 He served in the archdiocese as associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra; St. Michael, Los Angeles and American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach, and for 15 years at Our Lady of Grace Church, Encino as administrator and then pastor.On November 5, 1997, he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as the Titular Bishop of Vincennes and auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles.He was consecrated a bishop on January 21, 1998.