On Sept. 11, Bishop Alberto Rojas announced that Jorge Montenegro, the Chief Financial Officer for the diocese for the past six years, will be stepping down from his position.
“I thank Jorge for his faithful service and loyal administration as our CFO,” Bishop Rojas said. “He began his term under some very challenging circumstances in the time of the COVID pandemic, and he assisted me very capably in making some difficult decisions to realign our Diocesan finances. We are all together very grateful for his wise and prudent stewardship of our Diocesan resources which will allow us to go forward in confidence in our important ministries.”
Montenegro has accepted the position of CFO with the Diocese of Petersburgh in Florida. He said his decision to relocate to Florida was made to be closer in proximity to his extended family in Central America. His official last day with the diocese is Oct. 9.
A native of Costa Rica, he came to the diocese in July of 2020 after working for 10 years in the finance ministries of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.
Montenegro echoed Bishop Rojas’ words, recalling the difficult early years of his time as CFO caused by the pandemic.
“Thank God that time is in the past, and six years later I was able to balance the budget of the Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) and bring tools to create effective ways to process transactions,” Montenegro said. “I am thankful to God that we obtained the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Program federal funding that allow our schools and parishes to function. More importantly, I built a team of highly skilled and effective people, I will miss them greatly.”
He praised specific diocesan ministry leaders within the Department of Financial Affairs including David Meier [Construction and Real Estate], Controller Diana Silvas, Payroll Director Norma Negrete, Catholic Cemeteries Director Al Martini, and Chris Pagán in Risk Management Operations. “They all delivered great results and I leave this diocese with the comfort they will continue with the mission of our great Diocese of San Bernardino.”
Montenegro also thanked parish pastors, Catholic school principals, and bookkeepers with whom he worked during his six years in the diocese, as well as diocesan leadership including Bishop Rojas, Vicar General, Monsignor Gerard Lopez, and Chancellor, Sister Leticia Salazar, ODN.
“May God bless you and my prayers will always remember this west coast diocese that formed me professionally and spiritually.”