Office for Ethnic and Intercultural Communities

We embrace cultural diversity as a strength of our Church while promoting unity among all Catholics as members of one human family, gathering as one for the common good and for the glory of God.

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Unity: Gathered as One

Our diocese’s Office for Ethnic and Intercultural Communities testifies so powerfully to the many gifts given to each culture and community, and how our Church is made stronger, better, richer and deeper by them.

The Office bears witness that we are stronger in the world when we stand together as One Body. And that we, the people of all lands, are brothers and sisters in Christ, and called to serve each other, respect each other, reach out to each other, accompany each other in this world.

This fellowship serves as a potent response to the corrosive forces in our society that seek to divide individuals, neighbors and countries. By fostering understanding and unity among all of our communities, the Office is serving not only our local Church but society as a whole.

Whether celebrating each community’s unique faith traditions or Gathering As One, the Office invites each Catholic to discover his or her own cultural roots and the many expressions of our truly universal Church.

Bishop Robert W. McElroy

Major Activities

Mary, Mother of the Church

The statue depicts the Blessed Mother carrying young Jesus, who is holding St. Peter’s Basilica, a symbol of our earthly Church. As the annual Pentecost celebration gathers all of us as brothers and sisters, One in Christ Unum in Christi, her mantle embraces the diverse cultures of our local diocese, and several saints that accompany us on our spiritual journey.

Under the Blessed Mother’s mantle at the front are children representing the cultural families, as designated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: Asian-Pacific Islander, Euro American, African American, Hispanic and Native American.

Meet Our Cultural Communities

The Office for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities is committed to the inclusion and fuller participation of all God’s People in the life and ministry of the Church by building up their Catholic identity in a spirit of unity in diversity. Here are some of the communities we serve.

Contacts

Most Rev. Ramón Bejarano
Vicar General
Phone: (858) 490-8306
rbejaranoEmail at symbolsdcatholic.org
Charlotte Fajardo
Assistant to the Vicar
Phone: (858) 271-0207 ext. 1204 
cfajardoEmail at symbolsdcatholic.org
Alejandra Diaz
Administrative Assistant
Phone: (858) 490-8306
adiazEmail at symbolsdcatholic.org
African American Community
Rick Stewart
Chair
r.g.stewart12Email at symbolgmail.com
Selma Johnson
Vice Chair
s.m.johnson5737Email at symbolgmail.com
Deacon Marvin Threatt
Spiritual Advisor
threattsEmail at symbolcox.net
African Community
Bibiana Jones
Leader
nwamakajonesEmail at symbolyahoo.com
Awichu Akwanya
Committee
aawichuEmail at symbolunitedwomenofeastafrica.org
Rev. Emmanuel Ochigbo
Spiritual Advisor
emmaochigbo2001Email at symbolyahoo.com
Brazilian Community
Deacon Luiz Bueno
Spiritual Advisor
luizbueno56Email at symbolgmail.com
Fagner Bernardo
Leader
fagnerbernardoEmail at symbolgmail.com
Chamorro-Guamanian Community
Nicolasa Garrido
Religious Leader
Brienda Diaz
Communications
ebdiaz671Email at symbolgmail.com
Joshua T. Borja
Sons & Daughter of Guam
guamclub.orgEmail at symbolgmail.com
Chinese Community
Ruey Hong
Chair
rueymawhongEmail at symbolgmail.com
Margaret Marsh
Committee
marshmyhEmail at symbolyahoo.com
Rev. Anthony Yang
Spiritual Advisor
Eritrean Community
Semret Haile
Leader
semrethaileEmail at symbolgmail.com
Filipino Community
Athena Besa
President
abesaEmail at symbolsan.rr.com
Rev. Nemesio Sungcad
Spiritual Advisor
19neman51Email at symbolgmail.com
Hispanic Community
Luis Barajas
President
barajasluis23Email at symbolgmail.com
Rev. Edmundo Zárate-Suárez
Spiritual Advisor
Indian Community
Anita Lenus
President
anitaslenusEmail at symbolgmail.com
Prince Paul
Malyali Leaders-St. Michael
paulprince_usEmail at symbolyahoo.com
Rev. Tom Kuzhipala
Spiritual Advisor
Indonesian Community
Benjamin Liem
Activities Coordinator
benliemEmail at symbolgmail.com
Rev. Sam Nasada
Spiritual Advisor
frsamEmail at symbolsanluisreyparish.org
Irish Community
Cathy Ward
Executive Director
helpEmail at symbolirishoutreachcenter.org
Rev. Nick Clavin
Chaplain
Italian Community
Patrizia Vigili
President
mclpatriziaEmail at symbolgmail.com
Rev. Joseph Tabigue
Chaplain
Korean Community
Lawrence Hong
Vocation Lead
kccosd.vocEmail at symbolgmail.com
RanJoo Yip
Administrator
kccosdEmail at symbolgmail.com
Rev. Gwangho Joseph Min
Pastor
kccosdEmail at symbolgmail.com
Laotian Community
Kevin Souvannaphong
Leader
Donkeki3Email at symbolyahoo.com
Khampheng Sphabmixay
Committee
khamphab99Email at symbolgmail.com
Maly Phabmisay
Committee
mphabmysayEmail at symbolgmail.com
Mission San Luis Rey-Multi Cultural Community
Jim Moore
Committee Member
folkfansEmail at symbolcomcast.net
Native American-Mission Barona/St. Kateri Tekawitha
Rev. Herman Manuel SVD
Pastor
herman_manuelEmail at symbolhotmail.com
Beth Glasco
Resource
bglascoEmail at symbolbarona-nsn.gov
Native American-Pauma/Pala
Cindy Devers
Resource
rezneckwomanEmail at symbolgmail.com
Ed McEnespy
Resource
pa_hi_edcmEmail at symbolhotmail.com
Rev. Gerardo Fernandez
Pastor
Samoan Community
Juliana Lutau
Leader
jlutauEmail at symbolgmail.com
Bernadette Aloese
Committee
bernadette.aloese1994Email at symbolgmail.com
Tongan Community
Kekekolio Taulanga
Leader
sefanaia73Email at symbolyahoo.com
Aivine Tautuiaki
Committee
tautuiakiaivineEmail at symbolyahoo.com
Vietnamese Community
Hien Nguyen
Chair
hienpamEmail at symbolyahoo.com
Rev. Minh Do
Spiritual Advisor
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