Pope Francis names Filipino priest as auxiliary bishop in US, says CBCP

Monsignor Anthony Celino. Photo taken from the Facebook page of St. Raphael Parish on the east side of El Paso in Texas, United States

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino immigrant priest has been appointed by Pope Francis as an auxiliary bishop in the United States, making him the third Filipino-American bishop in that country.

According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Monsignor Anthony Celino was appointed by the Pope as auxiliary bishop of the US diocese of El Paso on Wednesday, February 8.

His episcopal ordination is scheduled for March 31 at St. Patrick Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso in Texas.

Celino, who is currently the pastor of St. Raphael Parish on the east side of El Paso and the diocese’s judicial vicar, will be El Paso’s first auxiliary bishop since its establishment in 1914.

“We thank the Holy Father for his attention and care for the Diocese of El Paso,” said the diocese’s Bishop Mark Seitz in CBCP’s statement.

“He brings a unique experience as a Filipino immigrant serving our border community as a priest for the past 25 years, a steadfast dedication to pastoral ministry, and fidelity to the Gospel,” the prelate added.

The CBCP said Celino was born in Anda, Pangasinan, and finished his studies in Philosophy at the Mary Help of Christians Seminary in Dagupan City in 1993 before migrating to El Paso, Texas, after his college seminary.

Celino then pursued his theology studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois.

He served as Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso and then at Our Lady of Peace in Alpine, Texas.

In 2003, he obtained a licentiate in canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington.

Celino has also served the Diocese of El Paso as a vicar general, moderator of the curia, and chancellor.

Celino’s nomination makes him the third Filipino-American priest to be named bishop in the US, the other two being Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City and Auxiliary Bishop Alejandro Aclan of Los Angeles.

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