Bishop Cirilo Flores of San Diego’s Catholic diocese passed away Saturday. He was 66.

He passed away peacefully at 2:47 p.m. at Nazareth House in Mission Valley, according to a statement from the Diocese of San Diego.

A native of Corona, Flores was one of six children. When his parents could not afford to send him to Catholic high school, the local Knights of Columbus paid his tuition. He later repaid this gesture by joining the Catholic service group.  He became a First degree Knight on December 1, 1980 and a Fourth Degree Knight in 1992.  The bishop was also a Past Grand Knight.  He received a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University and a law degree from Stanford University.  The bishop practiced law for a decade before being ordained on June 8, 1991 as a priest in the Diocese of Orange.

He was named an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Orange on January 5, 2009 and a coadjutor bishop of the San Diego Diocese on January 12, 2012.  He became the Diocese of San Diego’s first Hispanic bishop on September 18, 2013. The son of a Mexican immigrant, he began his administration by reaching out to homeless migrant workers.

The bishop also served on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ subcommittees on Latin America and Hispanic affairs.

Bishop Flores was always very supportive of the Knight of Columbus Orange Chapter.  He always greeted us warmly as friends.  Please remember him and his family in your prayers.