Pope Benedict XVI has named Auxiliary Bishop Jaime Soto of Orange to be coadjutor bishop of Sacramento.

The announcement was made in Washington Oct. 11 by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

As coadjutor, Bishop Soto, 51, will automatically succeed Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand upon his retirement or death. The new coadjutor is one of 25 active Hispanic Catholic bishops in the United States.

A Mass to welcome him to the Sacramento Diocese will be celebrated Nov. 19 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

"I have watched his work throughout the state and he has become a good friend and is very talented," Bishop Weigand said about his new coadjutor at an Oct. 11 press conference in Sacramento. "I have been doing the work of two bishops these past several months, so you can imagine that I am quite relieved and looking forward to having him work alongside me."

His former auxiliary, Bishop Richard J. Garcia, was named to head the Monterey Diocese in December 2006.

The Diocese of Sacramento has a Catholic population of more than 550,000, served by 103 parishes and 42 mission churches. Its 20 counties cover more than 42,000 square miles of Northern California, from the San Francisco Bay to the Oregon border.

"I'll do what I can to learn the roads of the diocese and get myself out (to) the parish communities," Bishop Soto said at the press conference. "I am interested in getting out to schools and seeing particularly the young people in the high schools."

In prepared remarks he delivered in English and Spanish, Bishop Soto became emotional when he talked about leaving friends and family in the Orange Diocese "who have carried me, caressed me, pushed me and prepared me for this juncture of the journey."

Bishop Soto, a native of Inglewood, attended St. Polycarp School in Stanton; graduated from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana in 1974; and earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. John's Seminary College, Camarillo, in 1978. He was ordained a priest of the Orange Diocese in 1982, after receiving his master's degree in divinity from St. John's.

He has a master's degree in social work from Columbia University in New York, where he also has completed advanced studies. In 1986 he was appointed associate director of Catholic Charities of Orange and in 1989 vicar for the Hispanic community.

Ordained an auxiliary bishop for Orange in May 2000, Bishop Soto has served on the U.S. bishops' Committee on the Church in Latin America and on the board of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., known as CLINIC.

"Bishop Soto is well known for his care and concern for people," Bishop Weigand said. "I look forward to his serving beside me and with the many other dedicated priests, religious and lay faithful here in Northern California."

In a statement delivered in both English and Spanish, Bishop Soto said that over the years he has admired the work of Bishop Weigand and "the extensive pastoral ministry" of his diocese.

"The expanse and diversity of the church's evangelizing endeavors are daunting," he said. "I come to partner with Bishop Weigand in the privileged task of shepherding this dynamic Catholic community."

He added, "I join my voice to his so that the words of the Gospel can continue to stir and challenge the heart with the Lord's message of hope and joy."

Bishop Soto said he would learn from Bishop Weigand "how to steward the resources, talents and aspirations of this vibrant church. I know that I can rely on his prayers as I assure him of mine while we minister at the Lord's altar of gladness and joy."

In August 2006, Bishop Soto was among the featured speakers at the National Pastoral Musicians' Western Regional Convention in Sacramento. In a workshop following his keynote talk, he noted that different ethnic cultures --- especially those newer to a particular parish where another culture has been dominant --- often develop their own structures for becoming involved in parish ministry, and over time may become more intertwined in the life of the parish.

But he pointed out that in any parish, those interested in promoting genuine unity and participation by all should not underestimate the importance of hospitality. "If you want good musicians and talented people of any kind to emerge, you have to create that space where they feel welcome and invited to step forward to share their gifts," he said.

Moreover, in dealing with issues and challenges rooted in a parish's cultural diversity, Bishop Soto said pastors must be both interested and active as part of the unity-building process. At the same time, because pastors' assignments "are not forever," it is imperative that parishes have structures and processes in place --- like parish councils --- that can address such issues long-term.

"Pastors, and bishops for that matter, need to invest in lay leadership," Bishop Soto said. "The pastor can be a bridge, but after a while it is unfair to expect him to always be the moderator."

Bishop Weigand, 70, was installed as head of the Sacramento Diocese in January 1994. Before that he was bishop of Salt Lake City for 13 years.

In April 2005 he had a liver transplant. His own liver was damaged by primary sclerosing cholangitis, an uncommon progressive liver disease that causes scarring near the liver that affects the organ's function. He first was diagnosed with the disease 26 years ago. In November 2004 doctors decided a transplant was necessary.

Transplantation from a living donor proved to be a good option. The donor was Dan Haverty, who said his faith inspired him to write to Bishop Weigand, after he read in the local newspaper that the bishop might need a living donor for a liver transplant.

Despite his illness, Bishop Weigand has routinely put in six-day weeks during his tenure as head of the diocese.

San Francisco Archbishop George H. Neiderauer --- who was a St. John's Seminary faculty member when Bishop Soto was a student --- called Bishop Soto "a gifted, zealous and articulate man, with a great love for the church and a keen interest in issues of justice and peace."

---CNS