WASHINGTON (November 4, 1997) -- Pope John Paul II has appointed Monsignor Gerald E. Wilkerson, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church, Encino, California, as Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles.

Bishop-designate Wilkerson was assigned the Titular See of Vincennes.

Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment.

Gerald Wilkerson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 21, 1939.

He attended elementary and secondary schools in Long Beach, California, Queen of Angels Seminary, San Fernando, and St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California.

Bishop-designate Wilkerson was ordained to the priesthood on January 5, 1965.

Following ordination, he was Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra, from 1965 to 1971, Parochial Vicar, St. Michael's, Los Angeles, 1971-1978, and Parochial Vicar, American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach, from 1978 to 1982.

Named Administrator of Our Lady of Grace in 1982, he became Pastor in 1985.

Bishop-designate Wilkerson was President of the Los Angeles archdiocesan personnel board from 1983 to 1985. He has been Episcopal Vicar for the San Fernando Pastoral Region since 1996.

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