Costa Rican-born priest named Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles

Sep 7, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Pope John Paul II has appointed Costa-Rican born Monsignor Alexander Salazar, Vice-Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Church, as Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles. He was also assigned the Titular See of Nesqually.

Alexander Salazar was born November 28, 1949, in San Jose, Costa Rica. His family came to the United States in 1953 and settled in Los Angeles. He became a U.S. citizen at the age of 18.

After attending elementary and high school in Los Angeles, Alexander Salazar studied at California State University, Los Angeles, and later at Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, where in 1978 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Bi-Lingual Studies.

Upon completion of college, he taught at St. Albert the Great school in Compton, California, from 1968 to 1979. He also worked as bookkeeper for St. Albert the Great parish. In 1977, the then Mr. Salazar entered St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo as a pre-candidate for philosophy studies, and in 1980 began his studies in theology. Ordained a priest June 16, 1984, he was named a Chaplain of Honor to His Holiness on August 9, 2003.

Bishop-designate Salazar has served in a number of pastoral and archdiocesan assignments. He served at St. Gregory the Great parish, Whittier, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, Pasadena, and at St. Vibiana Cathedral, Los Angeles. He was named temporary Administrator of St. Teresa of Avila in 1994 and became pastor in 1995. In 2003, Msgr. Salazar was appointed Vice-Chancellor while continuing as pastor of St. Teresa of Avila.