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tvc . dsj . org | February 6 , 2018 IN THE CHURCH 11
Sacramento Auxiliary Named to Succeed Retiring Stockton Bishop
By Catholic News Service
Pope Francis has named Auxiliary Bishop Myron J . Cotta of Sacramento , Calif ., to succeed Bishop Stephen E . Blaire of Stockton , Calif . Bishop Cotta is pictured in a 2014 photo . ( CNS photo / Diocese of Sacramento )
WASHINGTON – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Stephen E . Blaire of Stockton , California , and named Auxiliary Bishop Myron J . Cotta of Sacramento , California , as his successor .
Bishop Blaire , a native of Los Angeles , has headed the Stockton Diocese since his 1999 appointment by Saint John Paul II . He submitted his resignation a year ago at 75 , the age at which canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation to the pope .
Bishop Cotta , who will turn 65 March 21 , was named an Auxiliary Bishop of the Sacramento Diocese by Pope Francis in 2014 . A native of Dos Palos , California , the bishop speaks English , Portuguese and Spanish . He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Fresno , California , in 1987 .
The changes were announced in Washington January 23 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre , apostolic nuncio to the United States .
Bishop Cotta ’ s installation as the sixth bishop of Stockton will take place March 15 in the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton . Until then Bishop Blaire will serve as apostolic administrator of the diocese .
“ The Holy Father has made my life a little more difficult ,” Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto said in a statement , but he was “ still delighted ” to announce the pope ’ s appointment of Bishop Cotta to succeed Bishop Blaire .
“ The people of God in the Diocese of Stockton will receive a son of the Central Valley who has a pastor ’ s heart . He will be a blessing for the church of Stockton . We will miss him in Sacramento ,” he added .
Bishop Soto also thanked Bishop Blaire “ for being an exemplary pastor of souls during his many years of shepherding the people of God in Stockton . The whole state of California has benefited from his leadership . The Catholic bishops of California have enjoyed his fraternal support . I wish him well in his much-deserved retirement .”
Bishop Cotta said it was “ humbling and an honor to be called by God to this ministry of service to the church , in particular to the Diocese of Stockton .”
“ As I prepare to leave the Diocese of Sacramento , I thank God for the call to the episcopacy and for the many blessings that I have experienced over 30 years of ordained priesthood among God ’ s people within the Central Valley of California ,” he said at a news conference in Stockton .
“ I thank God for the opportunity to have served and shared the ministry of auxiliary bishop under Bishop Jaime Soto , along with the clergy , religious and laity of the Diocese of Sacramento ,” he added .
Born March 21 , 1953 , Bishop Cotta attended Saint John ’ s Seminary in Camarillo , California , from 1980 to 1987 , receiving a bachelor ’ s degree and master of divinity degree . His assignments after his September 12 , 1987 , ordination for Fresno , included as parochial vicar at Saint Anthony in Atwater ( 1987-1989 ); administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Laton ( 1989-1992 ); and pastor of Our Lady of Miracles in Gustine ( 1994 ) as well as administrator at Holy Rosary Parish in Hilmar that same year .
Since 1996 , he has served on the Fresno Diocese ’ s board of trustees , the priests ’ retirement board and personnel board . Since 1999 , he has been vicar general and moderator of the curia , and served in other capacities for the diocese including as vicar of clergy , director of continuing formation of the clergy , director of the Propagation of the Faith and supervisor of the safe environment program .
After the death of Fresno Bishop John T . Steinbock December 5 , 2010 , then-Monsignor Cotta was elected by the diocesan college of consultors to be administrator of the diocese . He served as administrator until February 1 , 2012 , when Bishop Armando X . Ochoa was named the head of the diocese .
On January 24 , 2014 , Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Cotta as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Sacramento .
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