Philippines native appointed auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles

Published: 2003-12-11

LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- Pope John Paul has named Father Oscar Azarcon Solis, pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Parish in Thibodaux, La., to be an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The appointment was announced at the Vatican Dec. 11. Bishop-designate Solis, who will be ordained to the episcopacy on Feb. 10 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, becomes the first Filipino-American bishop named to serve in the United States and the 29th active U.S. bishop born in another country. "With one of the largest Filipino Catholic populations in the country, it is fitting that our Holy Father ... recognizes Los Angeles as the archdiocese to receive the first Filipino bishop," said Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles at a Dec. 11 press conference.

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