Pope Francis has appointed Fr Rene Ramirez RCJ as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
"I am very confident that his warmth, energy, imagination and deep faith will be the basis of a rich and fulfilling ministry as an Auxiliary Bishop in Melbourne," said Bishop Shane in a statement.
Fr Rene has been serving as Parish Priest of Shepparton South and Nagambie, and as supervising priest at Rushworth. There is no doubt he will be sorely missed in the Diocese of Sandhurst.
Fr Rene’s Episcopal Ordination will take place on 1 February 2025 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, along with fellow Bishop-elect, Fr Thinh Nguyen, who has also been appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop for Melbourne.
The Bishops-elect will join Bishop Martin Ashe and Bishop Tony Ireland in bringing together the leadership of the four regions of the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Bishop-elect Ramirez, who hails from Gapan, Philippines, was ordained a priest in June 1998. His first assignment as a priest was as the vocation director for the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in the Philippines.
Having studied in the Philippines and Rome, he became the pastor of Holy Family Parish in October 2015, overseeing the Catholic communities of West Footscray, Maidstone, and Braybrook in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, before establishing a Rogationist Community in Shepparton South.
Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, welcomed the Bishops-elect into the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. “The leadership and spiritual guidance of the Bishops-elect Tinh and Ramirez will be a source of strength and inspiration for the Archdiocese and the wider Church,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“These appointments reflect the multicultural face of the Church in Australia, which is witnessing signs of growth and renewal.”
“We are confident they will bring their unique experience and talents to the work of the Church at a national level, and we look forward to seeing the people of Melbourne grow in faith under their pastoral care and leadership.”
The Episcopal Ordination for the Bishops-elect is to take place on 1 February 2025 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
