History was made Saturday, May 20, inside a Chino Hills Catholic church.
Seven men who served as deacons were ordained to the priesthood — the largest group in the Diocese of San Bernardino‘s history. The ordinations come amidst years of a declining number of priests in the Catholic church that serves the Inland Empire.
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church hosted the ceremony, which welcomed a significantly larger group of priests than the 2022 version. Last spring, four new priests were ordained.
The ordination Mass and ceremony includes several rituals. For example, the bishop and other priests come together for a laying on of hands and a prayer of consecration for the soon-to-be priests to invoke the Holy Spirit and designate them for the priestly ministry. Also, the new priests lay down on the floor in a display of humility and obedience.
Newly ordained priest Carlos Flores is assisted with his Chasuble robe after he was ordained Saturday, May 20, 2023, during an ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. The Diocese of San Bernardino ordained its largest number of priests at one time: seven. In 2008, six priests were ordained. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Transitional Deacon Carlos Flores stands before the altar Saturday, May 20, 2023, during an ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Priests perform the Laying on of Hands upon the seven transitional deacons being ordained Saturday, May 20, 2023, to the priesthood during a Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newly ordained priest, the Rev. Carlos Flores kisses a stole, as the Rev. Javier Gonzalez, right, looks on after Flores was ordained into the priesthood Saturday, May 20, 2023, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Priests perform the Laying on of Hands upon the seven transitional deacons being ordained Saturday, May 20, 2023, to the priesthood during a Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Alberto Rojas, bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, leads the ordination Mass on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A woman watches the ordination Mass on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from behind a glass door because of an overflow crowd at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Priests perform the Laying on of Hands upon the seven transitional deacons being ordained Saturday, May 20, 2023, to the priesthood during a Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Priests perform the Laying on of Hands upon the seven transitional deacons being ordained Saturday, May 20, 2023, to the priesthood during a Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Priests perform the Laying on of Hands upon the seven transitional deacons being ordained Saturday, May 20, 2023, to the priesthood during a Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Alberto Rojas, bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, performs the Laying On of Hands upon Transitional Deacon Julian Plascencia during an ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Alberto Rojas, bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, performs the Laying On of Hands upon Transitional Deacon Julian Plascencia during an ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A priest performs the Laying on of Hands upon Transitional Deacon Jonathan Garcia during his ordination at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Transitional deacons lay on the ground in front of the altar in a show of obedience and humility during their ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The seven transitional deacons stand during their ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Alberto Rojas, bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, blesses Jonathan Garcia, one of seven men being ordained as a priest Saturday, May 20, 2023, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Gerald R. Barnes, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of San Bernardino, takes part Saturday, May 20, 2023, in an ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Richard Ahumada stands with his parents, Leonardo and Francisca, before his ordination into the priesthood Saturday, May 20, 2023, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A parishioner holds a program for the ordination of seven priests at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Newly ordained priest Carlos Flores, left, is congratulated by the Rev. Javier Gonzalez on Saturday, May 20, 2023, after Flores was ordained during a Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Alberto Rojas, bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, right, congratulates newly ordained priest Jonathan Garcia on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Alberto Rojas, bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, right, congratulates newly ordained priest Maurice Quindoy on Saturday, May 20, 2023, during an ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Alberto Rojas, bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, performs the Laying On of Hands onto transitional deacons during their ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Transitional deacons lay on the ground in front of the altar Saturday, May 20, 2023, in a show of obedience and humility during an ordination Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. It was the largest number of priests ordained at one time — seven — since the San Bernardino diocese was split from the San Diego Diocese in 1978. In 2008, six men were ordained as priests. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The diocese has seen low numbers of ordinations to the priesthood from 2019 to 2022, with only nine new priests. There has also been a decrease in priests, with eight retirements and 35 deaths in the diocese over the past five years.
Why was this year’s group of new priests larger?
“I think the change is a secular society nowadays and people are seeing that society is not speaking the truth and now are seeing the beauty and goodness that really is presented by the church,” said Hau Vu, the diocese’s director of vocations. “Along with the time during the pandemic, people had the opportunity to reflect on their life, their faith and really the meaning of why we are here, but also the time for church.”
Diocesan spokesperson John Andrews said Inland parishes aim to better promote the priesthood and understand that modern technology can be used to reach out to more young men in different geographic areas about the priesthood.
The Diocese of San Bernardino, which covers San Bernardino and Riverside counties, has 93 parishes that serve more than 1.3 million Catholics.
“It’s an important time for these men who are required to be a healthy man, balanced in human life and spiritual life,” Vu said. “It takes these men about nine to 10 years to get to this point, where they now become priests, giving them the power to serve the church.”
The seven new priests have served as deacons across San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Here are their names, past churches and new assignments.
- Bryant Rivas, 32, served at St. Mel, Norco; assigned to St. Anthony, San Jacinto
- Carlos Flores, 30, served at Sacred Heart, Jurupa Valley; assigned to Our Lady of The Rosary Cathedral, San Bernardino
- Rafael Flores, 35, served at St. Catherine of Siena, Rialto; assigned to St Adelaide, Highland
- Maurice Quindoy, served at St. John XXIII, Fontana/Rialto; assigned to St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Beaumont
- Jonathan Garcia, 32, served at St. George, Ontario; assigned to Sacred Heart, Palm Desert
- Julian Plascencia Gómez, 47, served at St. James the Less, Perris; assigned to Holy Family, Hesperia
- Richard Ahumada, 47, served at St. Francis of Assisi, La Quinta; assigned to St. Frances of Rome, Wildomar
NEW INLAND PRIESTS
Here are the number of priests ordained over the past five years in the Diocese of San Bernardino.
2023: 7
2022: 4
2021: 1
2020: 1
2019: 3