Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishop of El Paso

Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Anthony C. Celino as auxiliary bishop of El Paso.

WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Anthony C. Celino as auxiliary bishop of El Paso. Bishop-elect Celino is a priest of the Diocese of El Paso and currently serves as judicial vicar and director of the diocesan tribunal, and as pastor of St. Raphael parish in El Paso, Texas. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on February 8, 2023, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Celino has been drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Father Celino was born April 29, 1972, in the Philippines. He attended Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary in Binmaley, Philippines, and Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Dagupan City, Philippines. He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Master of Divinity from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, in Mundelein, Illinois (1997), and a Licentiate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (2003). He was ordained to the priesthood on June 9, 1997.

After ordination, Father Celino was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso. From 2001 to 2003, he pursued canon law studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. His parish assignments thereafter include: administrator, then pastor, of Santa Lucia parish in El Paso in 2004; temporary administrator of St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr parish in El Paso in 2017; he was also named pastor of St. Raphael parish in El Paso in 2017 where he currently serves, in addition to being judicial vicar for the diocesan tribunal.

Bishop-elect Celino has served various roles in the diocesan offices: judicial vicar (2003 and present); between 2011 and 2017, his ministry included service to the diocese in the roles of diocesan administrator, vicar general, moderator of the curia, and chancellor. Bishop-elect Celino has served on the board of advisors for the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services (2012); Tepeyac Institute (2014-2021); and The Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso (2014-2020). He speaks English, Spanish, and Tagalog.

The Diocese of El Paso is comprised of 26,686 square miles in the State of Texas and has a total population of 923,088 of which 720,009 are Catholic.

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