First Filipino-American bishop source of pride in home country

Published: 2004-02-13

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- The recent ordination of Bishop Oscar A. Solis as the first Filipino-American bishop in the United States will benefit Filipinos working abroad and the church in both countries, said a Philippine bishop and a priest. Bishop Edwin de la Pena of Marawi, chairman of the Philippine bishops' Commission on Missions, said Bishop Solis' appointment is "a recognition of the high ground" the local church has achieved not only in the Philippines but also in the United States, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Bishop Solis was ordained Feb. 10 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Of the 5 million Catholics in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, 400,000 are of Filipino ethnicity. In December, Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Solis as auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, the largest U.S. archdiocese in terms of Catholic population. One of five auxiliary bishops in the archdiocese, he will help coordinate outreach pastoral efforts for all archdiocesan ethnic groups.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .