POPE Francis has appointed Monsignor Anthony Celino as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of El Paso in Texas, the third Filipino named as bishop in the United States.
The two others are Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City and Auxiliary Bishop Alejandro Aclan of Los Angeles, said a report of CBCP News, the official news agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
It also said Celino is El Paso’s first auxiliary bishop since its establishment as a diocese in 1914,
“We thank the Holy Father for his attention and care for the Diocese of El Paso,” CBCP News said quoting the diocese’s Bishop Mark Seitz.
“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,” Seitz added.
Celino, who was born in Pangasinan, finished his studies in Philosophy at the Mary Help of Christians Seminary in Dagupan City in 1993.
After college seminary, he pursued his theology studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois.
After his priestly ordination in 1997, Celino was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso and then at the Our Lady of Peace in Alpine, Texas.
Celino also served as pastor of the former Santa Lucia Parish, now known as the St. John Paul II Parish, and at the St. Raphael Parish.
In 2003, he obtained a licentiate in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington.
At the Diocese of El Paso, Celino also served as a vicar general, moderator of the curia, and chancellor.
At the Archdiocese of Manila, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula continued to shuffle officials.
Advincula yesterday appointed former Manila Cathedral rector Fr Reginald Malicdem as vicar general and vice moderator curiae of the Archdiocese of Manila.
The appointment takes effect on February 15.
Malicdem will join Msgr. Jose Clemente F. Ignacio in serving as vicar general of the archdiocese.
A vicar general is tasked with assisting the archbishop in the governance of the archdiocese.
Malicdem is also set to help Ignacio, who is the moderator curiae of the archdiocese.
A vice moderator curiae coordinates matters related to administrative affairs and ensures that other curia members fulfill their mandate.
Earlier, Advincula tapped five priests as episcopal vicars in the Manila archdiocese and appointed 13 priests as vicars forane in the different vicariates in the archdiocese.
