead, it addresses complex push-pull factors humanely. Yet, challenges like political hostility and secularism call for deeper inculturation, avoiding diluted Gospel while adapting to cultures. Enhanced cooperation between origin and host dioceses, plus community involvement, can further empower women, workers, and families.
In summary, California's Catholic migrant ministry is a robust, Christ-centered witness—welcoming, protective, and integrative—aligned with papal teachings, though vigilant adaptation ensures it meets evolving needs without compromising doctrine.