A Filipino missionary priest has been ordained bishop in Papua New Guinea on Aug. 29.
CBCP News said Bishop Joseph Durero is the third Filipino bishop in Papua New Guinea. He joins Vincentian Bishop Rolando Santos of Alotau-Sideia and Salesian Bishop Pedro Baquero of Kerema.
Held at the St. Gerard Cathedral, the episcopal ordination was presided over by Cardinal Sir John Ribat of Port Moresby, with Archbishop Fermin Emilio Sosa Rodriguez, Apostolic Nuncio to PNG and Solomon Islands, and Bishop Gilles Côté as co-consecrators.
Côté of the Missionaries of the Company of Mary, served the diocese for 22 years.
Durero is the third shepherd of the Diocese of Daru-Kiunga.
Born in Surigao del Norte province’s Dapa town, the 53-year old has been a missionary of the Society of the Divine Word in Papua New Guinea for more than 20 years.
Pope Francis on May 23 appointed Durero as bishop of Daru-Kiunga, a suffragan of the Port Moresby archdiocese.
At the time of his appointment, he was the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Madang.