Antonio José Gallardo Lucena consecrated as Diocese of Los Angeles bishop
Los Angeles Bishop Antonio José Gallardo Lucena holds the crozier at his consecration July 11 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California. Photo: Ashley Nguyen via Diocese of Los Angeles
[Diocese of Los Angeles] The Rt. Rev. Antonio José Gallardo Lucena was ordained and consecrated the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles on July 11 – and the first Latino to hold the office – in a festive multilingual ceremony celebrating the diocese’s rich cultural diversity.
Rousing Korean drummers called out joyful welcome as hundreds of lay, clergy and ecumenical colleagues gathered at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, where the Venezuela-born Gallardo served as pastor for Latino ministries from 2015 to 2019. The inter-tribal Native American Sisters of the One Drum led processions of more than 30 bishops from across The Episcopal Church. Thousands more joined the livestreamed celebration in watch parties at churches and from homes across the six-county diocese.
A moment of silence recalled victims of the June 24 earthquakes that struck Venezuela, killing nearly 4,000, injuring another 16,000 and displacing more than 18,000. The offertory collection was dedicated to support Episcopal Relief & Development’s International Disaster Fund. The organization is providing critical relief and long-term recovery support to those impacted by the earthquakes.
Gallardo’s election represents “God doing a new thing,” according to the Rev. Norma Guerra of St. Paul’s Church in Tustin, preaching in Spanish and English.
“One of the most important things to remind you is, you are not alone in this journey; God is by your side and we are, too,” Guerra said, offering advice from her father, the Rt. Rev. Armando Guerra, who served as bishop of Guatemala from 1982 to 2018 and archbishop of the Anglican Church in Central America from 2010 to 2015. “I know you can feel the love in this room and across the diocese and across the distance all the way to Venezuela and in other places,” she said.
“You also stand on the shoulders of earlier bishops whose faith and integrity have provided a sure foundation and cornerstone for your ministry. You have the wisdom and support of your fellow bishops and a wonderful diocesan staff,” Guerra said.
Gallardo chose the theme “In the Spirit of Love and Truth” for both the consecration and his episcopate, from Ephesians 4:15: “Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him, who is the head, into Christ.” Banners depicting the theme in a specially designed shield lined the entryway to the Pasadena church.
Bishop John Harvey Taylor presented Gallardo with the diocesan crozier, a pastoral staff carried by all previous bishops of the diocese.
In a written word of gratitude in the service program, Gallardo offered thanks to God, family, mentors and teachers, with a special thanks to his Aunt Yeya, “for instilling in me the love for God and Jesus since I was a little child.”
“This day we begin a new stretch in our life as a diocese,” Gallardo wrote. “I look forward to exploring, discovering, and growing together. May the road ahead be inspired by the desires of our hearts to grow closer to Jesus, to be one in Christ, and to be led by the Spirit of Love and Truth.”
Gallardo was elected bishop Nov. 8 on the eight ballot tby the 130th annual meeting of the diocese.
Born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, he was ordained a priest in 2019 in Los Angeles. He holds a doctorate in business and economics from Lehigh University. Prior to ordination, he had served as chief program officer for First 5 Los Angeles, a public foundation, from 2010 to 2013; as deputy director of the Farmworker Institute of Education & Leadership Development; and as president and CEO of Philadelphia Area Accelerated Manufacturing Education.
He is a lecturer at Cal Poly Pomona’s Business School and served as instructor in UCLA’s Department of Engineering, Information Systems and Technical Management from 2008 to 2015 and professor in the School of Sciences, Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado, Venezuela, from 1990 to 1993.
Gallardo succeeds Taylor, who served as diocesan bishop for nine years.
The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles was established in 1896 and encompasses 49,000 members worshipping in 132 congregations, 26 schools and institutions located in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
