Mass Times
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Saturday Vigil: 5:30PM
Sunday: 7:30AM, 9:30AM, 11:30AM, & 5:30PM
Welcome, Bishop-Elect Rey
I encourage you to read the press release below announcing the appointment of Father Rey Bersabal as auxiliary bishop of Sacramento, and to join with the whole diocese in praying for him as he prepares to assume his new and complex ministry of service.
Bishop-elect Rey is no stranger to our diocese. As you will see in the press release, he has served here in many and varied capacities for the past 25 years. Members of our St. Ignatius community and the local clergy who know him describe him as dedicated, friendly, warm, and open. We welcome his new and expanded ministry, and are grateful for his admittance to our Ordinary, Bishop Jaime Soto, and to the 102 parishes and pastoral works of our far-flung diocese.
Fr. Tom Lucas, S.J.
The Vatican Press Office today announced that His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Rey Bersabal, a priest from the Diocese of Sacramento, as auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Sacramento. He will take up his appointment on May 31st, following his ordination as bishop in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
“I am grateful to His Holiness for giving me a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus as an able co-worker in this favored part of His vineyard,” said the Most Rev. Jaime Soto, Bishop of Sacramento.
“Bishop-elect Rey came as an immigrant priest bringing the rich cultural heritage of the Filipino people. He became part of a presbyterate and people that is a global Catholic kaleidoscope of faith and charity radiating the historic credal customs from Portugal, Italy, Ireland, China, Poland, Africa and more.”
Bishop-elect Bersabal, 59, grew up in a small town in Mindanao, Philippines. He attended both Catholic and public schools before entering the diocesan seminary of San Jose de Mindanao. He obtained his degree in Philosophy from Ateneo de Cagayan Xavier University. On April 29, 1991 he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
In 1999, at the invitation of Bishop Emeritus William Weigand, Bishop-elect Bersabal came to the Diocese of Sacramento. He was incardinated into the diocese in 2004. In the 25 years since his arrival, he has served in several ministerial and administrative positions. Since 2022, he has served as Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Sacramento and is currently a member of the Priests Personnel Board and the Independent Review Board. Previous assignments include chaplain of the Davis Newman Center and pastor assignments at St. Paul Parish, Sacramento, St. John the Baptist Parish, Folsom, and St. James Parish, Davis.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis and to Bishop Jaime Soto, for the recognition and trust bestowed upon me.” said Bishop-elect Bersabal. “I am humbled to be chosen to serve God’s people in this capacity. I vow to uphold the responsibility to demonstrate Christ’s holiness to the people of the Diocese of Sacramento.”
As Auxiliary Bishop, Bersabal will also serve as Vicar General for the Diocese of Sacramento while remaining Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
Bishop-elect Bersabal speaks English, Tagalog, Visayan, and Spanish.
Sunday Homily
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 21, 2024
Fr. Tom Lucas, S.J.
