Bishop Alberto Rojas held his annual gathering with the retired priests of the diocese on May 7 at El Carmelo Retreat Center in Redlands. The bishop gave a talk on his recent Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome, connecting it with the themes of the Jubilee Year and sharing the story of bringing back a first-class relic of our Patron, Saint Bernardine. Father Jerry Ochetti, one of the retired priests in attendance, was also part of that pilgrimage. The retired priests then shared their years of priesthood and engaged in a Q&A with the Bishop. The group celebrated Mass together in the El Carmelo Chapel and ended the gathering with lunch.
On May 14, Bishop Rojas met with recently ordained diocesan priests for their annual check-in. The group included all diocesan priests who have been ordained five years or less. The two most recently ordained priests, ordained on May 18, 2024, are Father Thomas Davis, assigned to The Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Redlands, and Father Alfredo Ledesma, assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Upland. The year prior, the diocese welcomed the largest class of priests in its history. In 2023, Bishop Rojas ordained seven men, including: Father Maurice Quindoy, Father Bryant Rivas, Father Jonathan Garcia, Father Rafael Flores, Father Richard Ahumada, Father Carlos Flores and Father Julian Plascencia Gomez. The 2022 class present was Father Andres Rivera, Father Arinze Michael Ezeoke, Father Jorge Tellez, and Father Ismael Valenzuela. Father Richard Ahumada and Father Ian Hollick from the class of 2021 were present along with Father Antionio Guzman, class of 2020.