SAN DIEGO — Some 31 years ago, Michael Pham began a vocation journey in the Diocese of San Diego that on July 17 will take him to its summit. On that day, he will be installed as the seventh bishop of the diocese.
“It’s such great news for me to be able to stay in my home diocese,” he said at a press conference on May 22, when Pope Leo XIV announced his appointment. “I have served God’s people as a priest and as auxiliary bishop, and now I will be their bishop.”
The installation Mass, which will be live-streamed, will be celebrated at 1 p.m. at St. Thérèse of Carmel Parish.
One day earlier, Bishop Pham will celebrate Mass and have lunch with the diocesan Pastoral Center staff.
On the evening of July 16, he will formally take possession of St. Joseph Cathedral. Following the traditional ritual, he will rap on the closed front door with a mallet, before being welcomed inside by the cathedral’s rector, Father Peter Navarra. Upon entering, the bishop will kiss a crucifix, sprinkle those gathered inside with holy water, and preside over Vespers, or Evening Prayer, with the priests of the diocese.
At St. Thérèse of Carmel Church, Bishop Pham will be installed as bishop by Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles. He will be the first Vietnamese-American bishop to head a U.S. diocese.
Noreen McInnes, director of the diocesan Office for Liturgy and Spirituality, said that about 20 bishops are expected to attend, including Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, archbishop of Washington and Bishop Pham’s immediate predecessor as bishop of San Diego; Bishop John Dolan, of the Diocese of Phoenix, a former auxiliary bishop of San Diego; and Cardinal Roger Mahony, retired archbishop of Los Angeles.
Near the beginning of the liturgy, the apostolic mandate from the Holy See appointing Bishop Pham to lead the Diocese of San Diego will be read by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The mandate then will be formally presented to the chancellor, Marioly Galván; to the College of Consultors, a diocesan body composed of the auxiliary bishops and eight priests, which assists the bishop with diocesan governance; and, finally, to the entire assembly.
Next, Archbishop Gomez and Cardinal Pierre will lead Bishop Pham to his seat, symbolizing that he has taken his place as diocesan bishop, to the accompaniment of applause. The new bishop will be welcomed by representatives of various groups in the Local Church, including some of the cultural communities and the permanent diaconate.
The Holy See Press Office announced May 22 that Pope Leo XIV, in his first U.S. bishop appointment, had named Bishop Pham to lead the San Diego Diocese.
Bishop Pham, 58, had been serving as diocesan administrator since March 17.
Journey begins
The first Vietnamese-American bishop to head a U.S. diocese, he was born in Da Nang, Vietnam. With his family, he fled the Communist government in his homeland and lived in a refugee camp before being resettled in the United States, arriving in San Diego in 1985.
Bishop Pham entered the seminary in 1994 and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of San Diego on June 25, 1999.
Over a quarter-century in ministry, he has served as associate pastor of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Oceanside; director of priestly vocations; and pastor of Holy Family in Linda Vista, St. Therese Parish in Del Cerro, and Good Shepherd Parish in Mira Mesa.
He has served as vicar for clergy; vicar for ethnic and intercultural communities, a role in which he developed the multilingual Pentecost Mass for All Peoples, held annually since 2018; and as a vicar general of the diocese, a position that authorized him to act as the bishop’s representative in diocesan administration.
He was appointed an auxiliary bishop of San Diego on June 6, 2023. He was consecrated a bishop on Sept. 28, 2023.
Msgr. Steve Callahan has been a priest of the Diocese of San Diego since 1987 and served as diocesan administrator in the period that followed the death of Bishop Cirilo Flores in 2014. He explained the role of a bishop in the Catholic Church.
He noted that the word itself derives from the Greek “episkopos,” which translates to “overseer.”
“(A bishop) oversees the mission of the entire diocese in his three functions of teaching, and sanctifying, and governing/shepherding,” Msgr. Callahan said.
Theologically, he said, bishops are understood to possess “the fullness of the priesthood,” with the priests of his diocese having “a share in that ministry of the bishop.” He likened this to the relationship that exists between the college of bishops worldwide, who represent “the successors of the Apostles,” and the pope — the successor of St. Peter — as their head.
Opportunities and Challenges
Bishop Pham has been entrusted with a diocese that encompasses 8,852 square miles and spans both San Diego and Imperial counties. That diocese is home to 96 parishes, 41 Catholic elementary schools and seven high schools.
For those eager to discover Bishop Pham’s vision for the diocese, McInnes suggested that local Catholics reflect on “the ministry that Bishop Pham has led over his life as a priest.”
“That is very telling,” she said. “We know him.”
Bishop Pham often speaks about the need for unity in the Church — for everyone from all walks of life to come together to live the Gospel, regardless of age or cultural background.
As both a priest and an auxiliary bishop, she said, “The Holy Spirit has been calling him to minister to people of all cultures,” through events like the Pentecost Mass for All Peoples. She expects that he will continue to “follow the Holy Spirit” as a bishop.
While she admits that no one knows “where the winds will take him,” McInnes said, “His ministry so far is really evidence that he is a careful listener of the Holy Spirit.”
Msgr. Callahan reflected on some of the challenges and opportunities that the new bishop faces.
“I think we’re still recovering from the effects of COVID,” he said, noting that St. Brigid Parish in Pacific Beach, where he serves as pastor, is still experiencing 20% lower Mass attendance when compared to pre-pandemic numbers.
“Most people have returned to an active practice through Sunday Eucharist,” he said, “but there’s a significant number who have not.”
Msgr. Callahan said that the Church’s outreach to youth and young adults is “a continuing challenge.” And while the “multicultural dimension” of the diocese is “a gift,” he said, “It also brings challenges … as far as integrating different cultures into the life of a parish.”
“Then,” he said, “the latest manifestation of tension over the whole immigration issue, and the anxiety that brings to a lot of our people,” is yet another challenge.
Bishop Pham agrees that immigration will be among the “the main challenges as I lead our diocese after the installation.”
“Since we are human beings created in the image and likeness of God,” he said, “we believe that all of us have dignity and value.”
“We are challenged to treat one another with respect and compassion,” he added. “This, however, can become an opportunity to show others that, no matter what nationality, ethnicity and language, we can live together in harmony and peace.
“We can show the richness of cultures, traditions and celebrations with beauty and vibrancy of life,” he said. “We can show kindness and charity towards each other.”
