He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 1997 to 2015 and as apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Monterey for six months in 2018 and 2019.
[1] Wilkerson led the archdiocese's San Fernando Pastoral Region with 54 parishes, 12 high schools, two hospitals, and five missions.
[2] On July 20, 2018, Pope Francis appointed Wilkerson as the apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Monterey after the death of Bishop Richard Garcia.
On December 19, 2018, Wilkerson announced that the diocese was hiring an outside law firm to examine its personnel records for any credible allegations of sexual abuse by clergy.
[6] On September 26, 2023, Auxiliary Bishop Albert Bahhuth replaced Wilkerson as the permanent episcopal vicar for the San Fernando Pastoral Region.