Pope Leo accepts retirement of Auxiliary Bishop Alex Aclan

Today, Pope Leo XIV announced that he has accepted the retirement of Bishop Alejandro “Alex” Aclan, Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, upon reaching the retirement age for bishops, which is 75 years old.

In a statement released on Angelus News this morning, Archbishop José H. Gomez shared his congratulations, “Bishop Aclan has been a good faithful servant. He loves the Lord and he loves the people entrusted to his care. He is a good friend and trusted adviser, and I know his life will continue to be beautiful and fruitful in his retirement.”

Bishop Aclan is the third of eight children born to a devout family raised in the suburbs of Manila, Philippines. Bishop Aclan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from the University of Santo Tomas, Dominican University in Manila, Philippines, in 1971. He migrated to Los Angeles from the Philippines with his family in 1982, and had been employed by the University of Santo Tomas, San Miguel Corporation and Citibank in the Philippines, and Union Bank in Los Angeles before entering St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo.

Bishop Aclan was ordained to the priesthood in 1993. He served as parochial vicar at St. Finbar Parish in Burbank from 1993-1996 before becoming the Vocations Director for teenagers at Queen of Angels Minor Seminary from 1996-1999. He then served as parochial vicar at St. John of God in Norwalk from 1993-2000, and as pastor at St. Madeleine Parish in Pomona from 2000-2011. Bishop Aclan served as Associate Vicar for Clergy from 2012-2015 and as Vicar for Clergy until 2018. He was ordained a bishop on May 16, 2019, becoming the second Filipino American priest to be ordained a bishop in the United States. He served as Auxiliary Bishop for the San Fernando Region until 2022.

For more on Bishop Aclan visit LACatholics.org.

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About the Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Under the spiritual leadership of Archbishop José H. Gomez, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest in the United States, serving the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara, covering approximately 9,000 square miles in 120 cities. The more than five million Catholics in the Archdiocese come from some 70 countries and from every continent. Weekly Masses are celebrated in 42 languages throughout 288 parishes, and more than 67,000 students attend an Archdiocesan Catholic elementary or high school. For more information please visit, lacatholics.org.