Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9) — Pope Francis has named Fr. Efren V. Esmilla as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the fourth Filipino to be appointed as prelate in the United States.
“I am greatly humbled and honored to be chosen by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia,” Esmilla said during his appointment on Dec. 8.
“My great hope is that our beloved Archdiocese of Philadelphia will continue to grow spiritually and to grow in the number of souls as we all strive to be better missionary disciples for Jesus Christ in the world around us,” he added.
Since 2020, Esmilla has served as pastor of Saint James The Great Parish in Elkins Park and Saint Martin of Tours Parish in Philadelphia, the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania.
Also appointed as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were Fathers Keith Chylinski and Christopher Cooke. They will serve the archdiocese with Archbishop Nelson Perez and Auxiliary Bishop John McIntyre.
A native of Nagcarlan, Laguna, Esmilla earned a bachelor’s degree from San Beda College in Manila in 1984 and later a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Pennsylvania.
In the same seminary, Esmilla served as Director of the Spirituality Year Program from 2004 to 2005 and Adjunct Spiritual Director from 2017 to 2020.
He was ordained in 1993. He became Parochial Administrator of Saint Martin of Tours Parish in Philadelphia from May to October in 2021.
Other Filipinos appointed as prelate in the United States are Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City, Utah; Auxiliary Bishop Alejandro Aclan of Los Angeles, California; and Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Celino of El Paso, Texas.
