Gerald Eugene Wilkerson
Encyclopedia
Gerald Eugene Wilkerson (born October 21, 1939), is an Auxiliary Bishop
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa
, Gerald Wilkerson grew up in Long Beach, California
. He attended St. John’s Seminary
in Camarillo, California and was ordained a priest
on January 5, 1965 by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre. He served in the archdiocese as associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra
; St. Michael, Los Angeles and American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach
, and for 15 years at Our Lady of Grace Church, Encino as administrator and then pastor.
On November 5, 1997, he was appointed
by Pope John Paul II
as the Titular Bishop of Vincennes and auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles. He was consecrated
a bishop on January 21, 1998. Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, was his principal consecrator, while Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, Bishop of Boise and Bishop Joseph M. Sartoris, were his principal co-consecrators.
Wilkerson currently leads the Archdiocese's San Fernando Pastoral Region
with 54 parishes, 12 high schools, two hospitals, and five missions.
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, Gerald Wilkerson grew up in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. He attended St. John’s Seminary
St. John's Seminary (California)
St. John's Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary located in Camarillo, California. It is within the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The seminarians prepare for assignments in dioceses as well as religious orders. St. John's offers the Master of Divinity degree as a...
in Camarillo, California and was ordained a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on January 5, 1965 by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre. He served in the archdiocese as associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra
La Habra, California
La Habra is a city in the northwestern corner of Orange County, California. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,239. Its related city, La Habra Heights is located to the north of La Habra, and is in Los Angeles County.-Origin of name:...
; St. Michael, Los Angeles and American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
, and for 15 years at Our Lady of Grace Church, Encino as administrator and then pastor.
On November 5, 1997, he was appointed
Appointment of Catholic bishops
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complicated process. Outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and the pope all have a role in the selection...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
as the Titular Bishop of Vincennes and auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles. He was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
a bishop on January 21, 1998. Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, was his principal consecrator, while Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, Bishop of Boise and Bishop Joseph M. Sartoris, were his principal co-consecrators.
Wilkerson currently leads the Archdiocese's San Fernando Pastoral Region
San Fernando Pastoral Region
The San Fernando Pastoral Region is a pastoral region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in the Roman Catholic Church. It covers the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys. The current regional auxiliary bishop is Bishop Gerald E. Wilkerson...
with 54 parishes, 12 high schools, two hospitals, and five missions.