Pope names PH-born priest new Auxiliary Bishop for El Paso, Texas

Bishop-Elect Very Rev. Anthony C Celino, JCL, is the third Filipino to be elected bishop in the U.S. EL PASO DIOCESE

Pope Francis has appointed a Filipino as the new auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of El Paso, Texas.

The Bishop-Elect Very Rev. Anthony C Celino, JCL, is the current Pastor of St. Raphael Parish in East El Paso and current Judicial Vicar for the Diocese.

Pope Francis announced the appointment at Roman on Feb. 8, the first appointment of an Auxiliary Bishop in El Paso since the the Diocese was established in 1914.

The episcopal ordination for Celino is scheduled for March 31st at St. Patrick Cathedral. He is the third person of Filipino descent elected as a bishop in the United States.

“We thank the Holy Father for his attention and care for the Diocese of El Paso,” Bishop Mark Seitz said in a statement.

“Bishop-elect Celino’s qualities are known in the diocese. He has previously served as my vicar general and made substantive contributions to the local church’s life. He brings a unique experience as a Filipino immigrant serving our border community as a priest for the past twenty-five years, a steadfast dedication to pastoral ministry, and fidelity to the Gospel.”

Celino will remain in his current position as Pastor of St. Raphael Parish on the east side of El Paso and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of El Paso until later in the spring 2023.

Celino was born in the Philippines on April 29, 1972, to the late Mines (Cerdan) and Teodolo Celino. He is the youngest of seven children.

He attended Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary and Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in the Philippines and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1993.

Celino immigrated directly to the El Paso area from the Philippines in 1993. He graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, in 1997 with a Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Sacred Theology degrees. He received a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in 2003.

After his ordination to the priesthood in 1997, Celino was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso and then at Our Lady of Peace in Alpine, Texas. He also served as the Pastor of the former Santa Lucia Parish, now St. John Paul II Parish.

Celino has served the Diocese of El Paso as a Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia, and Chancellor and taught at the Tepeyac Institute.

From December 2011 to July 2013, during the sede vacante in the Diocese of El Paso, he served as the delegate of the Apostolic Administrator, Emeritus Bishop Armando X. Ochoa, D.D, then Bishop of Fresno, California.
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