https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-names-mexican-born-bishop-coadjutor-of-san-bernardino-77674

Bishop Rojas was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico and emigrated to the United States in 1993 to complete his seminary formation at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.

He was ordained a priest in 1997, working in parish ministry and then as a teacher at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary.
He was ordained a bishop in 2011, serving first as Episcopal Vicar in Vicariate III and then in Vicariate I. Vicariate I, the largest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, serves more than 500,000 Catholics through its 51 parishes, two missions, two shrines, including the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and other ministries. It covers an area from the north suburbs of Chicago to the Wisconsin border.

“I am grateful to the Holy Father for this appointment and the opportunities it brings to serve God’s People in the Diocese of San Bernardino,” said Bishop Rojas. “I look forward to learning about the diocese from Bishop Barnes as Coadjutor and assisting him in this moment of transition.”

“I will be forever grateful to the Archdiocese of Chicago for being my first local mother Church who welcomed me with open arms from the beginning,” added Bishop Rojas “Many thanks to my three great shepherds and spiritual fathers: Cardinal Bernardin, Cardinal George, and now, Cardinal Cupich. Thank you to my brother bishops and priests, deacons, religious sisters, Vicariate teams, pastoral center employees, and all the wonderful people at the parishes. Please keep me in your prayers as I will do for you. Peace and blessings to all.”

Rojas has fulfilled a number of key assignments on national committees for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including Hispanic Affairs, Liturgy, Catholic Home Missions and, most recently, as lead bishop for Region VII of the V Encuentro, a reflection and dialogue of the U.S. Church on the growing prominence of Hispanics in the Church.

Save the date for an evening prayer and reception for Bishop Alberto Rojas whom Pope Francis recently named as the Coadjutor Bishop of San Bernardino, the nation’s fifth largest diocese.

All are invited to attend this celebratory event as we congratulate Bishop Rojas on his appointment and thank him for all he has done for the Archdiocese of Chicago. - - -

SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADELOUPE:
St. Joseph Chapel -
1170 N. River Rd.
Des Plaines, IL

Source: Archdiocese of Chicago