By Charles Igwe
In a significant announcement on July 18, Pope Francis appointed four new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which is the largest archdiocese in the United States.
The four newly appointed bishops are Monsignor Albert Bahhuth, Father Matthew Elshoff, Father Brian Nunes, and Father Slawomir Szkredka. They will be consecrated to serve as bishops, providing assistance to Archbishop Jose Gomez in leading the vast community of over 4.3 million Catholics in the Los Angeles archdiocese.
Archbishop Gomez expressed his joy and gratitude for the appointment, saying, “This is a day of joy for the family of God in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. We give thanks to God, and we thank the Holy Father for this great blessing of new bishops.” He described the appointees as men of prayer, devoted to Jesus, and possessing a deep desire to share God’s love and serve His people. The archbishop requested prayers for the newly appointed bishops and entrusted them to the loving care of Holy Mary, the Blessed Mother.
With the addition of these four new bishops, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will now have a total of six auxiliary bishops, including Bishops Marc V. Trudeau (66) and Alejandro D. Aclan (72). The appointment marks an important moment for the archdiocese as it strengthens its leadership to guide and support the Catholic community in the region.
