Departing El Paso Bishop Will Temporarily Keep Heading Diocese From Afar

El Paso’s departing bishop Armando Ochoa will temporarily keep heading the borderland’s Catholic Diocese even after his reassignment becomes Fresno, California’s new bishop.

The news was announced during a ‘Mass of Thanksgiving’ for Ochoa at St. Patrick Cathedral in West El Paso Monday night.

Ochoa has spent 15 years as El Paso’s bishop. Late last year the pope reassigned Ochoa to Fresno, California where he will be installed Feb. 2.

It is unknown when El Paso will get a new bishop. In the mid-90’s before Ochoa stepped in, El Paso went about a year without a bishop.

As the process takes its course, representatives with the Catholic Diocese told ABC-7 an interim administrator takes over the day-to-day business of the diocese.

Even though Ochoa will be Fresno’s official bishop, he will keep in touch with his team in El Paso and will still be responsible for calling the shots. When Ochoa takes over as Fresno’s bishop, he will give up that title in El Paso and instead be known as El Paso’s “apostolic administrator.”

Representatives of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso told ABC-7 Ochoa will be greatly missed. They credited Ochoa with revitalizing ministries by reaching out to lay people during his 15 years here. They said he encouraged religious education through a diocese-run school called the Tepeyak Institue. They said Ochoa also organized more retreats than predecessors and oversaw the construction of new churches.

However, Ochoa’s last few months have included some controversy. He transferred outspoken priest Michael Rodriguez to Presidia, Texas last year after Rodriguez became too involved in the city’s domestic partner benefits battle. Ochoa went on to sue Rodriguez in an unrelated lawsuit last week for allegedly mishandling church funds.

Parishioners at St. Patrick on Monday said they will miss the 68 year-old when he goes to Fresno. “I think he did a pretty good job being our bishop here, being our shepherd,” said Rose Yanez.