Chapter 11 Court Required Notification

Communications

Diocesan Statements, Media Relations and Contacts

Newsroom

Pope Names Cardinal McElroy to lead Archdiocese of Washington

January 6, 2025

(Washington, D.C.) – At noon today Rome time (3 a.m. Pacific), the Vatican Press Office announced that Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, Bishop of San Diego, has been appointed the new

read More

El Papa Nombra al Cardenal McElroy para Encabezar la Arquidiócesis de Washington

January 6, 2025

(Washington, D.C.) – Hoy, al mediodía, hora de Roma (3 a.m., hora del Pacífico), la Oficina de Prensa del Vaticano anunció que el cardenal Robert W. McElroy, obispo de San

read More
Aerial view of a large white building with a terracotta roof, surrounded by palm trees and landscaped gardens. It is situated in a suburban area with houses and hills in the background.

Cardinal McElroy Offers Prayers for President-Elect Trump, Vice President-Elect Vance and All Candidates Elected to Office

November 6, 2024

(SAN DIEGO, November 6, 2024) – Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, bishop of San Diego, released a statement today offering prayers for President-Elect Trump, Vice President-Elect Vance and all candidates elected

read More
Aerial view of a large white building with a terracotta roof, surrounded by palm trees and landscaped gardens. It is situated in a suburban area with houses and hills in the background.

El Cardenal McElroy Ofrece Oraciones por el Presidente Electo Trump, el Vicepresidente Electo Vance y todos los funcionarios recién elegidos

November 6, 2024

(SAN DIEGO, 6 noviembre 2024) — El cardenal Robert W. McElroy, obispo de San Diego, emitió hoy un comunicado ofreciendo sus oraciones por el presidente electo Trump, el vicepresidente electo

read More
View All
A person being filmed by a camera operator outside a large building. Two individuals stand in the background, one in a red jacket and another in green, observing the scene. The setting is grassy with a paved area and stairs leading to the building.

Media Policy

The diocese welcomes members of the media to public events and asks only that they be respectful and remember that they are guests at a religious service. To arrange interviews or get broadcast permission for livestream video and similar resources, contact the Office of Communications at 858-490-8374. For after-hours assistance in English, call 858-490-8217. Para obtener asistencia en español, llame al 858-490-8374.

Communication Contacts

Aida Bustos

Director, Diocesan Media

(858) 490-8374
(619) 850-1384 Mobile

Kevin C. Eckery

Director, External and Community Relations

(858) 490-8217

Leonardo Enrique Fonseca

Manager, Social Media

(858) 490-8276

Denis Grasska

Assistant Editor, The Southern Cross

(858) 490-8265

Donna Lightsey

Advertising & Office Coordinator

(858) 490-8266

Vanessa Villaseñor

Web Developer/Designer

(858) 490-8328

Communication Contacts

Aida Bustos

Director, Diocesan Media

Editor, The Southern Cross

Kevin Eckery

Director, External and
Community Relations

Leonardo Enrique Fonseca

Manager, Social Media

 

Denis Grasska

Assistant Editor, The Southern Cross

Donna Lightsey

Advertising & Office Coordinator

 

Vanessa Villaseñor

Web Developer/Designer

 

About the Diocese of San Diego

The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego runs the length of California’s border with Mexico and serves more than 1.3 million Catholics in San Diego and Imperial counties. The diocese includes 96 parishes, 41 elementary schools, seven high schools and various social service organizations across the region. It also includes five historic sites, the most well-known of which is the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, the first mission established in California by St. Junipero Serra in 1769.

 

The diocese was established in 1936 and covered San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. In 1978, the two northern counties were separated to form their own diocese, leaving the Diocese of San Diego to cover San Diego and Imperial counties.

Leadership

Cardinal Robert W. McElroy
Bishop of San Diego

Auxiliary Bishop: Most Reverend Ramón Bejarano,

Vicar for Life, Peace and Justice

Auxiliary Bishop: Most Reverend Michael Pham,

Vicar for Clergy

Auxiliary Bishop:  Most Reverend Felipe Pulido,

Vicar for Parish Pastoral Initiatives

Rodrigo Valdivia,

Vice Moderator of the Curia

Maria Olivia Galván,

Chancellor & Director of Pastoral Ministries

Demographics

Geographical Boundaries: San Diego and Imperial Counties

Square Miles: 8,852

Catholic Population: 1.3 million

Parishes: 96

Missions: 13

Elementary Schools: 41

High Schools: 7

Priests: 206

Deacons: 104

Religious Sisters: 146

Religious Brothers: 30

Stay Connected

Stay Informed

Follow the news about our Catholic community,
in English and Spanish.

The Southern Cross

Our Life is Mission

Nuestra Vida es Misión

Follow Us

Contact us
Copyright © 2025.

Catholic Diocese of San Diego

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pham’s coat of arms depicts a red boat on a blue ocean, which is crisscrossed by diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is often referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, who was known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic and cultural communities. The red of the boat, the beehive and the tongues of fire allude to the blood of the martyrs.

About the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.

Topics