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PH priest Efren Esmilla ordained Philadelphia auxiliary bishop

Filipino priest Efren Esmilla is formally ordained as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia in a solemn ceremony witnessed by his relatives and Fil-Am Catholics.

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Don Tagala

TFC News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8zDo3wmUyWo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Catholic priest Efren Esmilla was ordained the first Filipino bishop of Philadelphia during his solemn installation rites at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on March 7. </p><p>Esmilla in his homily said that in 1903, then-Pope Leo XIII sent a bishop from this archdiocese to Nueva Segovia in Ilocos Sur in the Philippines to strengthen the Catholic faith in the islands.</p><div><a data-ved="2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)" id="isPasted"></a><a data-ved="2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered" id="isPasted" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Fil-Am priest&#x27;s appointment as Philadelphia bishop cheered</a></div><div style="line-height:1.3;padding:0px;display:inline-block;text-size-adjust:none;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered" data-ved="2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"></a><div style="display:flex;padding:0px;align-items:center"><a data-ved="2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="margin-right:12px"></span></a><div style="vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered" data-ved="2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/22/23/fil-am-priests-appointment-as-philadelphia-bishop-cheered&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj8n9Sr_OuEAxUVnFYBHYS1BjEQFnoECC8QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"></a><br/></div><br/></div></div><p>Today, it’s the other way around. Some 120 years later, a priest from the Philippines made history by becoming the first Filipino bishop in the city of brotherly love.</p><p>“This is the goodness of the Lord,” he saidm, “not only to the people of Philadelphia but [also] to the entire people in the Philippines.”</p><p>Filipino Catholics in Philadelphia consider Pope Francis&#x27; appointment of a bishop that looks and talks like them as an answered prayer.</p><p>Philippine Consul General Senen Mangalile said Esmilla’s elevation to the episcopate is also a way to honor Filipinos&#x27; contributions to the Catholic church in the U.S.</p><p>“It’s an acknowledgement of the huge role that the Filipino Catholic community in the whole United States plays in the life of the church,” he said.</p><p>Esmilla has also been an inspiration to younger parishioners, including Mark Gomba.</p><p>The Fil-Am seminarian was seen assisting Esmilla during the ordination rites. He shared that he initially wanted to be a doctor to save lives, but in about three years, his ordination as priest will let him save souls instead. </p><p>“I&#x27;m sure it will inspire vocations in Philadelphia,” said Gamba of Esmilla’s new role, “for the younger Filipino-Americans to think about their path and see that the Lord might be calling them.”</p><p>Esmilla’s relatives were also in full force to show their love and support for the new bishop in the family. </p><p>His siblings, apart from sending their best wishes, also shared his childhood dream.</p><p>“My wish is for him to become a saint,” said Esmilla’s sister Cristy. “That has been his desire. Let us pray for him, that he may grow closer to the people that the Lord loves.”</p><p>Esmilla is the fourth Filipino bishop in the U.S. He will continue to serve his parish until June. He will then begin his duties as auxiliary bishop at the Philadelphia archdiocese.</p>

<p>Filipino priest Efren Esmilla is formally ordained as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia in a solemn ceremony witnessed by his relatives and Fil-Am Catholics.</p>

Filipino priest Efren Esmilla ordained Philadelphia auxiliary bishop

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Filipino priest Efren Esmilla ordained Philadelphia auxiliary bishop

Don Tagala,

TFC News

Published Mar 11, 2024 06:13 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 13, 2024 05:28 PM PHT

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