On Saturday 1 February, Mooroopna, Shepparton and Rushworth’s well-known Rogationist priest, Fr Rene Ramirez RCJ was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop for the Northern Region of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. If you haven’t yet congratulated him, you’ll still have a chance when he celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving at St Mel’s, Shepparton South on Sunday 9 February at 5:00 p.m.
Bishop Ramirez has worked in the Diocese of Sandhurst since November 2023, where he helped to establish the Rogationist Congregation in Mooroopna while serving as Parish Priest of Shepparton South and Nagambie, and as supervising priest at Rushworth.
His ordination as a Bishop is not only making people in Sandhurst proud, but the Australian Filipino diaspora as well – Bishop Ramirez is the first Filipino-born priest to be ordained as a Bishop in Australia, mirroring the multicultural face of the nation. He is also the first Rogationist Priest to be ordained a Bishop in Australia.
Nevertheless, Bishop Ramirez (who prefers to be known as Bishop Rene) can’t be defined by such categorisations. He’s a strategic big-picture thinker, who lives by the adage, “the church begins with us,” and is determined to carve out a legacy of collaboration between the many diverse Catholic communities in Melbourne’s Northern Region. “I hope to foster a sense of belonging and cooperation, encouraging everyone to work together for the common good and to create a legacy of solidarity for future generations,” he says.
Originally from Gapan City in the Philippines, Bishop Ramirez joined the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in 1985 and was ordained a priest in June 1998.
He is well equipped to serve as a Bishop with qualifications in Philosophy from Adamson University in Manila, a master’s degree in educational management from De La Salle University in Dasmariñas City, and a Licentiate in Spirituality and a Diploma in Social Communications from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Not to mention experience working as Vocations Director, Administrator and Treasurer for his Rogationist Community, and Vice Rector at Rogationist College in Cavite City and a priest for the Archdiocese of Melbourne and of course, Diocese of Sandhurst
Bishop Ramirez says his management training has been crucial to his ministry and will continue to provide him with the skills and knowledge in his role as Auxiliary Bishop and his love of learning and strong interest in technology will also help him in this role:
“I have always maintained an openness to guidance and coaching from experts in their respective fields. This willingness to learn and embrace new ideas has given me access to a diverse set of tools, which I apply to better serve our parish community. Some may perceive my dynamism as an inherent trait but, in truth, it results from my consistent efforts to integrate and implement the knowledge and experiences I have gained throughout my journey.”
In 2015, Bishop Ramirez moved to Australia to become Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, overseeing the communities of West Footscray, Maidstone, and Braybrook. He played a key role in merging these parishes into one in 2018.
About 3,000 faithful gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral, and thousands more joined online for the Episcopal Consecration Mass of Bishop Ramirez and fellow Bishop-elect, Most Rev. Thinh Nguyen who was also ordained Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The Liturgy embraced the cultural background of Bishop Ramirez and Bishop Nguyen: the First Reading was read in Tagalog, the native language of Bishop Ramirez and the Second Reading was read in Vietnamese, the native language of Bishop Nguyen. The Gospel read by Deacon Joshua McDermid, was from the Gospel of John (15:9–17), highlighting Jesus’ call to sacrificial love and his commandment to ‘love one another as I have loved you’.
The liturgy was significantly enriched by the Vietnamese Holy Martyrs Combined Choir, the Filipino Chaplaincy Singers of Melbourne, cantor Larissa Cairns, organist Dion Henman and the St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, under the able direction of Dr Philip Matthias, Director of Cathedral Music, reflecting the diverse cultural heritage of the new bishops and the people they serve.
The Most Reverend Peter A. Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne, presided over the consecration ceremony, with His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, along with Archbishops and Bishops from Australia and the Philippines, including Most Rev. Shane Mackinlay, Bishop of Sandhurst.
Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter A. Comensoli described the consecration as a “significant moment for our entire Archdiocesan community,” emphasising that the new Bishops are “called to be true witnesses of Christ’s love, peace, and justice in our world today.”
Earlier, when the appointments of the Bishops were announced, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference said, “The leadership and spiritual guidance of the two Bishops-elect will be a source of strength and inspiration for the Archdiocese and the wider Church,” adding that their 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,” said Bishop Costelloe.
