Monseñor Evelio Menjívar-Ayala, a Salvadoran-born priest and former undocumented immigrant, was ordained as a Catholic bishop on Feb. 21, 2023 [1].
His appointment serves as a symbolic gesture by the Catholic Church to place leaders in positions of power who can personally relate to immigrant communities. This move comes during a period of intense debate regarding U.S. immigration policies and the challenges faced by those without legal status.
Menjívar-Ayala's path to the episcopacy is rooted in his experience as an undocumented person in the United States. This history now informs his pastoral ministry, allowing him to bridge the gap between the church hierarchy and marginalized populations. According to El Tiempo Latino, the church seeks leaders who can identify with the lived experiences of the people they serve.
"La Iglesia quiere pastores que se identifiquen con la gente," Menjívar said [1].
There are differing reports regarding his specific diocesan assignment. El Tiempo Latino identifies him as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. [1]. However, a Univision interview describes him as the bishop of the Diocese of West Virginia [2].
Regardless of the specific jurisdiction, his rise within the church is seen as a strategic effort to provide spiritual and communal support to immigrants. The transition from being undocumented to holding a high-ranking ecclesiastical office highlights a shift in how the church addresses the legal and social vulnerabilities of its flock.
"Su historia de inmigrante indocumentado le da una perspectiva única para servir a la comunidad," Ilia Calderón said [2].
“La Iglesia quiere pastores que se identifiquen con la gente.”
The appointment of Bishop Menjívar-Ayala signals a conscious effort by the Catholic Church to align its leadership with the demographic realities of its congregation. By elevating a former undocumented immigrant, the church creates a direct link between the institutional hierarchy and the legal struggles of migrant populations, potentially increasing the church's influence and legitimacy as an advocate for immigrant rights within the U.S. legal and political landscape.
