Chapter 11

Suppression Notice

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San Diego Catholic Bishop Issues Statement on Violent Assault on Congress

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2021) — Bishop Robert McElroy, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, issued the following statement today after rioters stormed Congress: “On this tragic day on which we have witnessed a violent and insurrectionist assault upon the heart of our democracy, we must dedicate ourselves to completely transforming […]

Indoor Masses temporarily suspended

Español On Jan. 25, San Diego County health authorities updated their orders for the region to slow the spread of COVID-19. Parishes in San Diego County will continue to operate as they have since early December, offering Masses only outdoors, with members having to wear masks, observe social distancing and follow other safety guidelines. Many […]

Misas solo al exterior

English San Diego County health officials updated their orders to curb the spread of COVID-19 on January 25. Parishes in San Diego County will continue to operate as they have since early December, celebrating Masses outdoors, with parishioners wearing face masks, observing social distancing and following other safety measures. Many parishes will continue to stream […]

Bishop’s Address: National Restorative Justice Conference

“GOOD SAMARITANS ALL” Keynote Address to the National Catholic Restorative Justice Conference Oct. 27, 2020 Bishop Robert W. McElroy The Catholic Mobilizing Network, in collaboration with the Diocese of San Diego and the University of San Diego, is hosting “Harm, Healing and Human Dignity: An All-Virtual Catholic Conference on Restorative Justice” on Oct. 27, 29 […]

“Voting in Faith, Rebuilding in Hope”

A person wearing a clerical collar and a black suit stands in front of a blurred bookshelf background.

An Address to the Communities ofSaint Mary’s College and the University of Notre DameOctober 13, 2020Bishop Robert W. McElroy We stand poised upon the most important national election of the past fifty years.  Our country is consumed by a threatening pandemic that has killed more than two hundred thousand people, infected our highest levels of […]

Catholic Bishop Announces Return to Indoor Masses in SD County

(SAN DIEGO, Sept. 1, 2020) – Bishop Robert W. McElroy issued the following letter today to the faithful of the San Diego Catholic Diocese: “Last week Gov. Gavin Newsom issued new guidelines that provide for houses of worship to conduct religious services inside our churches. Since the specific application of these guidelines is subject to […]

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 combines the Diocese of San Diego’s coat of arms on the left side, and his on the right. On his, a red boat on a blue ocean sits on 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 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, 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 communities.

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.

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