Ordained in 2008, Nunes is a native of Los Angeles. He has served at both Mary Star of the Sea Parish in San Pedro and St. Gregory the Great Parish in Whittier, according to the U.S. bishops’ conference.
From 2015 to 2019, he served as priest secretary to the archbishop, and he served as the archdiocese’s vice chancellor from 2018 to 2020.
Nunes said he is “keenly aware” of the visibility of his position serving as an auxiliary bishop.
“Even more, I’m moving into the region of the late Bishop O’Connell, who was so well loved. Given his own experiences, his personality, and his tenure in ministry, there is no way I’m going to ‘replace’ him,” Nunes said.
“I do, however, want to continue, as best as I can, his efforts to constantly make Jesus present to individuals, parishes, and schools. I want to be there with them in their celebrations and their challenges, to listen to them and to walk with them as our Holy Father is asking us to do,” he added.
Referring to the ethnic diversity in the region, Nunes said he was “blessed” to serve as the vicar for ethnic ministry in the archdiocese, adding: “I want to continue to highlight the great gift of our ethnic communities by being present, as much as I can, with them at their different celebrations within this region.”