NEWLY APPOINTED. Fr. Efren Esmilla (center), who is of Filipino descent, poses with fellow Philadelphia auxiliary bishops-elect Keith Chylinski (left) and Christopher Cooke. The three, who will serve the 1.5 million Catholics in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, were appointed by Pope Francis on Friday (Dec. 8, 2023). (Photo from Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
MANILA – Pope Francis on Friday appointed three new auxiliary bishops, one of whom is a priest of Filipino descent, for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
In an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website, the 61-year-old Fr. Efren Esmilla, who was born in Nagcarlan Laguna, will serve the 1.5 million Catholics in the archdiocese together with Fr. Keith Chylinski and Christopher Cooke.
The three newly appointed bishops will join Archbishop Nelson Perez and Auxiliary Bishop John McIntyre, who have been serving in the same capacity since 2010.
Esmilla completed a college degree at San Beda University in Manila in 1984 before immigrating to the US.
He began his priestly formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, where he also earned a master of divinity in 1992.
On May 15, 1993, the bishop-elect was ordained to the priesthood for the Philadelphia archdiocese by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.
He previously served as parochial vicar at St. John Chrysostom in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, and at the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Philadelphia.
Esmilla also served as assistant director of pastoral formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
Since 2021, he has served as the pastor of St. James in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
According to the parish’s website, he has also been chaplain to the Filipino Apostolate and the spiritual director to the Legion of Mary.
Esmilla is the fourth Filipino to be named bishop in the US. The other three are Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City, Auxiliary Bishop Alejandro Aclan of Los Angeles, and Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Celino of El Paso-Texas.
He said he was “greatly humbled and honored” by the appointment.
“I ask all of the clergy, men and women religious, and lay faithful our beloved local Church to pray for me while knowing that I will pray for all of you so that I can see how to serve you best,” Esmilla said. (PNA)
