San Bernardino, Calif., Jul 26, 2005 / 22:00 pm
On Monday, the Vatican named a Riverside, CA priest to fill the position of auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of San Bernadino--a position which has been empty since 2003. His appointment makes the diocese the only one in the U.S. with two Hispanic bishops, reflecting what is perhaps the changing face of the American Church.
Bishop-elect Rutilio J. del Riego, who comes to the diocese from Our Lady of Perpetual Health in Riverside, now becomes one of 23 Hispanic bishops in the U.S., joining Bishop Gerald R. Barnes in ministering to the nearly 1.1 million member diocese--47% of whom are Hispanic.
Humble 64-year old del Riego said at a news conference that, "I have to be absolutely frank: I would not have asked for it…My life is going to change radically, and I was very happy where I was, doing what I was doing."
But, he added, "I believe God is calling me to do this, and so I have no excuse."