The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has welcomed two new members to its ranks – Bishop Thinh Nguyen and Bishop Rene Ramirez RCJ. Source: ACBC Media Blog.
The Archdiocese of Melbourne auxiliary bishops were consecrated at an episcopal ordination Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, welcomed the appointments.
“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,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“The appointments of Bishops-elect Thinh and Ramirez 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.”
Bishop Ramirez, who hails from Gapan, Philippines, has been a priest since 1998. His first assignment as 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.
His most recent ministry has been as the Supervising Priest in Rushworth, in the Diocese of Sandhurst.
Bishop Thinh was born in Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, and came to Australia as a teenager.
He entered Corpus Christi College Regional Seminary Carlton in 1999 and was ordained for the priesthood by Archbishop Denis Hart in September 2006 in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
Having served in several Melbourne parishes and chaplaincies, he was appointed to oversee clergy formation in the Archdiocese in 2022.
FULL STORY
Two new Melbourne auxiliary bishops consecrated (ACBC Media Blog)
RELATED COVERAGE
Joy overflows at consecration of Melbourne’s newest bishops (Melbourne Catholic)
