Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

Chairman

The Most Reverend Richard J. Garcia, D.D.
Bishop of Diocese of Monterey

Bishop Richard Garcia was named the fourth Bishop for the Diocese of Monterey by Pope Benedict XVI on December 19, 2006. This native of San Francisco was installed as Bishop of Monterey on January 30, 2007.

Bishop Garcia attended St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s elementary schools in San Francisco and St. Joseph’s Seminary and St. Patrick College in Mountain View, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

He was ordained to the priesthood for the San Francisco Archdiocese on June 15, 1973 and served as an Associate Pastor and Director for the Office of Spanish speaking of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Fr. Garcia travelled to Rome for doctoral studies in dogmatic theology between 1980 and 1984. In 1981 the Diocese of San Jose was created from the Archdiocese of San Francisco and upon his return Fr. Garcia taught at St. Patrick and St. Joseph seminaries from 1985 to 1992. He later served as Vocations Director for the Diocese of San Jose from 1992 to 1997 and was pastor from 1995 to 1997 at St. Leo the Great parish in San Jose.

On November 24, 1997, Fr. Richard Garcia was elevated to the Episcopacy by Pope John Paul II and names as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento.  He was ordained as bishop on January 28, 1998 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. For the Diocese of Sacramento he served as Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia, Vicar for Clergy and Vicar Episcopal for Hispanic and Other Ethnic Communities. Bishop Garcia continues to serve on numerous committees for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bishop Garcia travels extensively throughout every corner of the Diocese of Monterey where he is known as a bishop of the people. He brings his heartfelt concern and leadership to parishioners everywhere as they bear the many challenges confronting the Church and society today.