A year of celebration and reflection on the life and priesthood of Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes was capped with a Mass and reception in Ontario on December 13.
The year 2025 was a momentous one for Bishop Barnes, who served as Ordinary Bishop of the diocese from 1996-2020, as he marked 50 years as a priest and 80 years of life. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish hosted the Mass in honor of these milestones with a special reception following at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario.
“A lot of lives were touched and changed by God’s working through you,” said Father David Andel, JV, who gave the homily at Mass. “Everything you did was for the people you served.”
Bishop Alberto Rojas concelebrated the Mass, along with Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles and four auxiliary bishops from Southern California. Bishop Barnes’ sister, Betty, provided a moving moment during the Mass when she sang the meditation hymn “Pie Jesu.” Bishop Barnes had requested the song as remembrance of all those faithful departed with whom he had ministered in his years as a priest and bishop.
The reception featured a video and photo montage chronicling Bishop Barnes’ life in ministry and congratulatory messages from colleagues, including founding Bishop Phillip Straling, who welcomed Bishop Barnes’ to the diocese as its first auxiliary bishop in 1992, and Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Rutilio del Riego, who worked side-by-side with Bishop Barnes for a decade. Bishop Rojas and Archbishop Gomez offered remarks in person.
“He continues to be a tremendous blessing and a help,” said Bishop Rojas, who presented Bishop Barnes’ with a Papal Blessing at the reception. “I always feel better when he is with us.”
Bishop Barnes was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of San Antonio on December 20, 1975. The Archdiocese honored the bishop’s golden anniversary of priesthood with a Mass at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church on Nov. 29. Born June 22, 1945, in Phoenix, Bishop Barnes celebrated his 80th birthday this year by leading a Jubilee pilgrimage to Mexico.
He was in a grateful and reflective mood at his Dec. 13 reception, saying “I thank you, the people of God, for helping me live a good priesthood in my life. I’d do it all over again.”
But true to the “Siempre Adelante” theme of his celebration, the bishop offered in closing, “You have to live in the present moment. Now is the time.”