Bishop of Sacramento
Jaime Soto was born December 31, 1955 at Daniel Freeman Hospital, Inglewood, California. Family moved to Stanton, California in 1956. Attended Saint Polycarp School in Stanton. Graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1974. Graduated from Saint John's Seminary College, Camarillo, California in 1978 with a B.A. in Philosophy. Received a M.Div. from Saint John's Seminary, Camarillo, California in 1982. Ordained for Priestly service in the Diocese of Orange, California in June, 1982. Served as associate pastor at Saint Joseph Church in Santa Ana, California from June, 1982 to July, 1984. Attended Columbia University School of Social Work, New York City from 1984 to 1986. Graduated in May, 1986 with a Master in Social Work, (MSW). Assumed a position as Associate Director of Catholic Charities of Orange in July, 1986. Assumed the directorship of the Immigration and Citizenship Services at Catholic Charities in December, 1986. Was involved with the implementation of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Was appointed by the Most Reverend Norman F. McFarland, Bishop of Orange, as Episcopal Vicar for the Hispanic Community on March 3, 1989. Was named a prelate of honor by his Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in 1990 and given the title of Monsignor. While continuing to work as the Episcopal Vicar for the Hispanic Community Msgr. Soto was appointed by the Most Reverend Tod D. Brown, Bishop of Orange, as Vicar for Charities on March 1, 1999. Was named the Titular Bishop of Segia and the Auxiliar Bishop of the Diocese of Orange, California by his Holiness, Pope John Paul II on March 23, 2000. His Episcopal Ordination took place on May 31, 2000, the Feast of the Visitation. On October 11, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Jaime Soto as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento. Bishop Soto was welcomed into the diocese on November 19, 2007. While serving as Coadjutor Bishop, he served as Moderator of the Curia, Vicar for Hispanics and Other Ethnic Ministries, and represented many pastoral and civic groups. On November 29, 2008, Bishop Jaime Soto became the head of the diocese upon the retirement of the Most Reverend Bishop William K. Weigand.