POPE Francis on Monday appointed a priest of Filipino descent as the new bishop of Chalan Kanoa in the Northern Mariana Islands, succeeding another Pinoy prelate.
Bishop-elect Romeo Convocar will succeed His Excellency Ryan Jimenez, who has served as archbishop of Agaรฑa in Guam since August.
Prior to his appointment, Convocar served as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Agaรฑa.
The appointment was announced in Chalan Kanoa by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Tagle is in the region for the dioceseโs 40th anniversary celebration.
Bishop-elect Convocar was well prepared for his ministry as at the time that his would be predecessor, Archbishop Jimenez, was still the bishop of Chalan Kanoa, Convocar was also serving as the apostolic administrator of Agaรฑa archdiocese for about a year while awaiting the appointment of a new archbishop.
In the process, the two Filipino clerics are exchanging ministries.
Convocar will be the third bishop of Chalan Kanoa, which was established as a diocese in 1984.
Born in Janiuay, Iloilo, Philippines, Convocar completed his philosophy studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Dumaguete City and his theological studies at St. Joseph Regional Seminary in Iloilo City.
Ordained a priest in 1996, he was initially incardinated in the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines.
He served in various roles, including as chaplain to the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Cavite Naval Base.
In 2016, Convocar moved to Guam, where he was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Agaรฑa. There, he held several key positions, including rector of the Archdiocesan Seminary and rector of Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica.
Currently, Convocar serves as the pastor of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores Parish in Tumon.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Ryan Jimenez was born in Dumaguete City on December 18, 1971. He grew up in Siquijor, a neighboring island, attended Larena Elementary School there from 1978 to 1984, and then studied at Saint Joseph Seminary in Negros Oriental for four years. He entered the San Jose Mayor Seminary in Quezon City and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1992.ย
Archbishop Ryan Jimenez was only six (6) years and 11 months in the priesthood when he was named as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa from December 28, 2010 to June 24, 2016.
At the age of 44 and 12 and a half years in the priesthood when Pope Francis appointed him as the Bishop of Chalan Kanoa on June 24, 2016 and was consecrated a bishop on August 14, 2016.
Pope Francis named him Archbishop of Agaรฑa on July 6, 2024, and was instaled on August 14, 2024, the 20th year of being a priest and 8th year of his episcopate.| – Joenald Medina Rayos
