Filipino clergyman from Iloilo assumes role as bishop in Saipan, a settlement known for its significant population of Filipino expatriates.
New Bishop in the Northern Mariana Islands
Hey there! Let's chat about the latest news in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis, g'v Governors!, has appointed Father Romeo Duetao Convocar, a priest hailing from sunny Iloilo in the Philippines, as the new bishop for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, located in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The big announcement was made at high-noon (Rome time) or 7 pm (Manila time) on Monday, November 25, and former Manila archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the coolest Pinoy Catholic up there, broke the news during the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa's 40th anniversary.
Now, imagine being on Saipan and hearing Cardinal Tagle shout, "You've got a new bishop!" The churchgoers went wild, cheering and clapping like they were at a rock concert. By the way, the time of the Vatican announcement was around 9 pm on Saipan time.
Cardinal Tagle led a prayer for the new bishop and got all hopeful about the future, saying, "This morning, when I said life begins at 40, I didn't know that tonight, there would be a new beginning. We've just begun. Congrats, diocese!"
The Diocese of Chalan Kanoa covers the entire fabulous Northern Mariana Islands, a United States territory smack-dab in the western Pacific Ocean. Over 19,000 Filipinos, making up around 41% of the island's population, can be found chilling on the island of Saipan.
Father Romeo Duetao Convocar was born April 13, 1970, in Janiuay, Iloilo. After attending high school and studying philosophy at Saint Joseph Seminary in Dumaguete City and completing his theological studies at Saint Joseph Regional Seminary in Iloilo City, he was ordained to the Catholic priesthood on September 17, 1996.
He started his career as a priest with the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, serving those doing their duty in the military and police. He even served as a military chaplain with the rank of captain and worked at the AFP Central Command, the Cavite Naval Base, and Fort Bonifacio.
Later on, Father Convocar moved to the Archdiocese of Agaña in Guam and has been serving in various capacities there since 2012. He even served as the vicar general under Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes and took over as the apostolic administrator when Byrnes took a break. In 2023, Byrnes eventually stepped down, and a fellow Filipino, Ryan Pagente Jimenez from Dumaguete, took his place as archbishop.
When Jimenez became archbishop of Agaña, Father Convocar was named as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, which Jimenez used to lead. As more and more Filipinos get appointed as Catholic bishops across the globe, the church is definitely becoming even more Filipino!
So there you have it, folks! Former military chaplain Father Romeo Duetao Convocar is now serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, and things are looking pretty exciting for the Northern Mariana Islands! Be sure to join our website to stay on top of all the latest news and updates. Peace out!
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Amid the recent general news and politics, the Catholic Church announced a new appointment that has sparked excitement in the Northern Mariana Islands. Pope Francis has chosen Father Romeo Duetao Convocar, a Filipino priest with a background in military chaplaincy, as the new bishop for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, located within the Northern Mariana Islands.
