LENTEN Retreat - 2023 - The Eucharist and the Pascal Mystery

The Most Reverend Ramón Bejarano

Auxiliary Bishop Of San Diego

The Season of Lent lead us to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ which is perpetuated for us in the Eucharist. These Lenten talks will prepare us to celebrate these holy days as we reflect deeper in our understanding of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the real presence of Christ in the sacred species, and the gift of salvation that the Lord obtained for us through the cross.

Auxiliary Bishop Bejarano was born in Texas, the son of José and  María Elena Bejarano. His family moved back to Mexico soon after his  birth, and he spent his early life in Aldama, Chihuahua.

He and his family moved to Tracy, in California’s San Joaquin Valley,  when he was 18. He immediately began working in the fields to help  support his family, later working in maintenance at a hotel. 

At age 20, he was able to act on his long-standing desire to become a  priest and applied to be a seminarian for the Diocese of Stockton. He  studied philosophy for the diocese at the Archdiocesan Seminary of  Tijuana and completed his theological studies at Mount Angel Seminary in  Oregon.

He was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Rev. Donald Montrose on  Aug. 15, 1998 for service in the Diocese of Stockton, where he served  in several parishes and a variety of positions for nearly 22 years.

He served as parochial vicar in the parishes of St. George in  Stockton and Sacred Heart in Turlock. He was called, in 2005, to be the  founding pastor of Holy Family parish in Modesto. He was the pastor of  St. Stanislaus Church in Modesto from 2008 to 2019, when he was named  the Pastor of the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.

During his tenure in the Central Valley, he served as chaplain to the  Migrant Ministry, celebrating Mass for families and workers in migrant  camps, providing the sacraments and counseling. He served as the  spiritual director for the Spanish Catholic Radio in the area. And he  served in leadership positions at the Stockton diocese as a member of  the Presbyteral Council, the Diaconate Board, the Preparatory Commission  for the Diocesan Synod of 2005, and the College of Consultors.

Auxiliary Bishop Bejarano is part of Bishop Robert W. McElroy’s  leadership team. Bishop Bejarano is serving as Vicar for Clergy on a  temporary basis. While serving the entire diocese, Bishop Bejarano will  focus on serving the Hispanic Catholic community of the diocese. He  serves as Vicar for Justice, Life and Peace.