SAN DIEGO — “Unity in diversity” came to joyful, beautiful life at the diocese’s annual Pentecost Mass and Festival.
Faithful from all corners of the diocese packed into the gym at Cathedral Catholic High School, where the multilingual Mass was held on June 7. Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano celebrated the Mass, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido and Bishop Michael Pham and dozens of clergy.
In his introductory remarks, Bishop Bejarano noted that Pope Leo XIV had named Bishop Pham to serve as the seventh bishop of the diocese, prompting applause. Then, he acknowledged that Bishop Pham had started the Pentecost Mass eight years before to bring together the cultures in the diocese. This time, the Mass-goers gave Bishop Pham a standing ovation.
In what has become a tradition, a procession of 19 cultures entered the gym at the beginning of the Mass, from African to Vietnamese. The Mass-goers cheered when Bishop Bejarano recognized that the Peruvian community was participating, noting that newly elected Pope Leo had served in Peru for a long time. The participating communities also included African American, Brazilian, Chaldean, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Irish, Korean, Laotian, Luiseño, Mexican, Panamanian, Samoan and Tongan.
After the Mass, the faithful moved to the high school’s outdoor grounds, where they enjoyed a cultural festival, complete with traditional food tastings and cultural performances.
In the Local Church, “We must strive to build love and unity in the midst of our diversity,” Bishop Bejarano said in his homily.
Unity in diversity “involves the joyful recognition and acceptance of the various gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to each one and the placing of these gifts at the service of all members of the Church,” he said, quoting Pope Francis.
The bishop noted that the Catholic Church was celebrating a Jubilee Year, which called on the faithful to be “Pilgrims of Hope.”
During the Pentecost Mass, he continued, the Diocese of San Diego was celebrating its Jubilee of Cultural Diversity.
“This event brings us together to be enriched by our unity in diversity,” said Bishop Bejarano, who serves as vicar of Ethnic and Intercultural Communities.
At the Mass, the different cultural communities place on the altar a piece of colorful cloth that represents them. Then, all the cloths are covered with a white one representing “our faith in Christ as we celebrate the Eucharist,” the bishop said.
“When I see the fabric that represents my background, I think to myself, ‘I’m there! I’m part of that fabric.’ Then I feel the joy of being united with everyone else and being enriched by their culture.
“For me, personally, this action is beautiful and invites me to see how beautiful our Church is.”
Pope Leo, in his inaugural homily, said that love and unity are the two dimensions of the mission that Jesus entrusted to St. Peter.
“Pentecost speaks to us of that unity-love relationship,” the bishop said. “In the Gospel, we hear that all the disciples were together for one reason, fear. Then, by the time Pentecost happened, they were also in one place together. Were they still afraid? Not anymore. They had seen the Risen Christ, who gave them his love and peace. Love takes away fear and brings peace.”
He said the Church in the Diocese of San Diego, “must strive to build love and unity in the midst of our diversity.”
Then, the bishop shared Pope Francis’ words.
The pope said that “unity does not imply uniformity; it does not necessarily mean doing everything together or thinking in the same way. Nor does it signify a loss of identity. Unity in diversity is actually the opposite: It involves the joyful recognition and acceptance of the various gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to each one and the placing of these gifts at the service of all members of the Church.
“It means knowing how to listen, to accept differences, and having the freedom to think differently and express oneself with complete respect towards the other who is my brother or sister.”
The bishop said that unity and love require humility. One of the first disruptions in building unity is believing that “I’m better or superior to others,” he added. This is counter to what the Gospel says.
“Jesus taught that the greatest is the one who serves” (Luke 22:27), the bishop continued.
He said that Bishop Pham pledged to continue the work started by Cardinal Robert W. McElroy to build a culture of synodality in the diocese.
In this culture, “we listen to each other with an open heart and respect, we listen to the Holy Spirit, and in communion, we walk together. As a Church, we are called to sow unity and acceptance, not division.”
At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Bejarano recognized Charlotte Fajardo, who assisted the diocese’s Office for Ethnic and Intercultural Communities for eight years. In that capacity, she worked closely with Bishop Pham to support and strengthen the cultural communities. And she led the coordination of the annual Pentecost Mass for All Peoples, which entailed months of work bringing the communities together to present a colorful, moving event.
See a photo gallery of the Pentecost Mass and Festival at thesoutherncross.org/pentecost2025.
