Pope Leo XIV Appoints Bishop Ramón Bejarano as 6th Bishop of Monterey
MONTEREY — Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Most Rev. Ramón Bejarano, Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego, as the 6th Bishop of Monterey in California, bringing new leadership to the Central Coast diocese at a moment of heightened attention following recent liturgical and pastoral developments.
Bishop Bejarano succeeds the Most Rev. Daniel E. Garcia, who was recently installed as Bishop of Austin, Texas. The Diocese of Monterey spans much of California’s Central Coast and includes a Catholic population of more than 360,000 faithful.
Early Life and Priestly Ministry
Ramón Bejarano was born on 17 July 1969 in Seagraves, Texas, to parents of Mexican heritage. Shortly after his birth, his family returned to Juan Aldama in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. In 1987, his family relocated to California’s Central Valley, where he worked in agricultural and maintenance jobs before entering seminary formation.
Bejarano studied philosophy at the Diocesan Seminary of Tijuana, earning a Master of Philosophy degree, and later completed a Master of Divinity at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Stockton on 15 August 1998 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.
His priestly ministry included assignments as parochial vicar at the parish of Saint George in Stockton and the parish of Sacred Heart in Turlock, followed by service at the parish of the Holy Family in Modesto. He later served for more than a decade as pastor of Saint Stanislaus in Modesto and was named rector of the Cathedral of the Annunciation in 2019.
Throughout his priesthood, Bejarano ministered extensively to migrant workers and immigrant communities and served in various diocesan leadership roles.
Episcopal Ministry in San Diego
On 27 February 2020, Pope Francis appointed Bejarano as Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego and Titular Bishop of Carpi. He was episcopally ordained on 14 July 2020 at the parish of Immaculata in San Diego.
The principal consecrator was then-Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San Diego, now Cardinal McElroy and Archbishop of Washington, D.C. The Mass of ordination was celebrated in English, Spanish, and Latin.
As auxiliary bishop, Bejarano served as vicar for ethnic and intercultural communities and as vicar for life, peace, and justice, with particular emphasis on ministry to immigrant families.
Reported Controversy in San Diego
During his tenure in San Diego, Bishop Bejarano was associated with a liturgical event that drew attention from some Catholic media.
In July 2025, LifeSiteNews reported that Bishop Bejarano presided at an “All Are Welcome” Mass at the parish of Saint John the Evangelist in San Diego, during which a local LGBTQ+ activist was permitted to address those in attendance. Coverage of the event generated concern among orthodox Catholics, who questioned its conformity with established liturgical norms and the Church’s teaching on homosexuality (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn. 2357–2359).
Supporters of the event, as reported elsewhere, described it as an expression of pastoral outreach and welcome.
Looking Ahead in Monterey
Bishop Bejarano’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Diocese of Monterey, which has recently drawn national attention following the suppression of the traditional Latin Mass—an issue previously examined by Central Coast Catholic.
As he prepares to take canonical possession of the See of Monterey in California, Bishop Bejarano will assume leadership of a diocese marked by both deep historical roots and contemporary pastoral challenges. The faithful of the Central Coast now await further details regarding his installation and the pastoral priorities he will set in the months ahead.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, graciously look upon Thy servant Ramón, whom Thou hast been pleased to appoint pastor over the Diocese of Monterey in California: grant, we beseech Thee, that by both word and example he may edify those over whom he is set, and together with the flock committed to his care, may attain to eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Oh Dios, Pastor y Gobernador de todos los fieles, mira propicio a tu siervo Ramón, a quien te has dignado poner como pastor sobre la Diócesis de Monterey en California; concede, te rogamos, que por su palabra y por su ejemplo edifique a aquellos sobre quienes ha sido constituido, y que, juntamente con el rebaño confiado a su cuidado, alcance la vida eterna. Por Cristo nuestro Señor. Amén.
~ Collect prayer from the Mass on the Anniversary of the Election or Consecration of a Bishop, 1962 edition of The Roman Missal.
