As new Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar prepared for his Nov. 4 ordination, he found his time becoming less and less his own (as if a priest's time were ever completely his own). The preparation for the ordination day were challenge enough, even if he wasn't also continuing to serve as a parish pastor and archdiocesan vice chancellor.

But the soft-spoken native of Costa Rica and alumnus of St. Thomas the Apostle School near downtown has taken all of the hullabaloo with an easy-going manner and quiet smile that has made him a beloved pastor, administrator and colleague in ministry to those at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Silverlake and the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Last week, as his episcopal ordination at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels neared, the 54-year-old bishop-elect sat down for an interview with The Tidings and Vida Nueva.

Q: What has life been like since the news of your appointment as bishop was announced?

A: Well, it's been bittersweet. It's difficult to say goodbye as a pastor at the parish I've been serving for so long (since 1993), and leaving so many friends behind, friends with whom you've shared weddings, baptisms, funerals. I've really loved serving the community of St. Teresa of Avila, and it will be hard not to be there.

But at the same time, I look forward to the challenges in my new role, especially to working with the people of the San Pedro Pastoral Region.

Q: Has it been difficult, preparing for episcopal ordination while serving as pastor and vice chancellor?

A: It's a challenge (grinning). But it helped me tremendously to go on retreat recently at the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for Priests, led by Jesuit Fathers James Torrens and John McNulty. It was a grace-filled moment, with time for prayer, reflecting on Scripture, and reflecting on the apostolic exhortations from Pope John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis (on the formation of priests) and Pastores Gregis (on the role of the bishop). This retreat really came at an opportune time, because reading those two letters was very affirming and helpful

And I also appreciated being able to focus on the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. To reflect on the Holy Father's homily of last Holy Thursday, in which he reiterates not only how the Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives, but also on the many altars around the world where he has celebrated the Eucharist in his pontificate, was very powerful for me.

Q: Did it ever occur to you, in your early days of priesthood, that you might become a bishop?

A: Never at any time did it cross my mind (laughing). One of the parishioners at St. Teresa of Avila, Gloria Salazar --- no relation --- told me, "What a great honor to have been called to serve the church, by this pope." It made me realize that it's been under Pope John Paul II that I have been ordained as deacon, priest and now bishop.

Q: Before you were a priest, you were a teacher at St. Albert the Great School in Compton. What made you want to teach?

A: It was an ad I heard on the radio; St. Albert the Great was seeking a part-time teacher to fill in for another teacher on maternity leave. I came to the school in April 1969, and when the semester ended the principal asked me to stay on - and I did, for 10 wonderful years.

That helped lead to my vocation. I've always liked teaching, sharing knowledge with others, because when you share knowledge you also reinforce it in yourself. And one of the primary roles of a bishop --- as well as a pastor --- is to be a teacher.

Q: What else drew you to consider the priesthood?

A: There was a Mass at St. Albert at which the pastor tapped me on the shoulder and invited me to assist him as a eucharistic minister. That re-awakened what had been, in my childhood, a desire to consider the priesthood. In realizing the importance of that ministry, of sharing the body and blood of Christ with others, I have been and continue to be profoundly moved to serve as Jesus did. The more I served as a eucharistic minister, the more the call of priesthood became clear to me, and I had to find out if the Lord really wanted me to become a priest.

Bishop Manuel Moreno (then an L.A. auxiliary, now retired bishop of Tucson) told me once, "The seminary is not where you go to learn how to be a priest; it's where you go to find out if the Lord is calling you to become a priest." He told me there were signs that would tell me if indeed this was where I was needed, and to be open. So I went in with that openness, and as I went through the various seminary programs of liturgical, spiritual, pastoral and emotional formation, I was able to discern that the call was indeed there, inviting me to share my gifts as a priest.

Q: What about the moment you found out you were to become a bishop?

A: When Cardinal Mahony called me in at the end of August to share the news, my first response was that someone had made a mistake. And the cardinal said, "Alex, you should know that the Holy Spirit doesn't make mistakes."

I said I was humbled and honored and I didn't know what else to say. The cardinal said, "Well, Alex, the correct response is yes. It's the same yes we said to the Lord when we were ordained as priests." The Lord calls us to serve him through his church, and when you realize that, it makes "yes" a very freeing response, because you realize that this is not about ego or power; it's about service.

Q: Your demeanor suggest that you really love what you do.

A: I do. I love being a priest, celebrating Eucharist, bringing new members into the faith, and being with the people at their happy moments and even their difficult moments. Not to say that there haven't been difficulties in this ministry, and certainly the clergy sex abuse scandal, to see the priesthood painted in broad, negative brushstrokes, has been very painful for us all. It's very sad for me to see some of my brother priests pulled out of ministry.

And yet, we still look to the Lord for strength, and we trust that the Lord will allow us to move through this difficult time. Indeed, when has it ever been easy in the history of church to be a priest or bishop? It certainly wasn't easy in the first century, nor in the era of persecutions; It was difficult in the ages of Scholasticism, Modernism, Reformation. Maybe it was easiest in the time before Vatican II, but you also had the world at war, or regions of the world in conflict. And it hasn't been easy for bishops to come out of Vatican II and make necessary adjustments in the way we do certain things.

But through all of this, we see that the power for our action and good work comes from the Holy Spirit, and that is a sign of great hope. And it's also been very affirming to receive congratulatory letters from many brother bishops, assuring me to put my trust in the Lord.

Q: What has been your experience so far meeting people in the San Pedro Region?

A: I've met with the San Pedro Region Pastoral Council, and it was wonderful to see where they are at as they work, like the other regional councils, toward implementing the directives of the Synod. Years ago, I was at a Council of Priests' meeting with the late (San Pedro Region Auxiliary) Bishop Carl Fisher, and he told me that what he needed to do most of all as a bishop was to listen, see what the people needed, and then act. So I plan on doing a lot of listening and learning.

I also have a goal of celebrating the Eucharist at each parish within the region in my first year, all 67. I've already been assigned to celebrate Confirmation at 25 of them, so that means that I'm going to be at parishes 30 to 40 weekends a year. I know that I don't intend to sit in an office all day.

I should also say that I have been blessed, as has the region, to have Msgr. Bernard Leheny as episcopal vicar during the time of transition between the retirement of Bishop Joseph Sartoris and my appointment. He has given most generously of his time in caring for the region while continuing to serve as pastor (at St. John of God Church, Norwalk).

Q: How has your service as vice chancellor prepared you for your new role?

A: I see it as a wonderful preparation for this new ministry. Because I have served with department heads at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center offices, I know who to contact for advice and assistance. The opportunity I've had here has created a very positive relationship with the people at the ACC, and has given me a chance to see up close the tremendous work the people here do to serve the parishes and people of the archdiocese.

Plus, being part of the ACC Leadership Team has been a special blessing. Msgr. Royale Vadakin (moderator of the curia) is an extremely collaborative person, and he is very good at consulting with others before decisions are reached. I'd like to model that in my new ministry.

Q: Talk a bit about the motto on your coat of arms, "Do what Jesus tells you."

A: It's adapted from St. John's Gospel account of the wedding feast at Cana, and they are Mary's last recorded words in Scripture, "Do whatever he tells you." The Holy Father paraphrased these words in his letter to the people of the archdiocese upon the dedication of the new Cathedral, and I believe it is a significant, meaningful phrase for the disciple, the servant - those to whom Mary was speaking - in what their call to ministry is about.

Each of us are called to do what Jesus asks of us, and it is a message I keep close to my heart as I perform my ministry, which is serving the Lord by serving his people the best way I can.

Editor's note: Next week, The Tidings will carry coverage of the Nov. 4 episcopal ordination.