Philippines
National
Bishop Rene Ramirez ordained as first Filipino bishop in Australia
Bishop Rene Ramirez ordained as first Filipino bishop in Australia
By Jel Santos
A priest from Nueva Ecija, Bishop Rene Ramirez, has made history as the first Filipino appointed bishop in Australia, following his consecration as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne on Feb. 1, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News reported.
Bishop Ramirez, originally from Gapan, Nueva Ecija, was ordained as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
He was consecrated alongside Vietnamese-born Bishop Thinh Nguyen, with around 3,000 people in attendance.
Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli served as the principal consecrator, joined by Bishop Gregory Bennet of Sale and Bishop Shane Mackinlay of Sandhurst.
The Mass was concelebrated by Cardinal Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia Archbishop Charles Balvo, and 32 other bishops.
According to CBCP News, over 200 priests from Australia, Rome, the Philippines, the United States, and Vietnam also participated.
‘A witness to the Lord’
In his homily, Archbishop Comensoli underscored the weight of the episcopal ministry, describing it as “first and foremost a gift from God, to be fanned into a flame.”
He reminded the newly ordained bishops of their mission.
“Your role is to be a witness to the Lord in his death and resurrection,” he said, urging them to be “willing heralds, faithful apostles, and sound teachers.”
Recognizing the challenges ahead, he encouraged them to embrace their new responsibilities with trust in God.
“The marks of death we each carry—of sin, doubt, despondency, tiredness, fearfulness—are, in Christ, transfigured marks of life—of grace, hope, trust, faith, confidence,” he said.
‘Courage to accept this calling’
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Ramirez admitted feeling apprehensive about his new role.
“We are fully aware of our limitations and shortcomings,” he said.
“However, the courage to accept this calling comes from our complete reliance on God’s love and our trust in His plan, which may still be unfolding for us.”
He vowed to serve with humility and dedication.
“We aim to embody compassion, understanding, and dedication as we serve our communities with humility and grace,” he added.
Ramirez was appointed as auxiliary bishop by Pope Francis on Nov. 8, 2024. His appointment makes him part of the leadership team for the largest archdiocese in Oceania, which now has four auxiliary bishops.
Ordained as a priest for the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in 1985, Ramirez held several leadership roles in the Philippines before moving to Rome in 2003 to further his studies.
After returning to the Philippines in 2006, he served as a seminary spiritual director and superior before being assigned to Australia in 2015.
In Melbourne, he became pastor of Holy Family Parish, overseeing Catholic communities in West Footscray, Maidstone, and Braybrook.
In 2023, he was assigned to establish a new presence in the Diocese of Sandhurst as the parish priest of St. Mel’s Parish in Shepparton South and St. Malachy’s Parish in Nagambie.