On Saturday, June 1 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Bishop Jaime Soto ordained Dean J. Marshall, Manuel A. Rodriguez and Steven Joseph W. Wood to the priesthood, and Ryan P. Mahar to the transitional diaconate. Following are Bishop Soto's remarks from the Mass of Ordination.

As we prayed during the preface, Christ gives the dignity of a royal priesthood to the people he has made his own.  You have been chosen from among this priestly people to be their ministers. With a brother’s love you have been chosen to serve the priesthood of the faithful with the same wondrous love of Christ, who loves them and gave his life for them.  For this reason, we have prayed that you, in company with all of your brother priests and deacons, may give your life for the Church.

SACRAMENTO—Bishop Jaime Soto today published a list of 44 priests and 2 permanent deacons from the Diocese of Sacramento that have been credibly accused of sexually abusing 130 minors or young adults, aged 25 and under. The list is based on a review of the personnel records of nearly 1,500 bishops, priests and permanent deacons conducted by diocesan staff and an independent consulting firm retained by the diocese. It spans seven decades, from 1950 to the present time.

“This list is heartbreaking. It is a sickening and sobering account of the history of sex abuse by clergy in our diocese,” said Bishop Soto. “It is repulsive to see the evil acts that were perpetrated upon innocent children and young people entrusted to our care.