The Diocese of Monterey has a new bishop, appointed by Pope Leo XIV, it was announced on Dec. 17. The Most Reverend Ramón Bejarano was named Bishop of Monterey, replacing Bishop Daniel Garcia, who was appointed as Bishop of Austin by Pope Leo in July. He left for Austin in September.
Bejarano, 56, comes from the Diocese of San Diego, where he served as auxiliary bishop. According to his biography, he was born in Texas, soon after which his family moved back to Mexico. He spent much of his early life in Aldama, Chihuahua.
The family later moved back to the U.S., to Tracy, when he was 18, where he worked in the fields and at a hotel to support his family. He applied to join the seminary when he was 20. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1998.
Bejarano served different churches in the Central Valley, as well as serving as chaplain to the Migrant Ministry, celebrating mass for workers and families in migrant camps. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of San Diego in 2020.
Garcia returned to his home diocese of Austin, where he was ordained and served as auxiliary bishop.