MELBOURNE, Australia – St Patrick’s Cathedral will witness a historic moment on Saturday, 1 February 2025, as Bishop-elect Rene Ramirez RCJ DD becomes the first Filipino-born priest to be ordained as a bishop in Australia. He will be consecrated alongside Bishop-elect Thinh Nguyen DD, marking a significant event for Melbourne’s Catholic community.
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A New Chapter for Melbourne’s Catholic Leadership
Appointed by Pope Francis, the two new bishops will serve Melbourne’s one-million-strong multicultural Catholic community, strengthening leadership in Australia’s largest Archdiocese.
The Most Reverend Peter A. Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne, will preside over the 10 AM consecration ceremony, joined by His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, along with archbishops and bishops from Australia and the Philippines. Also in attendance will be the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Charles Balvo, Vicar General of Melbourne Very Rev. Anthony Kerin, and Right Rev. Monsignor Stuart Hall, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Archbishop Comensoli described the consecration as a “significant moment for our entire Archdiocesan community,” emphasizing that the new bishops are “called to be true witnesses of Christ’s love, peace, and justice in our world today.”
Meet the New Bishops
Bishop-elect Rene Ramirez RCJ DD (Northern Region, Archdiocese of Melbourne)
Born in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, in 1969, Bishop-elect Rene Ramirez was ordained a priest in 1998 after 13 years of seminary formation with the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus. He holds qualifications in educational management from De La Salle University and in spirituality and social communications from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
In the Philippines, he served as Vocation Director for the Rogationists and held various academic and leadership roles, including Vice Rector at Rogationist College in Cavite City and Director of Social Communications at Rogationist Seminary College in Parañaque.
Since moving to Australia, he has served as Parish Priest at Holy Family Parish (2015–2023), overseeing Catholic communities in West Footscray, Maidstone, and Braybrook. In 2024, he was appointed Supervising Priest in Rushworth, overseeing four Mass centres. Upon his consecration, Bishop Ramirez will serve as Auxiliary Bishop for the Northern Region of the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Bishop-elect Thinh Nguyen DD (Eastern Region, Archdiocese of Melbourne)
Born in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1973, Bishop-elect Thinh Nguyen fled to Australia at age 13, later studying at Redden Catholic College in Preston. Before entering the seminary, he earned qualifications in building engineering and lighting design and worked for an engineering firm.
He entered Corpus Christi College Regional Seminary in 1999 and was ordained a priest in 2006. He has since served in multiple parishes, including Deer Park, Fitzroy, and Bennettswood, and played key roles in youth ministry and clergy formation.
Since 2022, he has served as Coordinator of Clergy, Life, and Ministry for the Archdiocese, supporting over 200 active priests and deacons. Upon his consecration, Bishop Nguyen will serve as Auxiliary Bishop for the Eastern Region of the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
A Strong Presence from the Filipino and Vietnamese Communities
The consecration will be enriched by music from the Vietnamese Holy Martyrs Combined Choir, the Filipino Chaplaincy Singers of Melbourne, and the St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir. Given their cultural backgrounds, the event is expected to draw a strong presence from Melbourne’s Filipino and Vietnamese Catholic communities.
The ordination of Bishop-elect Rene Ramirez is a historic milestone for the Filipino Catholic community in Australia, signifying a growing multicultural representation in the country’s Catholic leadership.
With thousands expected to attend in person and countless more joining online, this dual consecration is set to be one of Melbourne’s most significant religious gatherings in recent years.
