The third Filipino-American bishop of the US has been appointed by Pope Francis.
Monsignor Anthony Celino is the new auxiliary bishop of the US diocese of El Paso. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines announced on Wednesday, February 8.
The official episcopal ordination of Celino is on March 31 at St. Patrick Cathedral, Texas which is where the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso seat is located. Not only is Celino the third Filipino-American bishop of the US, but he is also the first auxiliary bishop of El Paso since 1914.
Born in Anda, Pangasinan, Celino completed his studies in Philosophy in 1993 at the Mary Help of Christians Seminary in Dagupan.
After graduating from college seminary, Celino decided to migrate to El Paso Texas and pursued theology studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois.
The Filipino-American started out as a Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral then at Our Lady of peace in Alpine. He got a licentiate in canon law in 2003 at the University of America in Washington. Celino is currently the Vicar General of the Diocese of El Paso, as well as the chancellor, and moderator of the curia.
