Huong Pham, the oldest of four sisters, spoke in Vietnamese to a capacity crowd Thursday (1,000 seats) at St. Thérèse of Carmel Parish in Carmel Valley.
After seeing her brother Michael Pham installed as the seventh bishop of San Diego, she described a “very caring, gentle, down-to-earth person.”
“It’s wonderful,” she told Times of San Diego. “We feel blessed of this day. Everyone should pray for Bishop and pray for our family.”
Almost two months after becoming Pope Leo XIV’s first choice for a new American bishop. Pham, 58, smiled throughout most of a 100-minute Mass — and cracked a few jokes.
But as a leading Catholic activist for immigrant rights amid ICE raids and courthouse arrests, Pham used his 13-minute homily to stress a goal of social justice.
Citing John’s Gospel of the good shepherd laying down his life for his sheep, Pham declared: “In serving others — this requires daily dying.”
The nation’s first Vietnamese-American bishop said: “We pray that the Holy Spirit gives us the strength and courage to take on the task to serve all people without discrimination, especially the poor, the homeless, the immigrants, the migrants, the refugees and the voiceless.”
His multi-ethnic and ecumenical audience recited a responsorial prayer with parts in Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese and English. Songs throughout the service also included lyrics in more than one language.
And his remarks at the 100-minute Mass repeated themes of diversity.
“We, too, are sent by Jesus to bring the same spirit of love to the world filled with division and hatred, through our active participation in justice and peace, in forgiveness and reconciliation actualized now in the Eucharist,” he said in a 13-minute homily.
Besides parish priests, nuns and Pham’s family (including parents), celebrants included Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington returning to his old diocese, and apostolic nuncio Christophe Pierre, the cardinal representing the Vatican.
Also attending were Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles and José Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest Catholic community. (Pham’s flock numbers nearly 1.4 million.)
A small contingent of San Diego police attended as well, sitting in different locations at a church Police Chief Scott Wahl attends as his home parish.
At the invitation-only service that drew Imam Taha Hassane of the Islamic Center of San Diego and Rabbi Jason Nevarez of Congregation Beth Israel, dozens of people lined up to give Pham hugs and share animated exchanges.
“Ever since Cardinal McElroy left for Washington, we three amigos — Bishops Ramón, Felipe and I — have been running the show here in San Diego together. Cardinal McElroy has taught us well,” he said and then sparked laughter: “We haven’t broken anything yet.”
He said he and the church were sent by Jesus to “bring the same spirit of love to the world filled with division and hatred, through our active participation in justice and peace, in forgiveness and reconciliation.”
In a livestreamed video of the event seen by thousands, Pham said peace is possible only when there is justice.
“Justice also requires love and compassion,” he said. “We are challenged to live justly and bring justice to our society as we are mindful of our sisters and brothers who are being neglected, who are being thrown away on the side of the road, and who are incapable of defending themselves. And so it begins where we are in our local areas.”
He said true social justice exists only when “all sisters and brothers are treated with dignity and respect. In this day, politics and social interactions shouldn’t focus exclusively on differences, but rather on the common good of the people.”
Pham noted Pentecost and the first reading from The Acts of the Apostles, where “people spoke in different languages and yet they understood each other.”
“As our Pope Francis pointed out to us, listening is the important key to creating synodality in our church,” he said. “Only by listening to the word of God and to each other can we be guided by the Holy Spirit to right the injustices created in today’s world due to our human flaws and thus achieve peace.”
Cardinal Pierre read a message from Pope Leo — who noted that McElroy has “not been forgotten” by San Diego, sparking laughter.
“Bishop Pham, you are well-equipped for this vocation,” said Leo’s personal message. “You have clearly shown a genuine zeal, as well as skill, in what pertains both to pastoral demands and administration.”
After being read the pontiff’s official decree, made May 22, Pham recited his pledge: “With faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and with the love of God in my heart, I do accept the pastoral care of the people of God in the Diocese of San Diego. I resolve to serve faithfully the spiritual needs of this local church.”
Pham then held aloft the decree, an opened scroll, as he made his way up and down aisles of the church.
At the end of his homily, Pham spoke briefly in Vietnamese and Spanish.
Then he took a lighter turn, noting his height — perhaps a little over 5 feet.
“You may be used to (seeing) tall bishops and cardinal at the lead,” he said, sparking waves of laughter. “But now you can envision before you a shorter bishop, like a Yoda in ‘Star Wars’ — getting ready to lead.
“Whether we are tall or short, figuratively or literally, we are all called to be bearers of hope and beacons of good news to peace, justice and love for all.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
