Auxiliary Bishop Richard Garcia heads to Monterey to become only the second Latino to lead a California diocese

Garcia has served in the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento for nineyears as assistant to Bishop William K. Weigand and has logged morethan 265,000 miles on his odometer. Now he's leaving to become thebishop of the Diocese of Monterey, where he hopes to spend less time onthe road.

At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Garcia will celebrate his lastworship service in the Sacramento Diocese, a bilingual Mass at theCathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. It is open to the public.

Q: You've focused your ministry in several areas, but immigration seems the most important to you.

A:My parents were immigrants. They came from Mexico to find work in thiscountry. When I go to the migrant camps, I hear the same things myparents said -- they just want a better life for their families.

Q:You will be only the second Latino bishop to lead a diocese inCalifornia. Why, in a state where about 50 percent of Catholics areLatino, aren't there more Latino bishops?

A: I really don't know. But there is a definite need.

Q: Is there one moment that stands out for you here (in Sacramento)?

A:Easter Mass at Folsom prison in 1999. There was a prisoner there, andit was his first time at Mass in years. He didn't feel worthy becausehe had murdered someone in a church and he thought God would neverforgive him. I hugged him. He hugged me. It was the best resurrectionexperience I ever had.

Q: What has happened to him?

A: He'll be in prison for the rest of his life. But from what I understand, he's changed.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the Sacramento Diocese?

A: Growth. The diocese has to keep up with all the immigrants coming in -- and that means more buildings and more schools.

Q: How has the clergy sexual-abuse scandal affected people locally?

A: People were upset. Angry. And I don't blame them. A lot of damage was done.

Forme, personally, it has made me a better listener. I have met with manyof the victims from this diocese. A lot of them have told me howgrateful they are to have someone listen. It's been a very painful timein the Catholic Church for a lot of people.

Q: What do you think will be the biggest challenges facing you in Monterey?

A: The growth there, too. But also the gap between the rich and the poor.

Q: You're from the Bay Area. Are you happy to go back?

A:I'm happy to be going back near the ocean. When I was a child in SanFrancisco, my grandfather and I used to walk on the beach several timesa week, so the ocean is very special to me.

Q: What are you going to miss most about the Sacramento Diocese?

A:I'm going to miss going to the schools to see the kids, theconfirmations and the parish visits. Also, I want to thank the peoplehere for being so good to me, and I ask that you pray for me, remainhopeful in God.

Q: You and Bishop Weigand are neighbors in Curtis Park. What has it been like living across the street from your boss?

A:It's been very handy -- especially when he had food. Really, it wasnice, it gave us a chance to talk about what was going on in thediocese. Now he brings Rubio (Weigand's dog) over. ... I'm really goingto miss those visits.