FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
Hundreds of Valley Catholics are expected to attend Bishop Armando Ochoa's installation Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Thursday afternoon.
He will be installed as the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fresno.
It's a very similar scene to about a year ago when hundreds of people and Catholic leaders from around the world came to pay their respects to Bishop John Steinbock. His funeral was held at St. Anthony in December 2011.
Wednesday night, Bishop Ochoa's installation began at St. John's Cathedral. In attendance: 31 bishops, two archbishops and the Ambassador from the Vatican to the U.S.
Bishop Ochoa is from California but has served as the fifth Bishop of El Paso, Texas since 1996.
In an interview with KMPH News, Bishop Ochoa says while the church tries to shy away from controversial politics, he does plan on continuing Bishop Steinbock's passion of advocating for immigrants rights.
He says that's been a big passion of his as well, working so close to the Mexico border in Texas.
And when it comes to the late Bishop Steinbock, Bishop Ochoa knows how much the community loved him.
"I'm not here to replace him. I'm here to bring my style of servant leadership to the faith community. However people are going to see me through Bishop John's eyes, that's gonna be their way. I'm coming not to assert another Bishop John Steinbock because know I could never be that. But I'm going to bring my gifts and my talents to the people of God," Bishop Ochoa said.
On a lighter note, Bishop Ochoa says he's very happy to be back in California for a couple of reasons: one, he loves In-N-Out burgers, and two, he loves to ride his bicycle as a way to burn off those burgers.
