Myron J. Cotta


Myron Joseph Cotta is an American priest and prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was appointed as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Stockton by Pope Francis on January 23, 2018. His installation Mass was celebrated on March 15, 2018 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Modesto, California.

Early life

Cotta was born in Dos Palos, California and was educated in public and Catholic schools before receiving an associates degree from West Hills College Coalinga in Coalinga, California.

Education

Cotta studied for the priesthood at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California. Cotta was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fresno on September 12, 1987. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Priesthood

After ordination, Cotta served as the parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish in Atwater from 1987 to 1989 and the administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Laton from 1989 to 1992. He served as the pastor of Our Lady of Miracles Parish in Gustine from 1992 to 1999. Following his pastoral assignments he served as the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Fresno. Pope John Paul II named Cotta a Chaplain of His Holiness, with the title of Monsignor, in 2002. Pope Benedict XVI named him a Prelate of Honor in 2009.

Episcopacy

Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento

appointed Cotta to be an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento on January 24, 2014. He was also named Titular Bishop of Muteci. He was consecrated in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento on March 25, 2014 by Bishop Jaime Soto. Bishop Armando Xavier Ochoa of Fresno and retired Bishop José de Jesús Madera Uribe, M.Sp.S. of the Archdiocese for the Military Services were the principal co-consecrators.

Bishop of Stockton

On January 23, 2018, Pope Francis named Cotta as the new bishop of Stockton. He was installed on March 15, 2018. At his installation Mass, a number of prelates were in attendance including archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.

Episcopal succession