The 25th active Hispanic bishop in the United States was ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of San Bernardino Sept. 20 --- the day before his 65th birthday --- at St. Paul the Apostle Church, Chino Hills.

Bishop Rutilio Juan del Riego Jañez, a member of the Fraternity of Diocesan Laborer Priests, was ordained by San Bernardino Bishop Gerald R. Barnes in the presence of Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, metropolitan archbishop. Named titular Bishop of Daimlang, the new bishop fills the vacancy created by the 2003 death of Auxiliary Bishop Dennis O'Neill, and is the first episcopal appointment made for a California diocese by Pope Benedict XVI.

Many of Bishop del Riego's former parishioners from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Riverside, where he had been pastor, were among the 2,000 laypeople participating in the multi-lingual (Vietnamese, Tongan, Spanish and English) ordination liturgy that reflected the diversity of the 70,000-square-mile diocese. Also present were fellow priests, bishops from the western U.S., and 11 family members from his native Leon, Spain.

Prior to the rite of ordination a Native American blessing of sacred space took place at the main altar and four directions of north, south, east and west. Eleven members of Bishop del Riego's family, his brothers, a sister, nieces and nephews carried in procession the symbols of his new office --- his ring, miter, pastoral staff and a large towel.

During his homily Bishop Barnes drew particular attention to the large towel, noting that Jesus also used a large towel to wash and dry the feet of his apostles. Bishop Barnes wryly noted that Bishop del Riego would indeed need a "very large towel" for a diocese that numbers more than 1.2 million Catholics in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Following the liturgy, Marta del Riego, the new bishop's niece, recalled how he would visit with their family every two years in Valdesandinas (Leon), Spain, a small town of 400 people with "a very quiet and very simple lifestyle."

"He would tell the family many stories about living in the United States," she said, "and I found his visits fascinating."

Msgr. Patrick O'Hagan, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church, called Bishop Riego a "great priest. He is highly regarded by his fellow priests and parishioners."

Ordained in 1965 in Washington, D.C., Bishop del Riego was assigned to teach in Pennsylvania, did vocation work in New York and Washington, and served as pastor of two parishes in El Paso, Texas. He came to the San Bernardino Diocese in 1999 as vice rector of the Junípero Serra House, a formation center for seminarians.