Armando Xavier Ochoa
Encyclopedia
Armando Xavier Ochoa, D.D. (born April 3, 1943) is the fifth and current Bishop of El Paso
. Ochoa is an advocate
of diocesan foster care
programs and responsible water use
.
and was educated at institutions such as Ventura College
and St. John's Seminary
. He was ordained
a priest
on May 23, 1970. Ochoa served at three parishes in Los Angeles
before becoming an administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Lincoln Heights, CA
in 1984.
of Sitifis as an auxiliary bishop
for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Pope John Paul II
during late December 1987. He was consecrated on February 23, 1987 by Roger Cardinal Mahony. While as an auxiliary bishop, Ochoa was the principal co-consecrator of Bishops Joseph Martin Sartoris
, Thomas John Curry
and Gabino Zavala
.
Ochoa was appointed
bishop to the see city
of El Paso on April 1, 1996 and installed on June 26 of the same year. During the eleven year span between 1999 and 2009, there were only two ordinations to the priesthood for the Diocese of El Paso.
On December 1, 2011 the Holy Father appointed Bishop Armando Xavier Ochoa as bishop of Fresno, CA (area 91,268, population 2,778,000, Catholics 1,084,000, priests 166, permanent deacons 46, religious 152).
Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in West Texas. Covering , it encompasses the Texas counties of El Paso, Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Presidio, Reeves, Ward and Winkler with approximately 668,000 professing members,...
. Ochoa is an advocate
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
of diocesan foster care
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
programs and responsible water use
Water conservation
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.- Water conservation :Water conservation can be defined as:...
.
Early life
Armando Ochoa grew up in Oxnard, CaliforniaOxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
and was educated at institutions such as Ventura College
Ventura College
Ventura College is a California-state funded community college located in Ventura, California, USA. Established in 1925, the college has a campus with an enrollment of 14,456 students. The college is part of the Ventura County Community College District....
and St. John's Seminary
St. John's Seminary (California)
St. John's Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary located in Camarillo, California. It is within the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The seminarians prepare for assignments in dioceses as well as religious orders. St. John's offers the Master of Divinity degree as a...
. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on May 23, 1970. Ochoa served at three parishes in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
before becoming an administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Lincoln Heights, CA
Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California
-Geography and transportation:Lincoln Heights is bounded by the Los Angeles River on the west, the San Bernardino Freeway on the south, and Indiana Street on the east; the district's Eastern border is unclear due to the area's uneven terrain...
in 1984.
Episcopal appointments
Ochoa was named titular bishopTitular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Sitifis as an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
during late December 1987. He was consecrated on February 23, 1987 by Roger Cardinal Mahony. While as an auxiliary bishop, Ochoa was the principal co-consecrator of Bishops Joseph Martin Sartoris
Joseph Martin Sartoris
Joseph M. Sartoris , is a retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.-Episcopacy:Joseph M. Sartoris is a native of Los Angeles, California. He studied at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California, and was ordained a priest of the Los Angeles Archdiocese on May 30,...
, Thomas John Curry
Thomas John Curry
Thomas John Curry is a Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He was born in Drumgoon, County Cavan, Ireland.-Pastoral life:...
and Gabino Zavala
Gabino Zavala
Bishop Gabino Zavala currently serves as the Auxiliary Bishop of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is considered by some to be one of the most powerful and influential Latinos in the Church in the United States today. Born in Mexico, Zavala grew up in Los...
.
Ochoa was appointed
Appointment of Catholic bishops
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complicated process. Outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and the pope all have a role in the selection...
bishop to the see city
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of El Paso on April 1, 1996 and installed on June 26 of the same year. During the eleven year span between 1999 and 2009, there were only two ordinations to the priesthood for the Diocese of El Paso.
On December 1, 2011 the Holy Father appointed Bishop Armando Xavier Ochoa as bishop of Fresno, CA (area 91,268, population 2,778,000, Catholics 1,084,000, priests 166, permanent deacons 46, religious 152).
Sources
- Catholic Diocese of El Paso Retrieved: 2010-03-18.
- Catholic-Hierarchy.org Retrieved: 2010-03-18.