Filipino-Australians are proud and excited as Bishop-elect Rene Ramirez, recently appointed by Pope Francis as Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, prepares for his ordination alongside Bishop-elect Thinh Nguyen. Both appointments highlight the growing diversity within the Catholic Church in Australia.
This historic moment is especially significant as Bishop-elect Rene will be the first Filipino to serve as a bishop in Australia. The ordination will be held on Saturday, 1 February 2025, from 10am to 12.30pm at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Cathedral Place, East Melbourne.
From Gapan City to Melbourne
Fr. Rene Ramirez was born on 28 March 1969 in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Growing up in a faith-filled home inspired him to pursue a life in the Church. “Faith has been at the centre of my life since I was young,” he said in an interview.
He joined the Rogationist Order in May 1985 and studied Philosophy at Adamson University in Manila. After years of preparation, he was ordained a priest on 27 June 1998.
A Life of Service and Learning
Fr. Rene’s journey has taken him to many places. He served as Administrator, Treasurer, and Vice Rector at Rogationist College in Cavite City from 1999 to 2003, all while completing his Master’s in Educational Management at De La Salle University in Dasmariñas City. He later went to Rome to earn a Licentiate in Spirituality and a Diploma in Social Communications at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
In 2015, he became Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish, overseeing the Catholic communities in the Melbourne suburbs of West Footscray, Maidstone, and Braybrook. He played a key role in merging the parishes of Maidstone and Braybrook in 2018. In 2023, Fr. Rene moved to regional Victoria, serving as Parish Priest for St. Mel’s in Shepparton South and St. Malachy’s in Nagambie. He also supervises several Mass centres in the Diocese of Sandhurst, which covers northern and central parts of the state.
Outside of work, Fr. Rene enjoys cooking, especially Italian dishes and pastries. He loves music, plays the piano, and finds peace in gardening.
Becoming a Bishop-Elect
The news of his appointment as bishop-elect by Pope Francis surprised Fr. Rene. “My first thought was to visit the Blessed Sacrament in prayer and ask, ‘Why me?’” he said. Reflecting on Matthew’s Gospel, he shared, “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
After his ordination, Fr. Rene will assist the Archbishop in serving the people of Melbourne and strengthening connections in the community.
Reactions from the Community
Fr. Alex Clemente, RCJ, Parish Priest of Melton and Melton South Churches, shared his reflections on the appointment of Bishop-elect Rene. He said, “As Rogationists, our constant prayers of invocation is – ‘Send Oh Lord, holy apostles into your church!’ Bishop-elect Rene Ramirez is a wonderful fruit of that supplication. In the midst of the vast harvest of souls in the biggest Archdiocese of Australia, God sends him. I feel honored that one among us, of the very few Rogationist clergy doing mission work here in Australia, will be ordained as a bishop. It’s truly a huge blessing to our religious congregation and to the local Church of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. I’m sure that as one of the finest members of our community, Bishop-elect Rene will be a great blessing to everyone within his pastoral care.”
**Reflecting on this milestone, Fr. Alex added, “With deep gratitude, we are looking forward to this event in the history of the local Church in Australia as the first Filipino-born Australian bishop and the first Filipino Rogationist bishop. The Superior General of the Rogationist, based in Rome, wrote, ‘Our gratitude also goes to the Holy Father for the trust he has in our Rogationist congregation, and the exhortation for us to do all we can to deserve it. We are happy for Fr. Rene and accompany him with our prayers, that he may continue to share the Rogationist charism with the Church of Melbourne, following the example of our Founder, St. Hannibal Mary, whom he made known in Australia from the very beginning of his mission.’”
Archbishop Peter Comensoli shared his thoughts on the appointments of Bishop-elects Rene Ramirez and Thinh Nguyen, saying, “They are men with a heart for the Gospel and a passion for serving God’s people. They are well-known to the Melbourne Archdiocese and have already made valuable contributions to the life of the local Church. I know that each will continue to share their distinctive gifts and passionate commitment to our faith communities in the years to come.”
Juan R. Liwag Memorial High School in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, where Fr. Rene is an alumnus, also shared their pride and joy at his appointment. In a Facebook post, they highlighted this milestone as a testament to his unwavering faith, dedication, and service to God and the Church. “Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, and the Filipino community are immensely proud! Mabuhay po kayo, Bishop Ramirez!Mabuhay po kayo, Bishop Ramirez!”
In his homily during the Feast of Jesus, the Black Nazarene on 10 January in Melbourne, Filipino chaplain Msgr. Litoy Asis asked the faithful to pray for the recent appointment of Fr. Rene as auxiliary bishop. He emphasized the historic nature of this moment, marking the first time a Filipino has been appointed to serve as a bishop in Australia.
Fr. Rene’s role in strengthening the Filipino-Australian community through events like Simbang Gabi was also highlighted as a source of pride for many.
A parishioner shared, “Fr. Rene is always there for us. He’s not just a priest; he’s a friend to the community.”
Looking Ahead to the Ordination
The ordination ceremony in Melbourne brings together clergy and faithful from across the region, highlighting the growing diversity in the Catholic Church. Filipino clergy, including Deacons Ian Vergel and Chris Creo, will assist in this Mass, making it a meaningful celebration for the community.
The Rogationist community is also anticipating this momentous event, with around 40 priests from overseas expected to attend the ordination. These priests will be coming from Rogationist communities in the Philippines, Italy, Korea, Papua New Guinea, and the USA, further emphasising the global support for Bishop-elect Rene’s appointment.
Those unable to attend in person can watch the ceremony live online on the Archdiocesan YouTube channel or on free-to-air TV via C31 (channel 44 on digital TV).
Fr. Rene and Fr. Thinh’s ordinations will complete the leadership team for the Archdiocese’s four regions, alongside Bishops Martin Ashe and Tony Ireland.
A Humble Servant
As he prepares for this new role, Fr. Rene remains focused on his mission. “I am here to serve and walk with the people of Melbourne in their faith journey,” he said.
The faithful are encouraged to keep Fr. Rene in their prayers as he embraces this new role, striving to inspire and lead with humility and faith.
