Bishop Michael Pham, of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, delivered the following homily at his episcopal installation Mass at St. Thérèse of Carmel Church on July 17, 2025:
Dear Eminences, Excellencies, Reverend Fathers, Deacons, Religious men and women, religious leaders of other traditions, dignitaries, distinguished guests, and the People of God.
Today, I humbly stand among giants and feel tremendous honor and privilege being appointed by Pope Leo XIV to lead and serve the Church in the Diocese of San Diego as Diocesan Bishop.
I want to express my deepest gratitude, first and foremost, to God for the many graces and blessings bestowed upon my life. To my parents and siblings for being part of my years of formation in the faith and social relationships.
I am grateful for the formation I received both at St. Francis’ and St. Patrick’s Seminaries. As a priest, I am so grateful to my brother priests, deacons, religious men and women with whom I work, collaborate, journey with and serve God’s people.
As an Auxiliary Bishop appointed by our late Pope Francis, I was privileged to have Cardinal McElroy as my boss, my collaborator, mentor, and guide for the years that he was here with us in the Diocese of San Diego. I believe the Archdiocese of Washington is fortunate and blessed to have him. Ever since Cardinal McElroy left for Washington, we three Amigos, Bishops Ramón, Felipe, and I, have been running the show here in San Diego together. Cardinal McElroy has taught us well. We haven’t broken anything yet. It has been a wonderful friendship and team effort. I am truly blessed.
Although he has gone to a greener and much larger pasture in the Diocese of Phoenix, despite it looking so dry with those cactuses, Bishop Dolan has been my constant supporter and friend over the years.
I want to acknowledge His Eminence Cardinal Christophe Pierre for making this day possible for me. I thank Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop José Gomez, and bishops from across the U.S. for extending your kindness and encouragement for me as I assume this role.
And finally, the diocesan staff, the parish staffs with whom I had worked, the cultural leaders, and the People of God who are the bedrock that have shaped and formed me into the priest and bishop I am today. I am forever grateful to all of you who traveled alongside me on this journey proclaiming the reign of God here on earth.
As we hear in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, “They were in one place together.” From then on, they had done marvelous deeds in God’s eyes. Here we are today again, in one place together, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to recognize the will of God in our Church.
In the same way, Paul reminds us in the letter to the Corinthians: “And no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.”
It is the Holy Spirit who unites us to our Risen Lord and brings us to birth as a universal church to go forth proclaiming God’s love and salvation to the world. Jesus was sent to us by the Father to give us his Spirit of Love. We, too, are sent by Jesus to bring the same Spirit of Love to the world filled with division and hatred, through our active participation in justice and peace, in forgiveness and reconciliation actualized now in the Eucharist. This is what we are celebrating sacramentally today. True love unites in diversity. As Jesus assures us: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst.” Indeed, love unites us with our Triune God, and with one another. Love unites us with ethnicities, cultures, ecumenical, and interfaith.
It is the Holy Spirit that calls us to listen to one another. On the day of Pentecost as we heard from the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, people spoke in different languages; and yet, they understood each other. The reason they understood each other was because they listened to each other. As our late Pope Francis pointed out to us, listening is the important key to create synodality in our Church. Only by listening to the word of God and to each other, can we be guided by the Holy Spirit to right the injustices created in today’s world due to our human flaws and thus achieve peace.
“Peace be with you” were the words that Pope Leo XIV spoke when he stepped out to the balcony as the new pontiff. These words came from the lips of Jesus after his Resurrection. Peace is what we desire in our world today. Peace is possible only when there is justice! Justice also requires love and compassion. We are challenged to live justly and bring justice to our society as we are mindful of our sisters and brothers who are being neglected, who are being thrown away on the side of the road, and who are incapable of defending themselves. And so, it begins where we are in our local areas.
We will have true social justice only when all sisters and brothers are treated with dignity and respect. In this day, politics and social interactions shouldn’t focus exclusively on differences, but rather on the common good of the people. All people.
It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to serve one another. Jesus said, “I come to serve, not to be served.” The image of Jesus washing the feet for His Apostles in the Gospel shows us how Jesus humbled himself to serve others. We are challenged to do the same and deepen the value of service. Service comes from love. When love permeates in us, we are able to serve God’s people with all our hearts. It is this very service rooted in love that will first transform each individual Christian, and then the society as a whole.
One of our late Pope Francis’ qualities is that he was always mindful of the ones on the peripheries. We pray that the Holy Spirit gives us the strength and courage to take on the task to serve all people without discrimination, especially the poor, the homeless, the immigrants, the migrants, the refugees, and the voiceless. In serving others, it requires daily dying and that we “lay down” prejudice and welcome the gentle heart.
United in Christ and One with the Father, we are sent out into the world guided by the Holy Spirit, to surrender our lives to the Risen Jesus, and to sanctify our lives for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit transform our lives into this great mysterious love of God who reveals to us in the Eucharist!
Even though having lived here in San Diego for over forty years in which I call home, I still have much to learn about life and service to God’s people. As I begin this new responsibility as the Shepherd of the Diocese of San Diego, the chosen Gospel of John today becomes the guiding principle for my ministry: Jesus says: My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life…” Please pray for me as I lead our diocese to stay centered on Christ, the Good Shepherd, the source of eternal life.
Xin quý OBACE cầu nguyện cho con khi con bắt đầu trách nhiệm mới này với tư cách là Giám mục Giáo phận, để con có thể hướng dẫn giáo phận chúng ta luôn tập trung vào Chúa Kitô, Mục Tử Nhân Lành, là nguồn sống trường sinh.
Al iniciar esta nueva responsabilidad como Obispo Diocesano, les pido que oren por mí para que pueda liderar a nuestra diócesis en mantenerse centrada en Cristo, El Buen Pastor, la fuente de la vida eterna.
You may be used to seeing a tall bishops and cardinal at the lead. But now, — you can envision before you a shorter bishop, like Yoda in “Star Wars” — getting ready to lead. Whether we are tall or short, figuratively or literally, we all are called to be bearers of hope and beacons of Good News to peace, justice, and love for all.
Mary, Mother of the Church – Pray for us!