Diocese of Stockton

{{Short description|Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in California, USA}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox diocese | jurisdiction = Diocese | name = Stockton | latin = Diœcesis Stocktoniensis | local =  | image = | image_size = frameless | image_alt = | caption = Logo of the Diocese of Stockton | coat = Coat of arms of the Diocese of Stockton.svg | coat_size =150px | coat_alt = | coat_caption = The coat of arms of the Diocese of Stockton | flag = | flag_size = | flag_alt =  | country = United States | territory = Counties of Alpine, Calaveras, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne | province = San Francisco | deaneries = | headquarters = | coordinates =   | area_km2 =  | area_footnotes = | population = 1,376,940 | population_as_of = 2017 | catholics = 298,061 | catholics_percent = 21.6 | parishes = 35 | churches =  | congregations =  | schools =  | members =   | denomination = Catholic Church | sui_iuris_church = Latin Church | rite = Roman Rite | established = January 13, 1962 | dissolved = | cathedral = Cathedral of the Annunciation | cocathedral = | patron = Our Lady of the Annunciation | priests = 105  | pope = {{Incumbent pope}}  | bishop = Myron Joseph Cotta | metro_archbishop = Salvatore Cordileone | coadjutor = | auxiliary_bishops = | apostolic_admin = | vicar_general = | episcopal_vicar = | judicial_vicar = | emeritus_bishops =  | map = Diocese of Stockton map 1.png | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption =  | website = {{Official website|https://www.stocktondiocese.org/|stocktondiocese.org}} | footnotes = }} The '''Diocese of Stockton''' ({{langx|la|Diœcesis Stocktoniensis}}) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the Central Valley and Mother Lode region of California in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archbishop of San Francisco

The mother church of the Diocese of Stockton is the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.

== Extent and statistics == {{As of|2022}}, the Diocese of Stockton served 233,000 Catholics in 35 parishes. It had 86 priests (72 diocesan, 14 religious), 50 deacons, 63 lay religious (14 brothers, 49 sisters) and eight seminarians.<ref name="gcatholic.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/stoc1.htm|title=Diocese of Stockton, USA|website=GCatholic|accessdate=Apr 5, 2021}}</ref>

The diocese covers the counties of Alpine, Calaveras, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne, with most of the diocese population living in the San Joaquin Valley. The diocese provides service to the many migrant camps in the region.

The largest racial/ethnic groups in the diocese are White and Hispanic. The largest Azorean Portuguese population outside the Azores is found in the diocese. It is estimated that 60% of the diocesan Catholic population is Hispanic.

The largest Asian community in the diocese is Filipino, followed by the Vietnamese community. The USCCB statement Asian and Pacific Presence<ref>{{cite web |date=2001 |title=Asian and Pacific Presence Harmony in Faith |url=http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/asian-pacific-islander/asian-and-pacific-presence-harmony-in-faith.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014203727/http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/asian-pacific-islander/asian-and-pacific-presence-harmony-in-faith.cfm |archive-date=2011-10-14 |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops}}</ref> lists the diocese of Stockton as among the top thirty dioceses in the United States with the highest Asian and Pacific Island population. Mass is celebrated over 180 times each Sunday in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin and Laotian. Weekday masses are celebrated in these languages and Vietnamese.

== History == Pope John XXIII erected the Diocese of Stockton on January 13, 1962, taking Calaveras, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties from the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Diocese of Sacramento. The pope named Auxiliary Bishop Hugh Donohoe of San Francisco as the first bishop of Stockton.<ref name="hierarchy">{{cite news |title=Bishop Hugh Aloysius Donohoe |work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |url=http://www.Catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdonohoe.html}}</ref> On September 15, 1966, the Vatican transferred Alpine County from Sacramento to the Diocese of Stockton.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=A new diocese shapes its identity|chapter-url=https://files.ecatholic.com/21788/documents/2019/1/Chapitre-3-E-stablishment.doc?t=1548284263000|title=One in Christ: A Short History of the Diocese of Stockton, 1962–2002|first1=Jim|last1=Shebl|first2=Mary-Cabrini|last2=Durkin|publisher=Diocese of Stockton|location=Stockton, California|date=2002|url=https://www.stocktondiocese.org/history}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lineage of Bishops|publisher=Diocese of Sacramento|location=Sacramento, California|accessdate=August 17, 2025|url=https://www.scd.org/archives/lineage-bishops}}</ref> Donohoe became bishop of the Diocese of Fresno in 1969.<ref name="hierarchy" />

The second bishop of Stockton was Auxiliary Bishop Merlin Guilfoyle of San Francisco, appointed by Pope Paul VI in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Merlin Joseph Guilfoyle [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bguimj.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> Guilfoyle retired in 1979. To replace Guilfoyle, Pope John Paul II selected Auxiliary Bishop Roger Mahony of Fresno in 1980. Five years later, in 1985, Mahony became archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmahony.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>

Auxiliary Bishop Donald Montrose of Los Angeles was the next bishop of Stockton, named by John Paul II in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Donald William Montrose [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmontrose.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> Montrose focused on getting Spanish-speaking priests in the diocese, traveling to Mexico, Colombia and other Latin American countries to recruit them. In 1988, Montrose succeeded in persuading the Sisters of the Cross to relocate to Modesto from Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 8, 2008 |title=Former Bishop Donald Montrose dies |url=http://www.modbee.com/2008/05/08/292303/former-bishop-donald-montrose.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306013715/http://www.modbee.com/2008/05/08/292303/former-bishop-donald-montrose.html |archive-date=March 6, 2012 |access-date=July 22, 2010 |publisher=The Modesto Bee}}</ref> Montrose retired in 1999.

John Paul II appointed Auxiliary Bishop Stephen Blaire of Los Angeles in 1999 as the new bishop of Stockton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Stephen Edward Blaire [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bblaire.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> In 2014, the diocese filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, which was later granted in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Stockton (Roman Catholic Bishop of Stockton) |url=https://www.pszjlaw.com/creditor-64.html |accessdate=Apr 5, 2021 |website=www.pszjlaw.com}}</ref> As a result of the bankruptcy agreement, approximately $15 million was to be paid to sexual abuse victims of diocesan clergy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alex |first=MacLean |date=January 11, 2017 |title=Embattled Stockton Diocese nears bankruptcy exit; attorneys and alleged victims speak out |url=https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/4976000-151/embattled-stockton-diocese-nears-bankruptcy-exit-attorneys-and |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814220509/https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/4976000-151/embattled-stockton-diocese-nears-bankruptcy-exit-attorneys-and |archive-date=2019-08-14 |access-date=2019-08-14 |website=Union Democrat |via=Web Archive}}</ref> Blaire retired in 2018.

thumb|Diocesan logo

As of 2023, the current bishop of the Diocese of Stockton is Myron J. Cotta, formerly an auxiliary bishop from Sacramento. He was appointed by Pope Francis in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Myron Joseph Cotta [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcottam.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>

In November 2023, vandals sprayed white paint on the doors and exterior walls of the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton. No arrests were made.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bukuras |first=Joe |date=November 6, 2023 |title=California cathedral vandalized with paint; police investigating as possible hate crime |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255925/stockton-cathedral-vandalized-with-paint-police-investigating-as-possible-hate-crime |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

===Sex abuse === In 1998 a jury awarded two brothers, John and James Howard, a $30 million judgement against the Diocese of Stockton in a sexual abuse case. The Howards had accused Reverend Oliver O'Grady of sexually abusing them from 1978 to 1991.<ref name=":1" />

The Howards maintained that the diocese had previously ignored reports that O'Grady was a pedophile. In a 1976 letter to diocese officials, O'Grady had admitted to sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl. A 1984 police report showed that a diocese attorney had promised to get O'Grady away from children. However, Bishop Mahony transferred him that same year to a different parish. In 1993, O'Grady pleaded guilty to sexually abusing the Howards and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lattin |first=Don |date=July 17, 1998 |title=$30 MILLION AWARDED MEN MOLESTED BY FAMILY PRIEST |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/ma-bos/settlements/SettlementStocktonOGrady.html |accessdate=April 5, 2021 |website=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>

While testifying in the 1993 O'Grady trial, Mahony claimed that O'Grady was the only sexual abuse case he faced while serving in Stockton. However, Mahony admitted under oath in 2004 that a boy's parents had accused Antonio Munoz, another diocesan priest, of sexual abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guccione |first=Jean |date=2004-12-10 |title=Mahony in '80s Banned Two Priests |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-10-me-mahony10-story.html |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2001, Bishop Blaire learned of allegations that in 1997 Reverend Oscar Pelaez, an extern priest from Colombia, had molested a 14-year-old boy at Sacred Heart Church in Turlock. Blaire suspended Pelaez from his priestly duties, but did not report the allegations to police. Blaire later commented that he did not take that step because the alleged victim was now an adult and had declined to report the incident to the police himself. Blaire said his critics "made an issue about not reporting. We had no legal obligation to report."<ref name="past">{{cite web |date=November 28, 2007 |title=Did His Past Come Back to Haunt Him? |url=http://calcatholic.web711.discountasp.net/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=de556cee-1cf9-482a-b9c8-c47d9743b938 |access-date=February 5, 2012 |work=California Catholic Daily}}</ref> Pelaez was charged in 2002 with over 200 sex abuse crimes in the diocese.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2002 |title=Calif. priest faces more than 200 sex abuse charges |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/nation-world/2002/02/20/calif-priest-faces-more-than/50333272007/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=New Bedford Standard-Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He eventually pleaded guilty to 13 counts and was sentenced to six years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2002 |title=Catholic Priest Convicted of Child Molestation |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2002_07_19_AP_CatholicPriest_Oscar_Pelaez_3.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Associated Press}}</ref>

==Bishops== thumb|Bishop Blaire (2010)

===Bishops of Stockton=== # Hugh Aloysius Donohoe (1962-1969), appointed Bishop of Fresno # Merlin Guilfoyle (1970-1979) # Roger Mahony (1980-1985), appointed Archbishop of Los Angeles (Cardinal in 1991) # Donald Montrose (1985-1999) # Stephen Blaire (1999-2018) # Myron Joseph Cotta (2018–present)

===Other diocesan priest who became bishop=== Ramon Bejarano, appointed auxiliary bishop of San Diego in 2020

== Parishes == {{Main|List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton}} The Diocese of Stockton consists of eight deaneries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Deanery Structure and Personnel|publisher=Archdiocese of Stockton|accessdate=April 21, 2020|url=https://stocktondiocese.org/deaneries}}</ref>

== Education ==

=== High schools === As of 2025, the Diocese of the Stockton has the following high schools: * Central Catholic High School – Modesto * St. Mary's High School – Stockton<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Schools |url=https://stocktondiocese.org/schoolfinder |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=Diocese of Stockton}}</ref>

=== Elementary/middle schools === As of 2025, the Diocese of the Stockton has the following elementary/middle schools: * All Saints Academy of Stockton – Stockton * Annunciation School – Stockton * Our Lady of Fatima School – Modesto * Presentation School – Stockton * Sacred Heart Catholic School – Patterson * Sacred Heart Catholic School – Turlock * St. Anne's School – Lodi * St. Anthony's School – Manteca * St. Bernard's School – Tracy * St. Luke's School – Stockton * St. Stanislaus School – Modesto<ref name=":0" />

== Active ministries, movements, and orders== * Communion and Liberation – St. Luke's Catholic Church * Dominican Sisters of San Rafael – St. Joseph's Medical Center, Stockton * Legion of Mary – active at numerous parishes * Newman Center – University of the Pacific / San Joaquin Delta College, Stanislaus State University * Oblates of St. Francis de Sales – St. Mary's High School, Stockton

== See also == {{Portal|Catholicism}} {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Catholic Church by country * Catholic Church in the United States * List of Catholic dioceses (structured view) (including archdioceses) * Ecclesiastical Province of San Francisco * Global organisation of the Catholic Church * List of Roman Catholic archdioceses (by country and continent) * List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical) (including archdioceses) * List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States {{div col end}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Sources and External links == * [http://www.stocktondiocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton Official Site] * [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/stoc1.htm GCatholic, with Google map] * [http://www.sfarchdiocese.org Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco] * [http://www.clonline.us/ Communion and Liberation, United States] * [http://groups.google.com/group/stockton-catholic Communion and Liberation Stockton School of Community] * [http://www.sanrafaelop.org/ Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, California] * [http://www.oblates.us/ Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, Toledo-Detroit Province]

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton}} {{Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of San Francisco}} {{coord|37|58|32|N|121|18|03|W|source:plwiki|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Catholic Diocese Of Stockton}} Category:Diocese of Stockton Stockton Category:Catholic Church in California Category:Christian organizations established in 1962 Stockton Stockton Category:1962 establishments in California Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014

Diocese of Stockton

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