Filipino priest named auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento

SACRAMENTO – The Diocese of Sacramento has welcomed Filipino priest Rey Bersabal, who was appointed by Pope Francis this week as auxiliary bishop in this diocese in California.

Filipino priest Rey Bersabal has been appointed by Pope Francis as auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Sacramento. Image: Diocese of Sacramento website

Bersabal will take up his appointment on May 31, following his ordination as bishop in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

“I am grateful to His Holiness for giving me a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus as an able co-worker in this favored part of His vineyard,” said the Most Rev. Jaime Soto, Bishop of Sacramento.

“Bishop-elect Rey came as an immigrant priest bringing the rich cultural heritage of the Filipino people.  He became part of a presbyterate and people that is a global Catholic kaleidoscope of faith and charity radiating the historic credal customs from Portugal, Italy, Ireland, China, Poland, Africa and more.”

Bishop-elect Bersabal, 59, the youngest of three children born to Juanita Guzman Bendijo and Ananias Amparo Bersabal, grew up in a small town in Mindanao, Philippines.

His vocation to the priesthood began with the lived Faith of his parents and family. He attended both Catholic and public schools before entering the diocesan seminary of San Jose de Mindanao.

He obtained his degree in Philosophy from Ateneo de Cagayan Xavier University. On April 29, 1991 he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

In 1999, at the invitation of Bishop Emeritus William Weigand, Bishop-elect Bersabal came to the Diocese of Sacramento. He was incardinated into the diocese in 2004.

In the 25 years since his arrival, he has served in several ministerial and administrative positions. Since 2022, he has served as Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Sacramento and is currently a member of the Priests Personnel Board and the Independent Review Board. Previous assignments include chaplain of the Davis Newman Center and pastor assignments at St. Paul Parish, Sacramento, St. John the Baptist Parish, Folsom, and St. James Parish, Davis.

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis and to Bishop Jaime Soto, for the recognition and trust bestowed upon me.” said Bishop-elect Bersabal.

“I am humbled to be chosen to serve God’s people in this capacity. I vow to uphold the responsibility to demonstrate Christ’s holiness to the people of the Diocese of Sacramento.”

As Auxiliary Bishop, Bersabal will also serve as vicar general for the Diocese of Sacramento while remaining pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Bishop-elect Bersabal speaks English, Tagalog, Visayan and Spanish.