‘Service must be rooted in compassion,’ first Pinoy bishop of Philadelphia says

New auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia Efren Esmilla, the first Filipino entrusted with his role in the state’s archdiocese, stressed service to others during his ordination ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

The 61-year-old Esmilla, also the fourth Filipino bishop in the United States, was ordained in a solemn ceremony on March 7, Thursday, with bishops and Filipino priests from all over America in attendance.

Esmilla stressed that “service must be rooted in compassion because it connects our good works to the fabric of our soul,” according to a report by Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News.

This was aligned with Esmilla’s episcopal motto, the report said, of “Sicut qui ministrat,” which is Latin for “As one who serves.”

Esmilla, the titular Bishop of Ottana, was ordained almost three months after Pope Francis appointed him and two other auxiliary bishops, Keith Chylinski and Christopher Cooke, to the episcopate.

The three will assist Archbishop Nelson Perez in leading one of the largest archdioceses in the United States, which has a membership of approximately 1.5 million.

“My journey is not yet over just yet. Today marks a new phase and it is one I accept,” Esmilla was quoted by CBCP News as saying. “I hope you’ll join me in being pilgrims of hope and joy.”

“I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me. I will strive to be worthy of it everyday,” he said.

The solemn Mass lasted three hours, with songs in Filipino, English, and Spanish.

Among the prelates in attendance were the first Filipino appointed bishop in America, Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City, and Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna.

Members of the Filipino community, along with Esmilla’s friends and family members witnessed the ceremony.

New York Consul General Senen Manglile earlier said that Esmilla was a testament to the significant energy and faith contributed by the Filipino community to the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.

Born and raised in Nagcarlan, Laguna, Esmilla completed his bachelor’s degree at San Beda University in 1984 before migrating to America in 1987.

Aside from Esmilla and Solis, the other Filipino bishops in the United States are Auxiliary Bishop Alex Aklan of Los Angeles, and the third is Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Celino of El Paso, Texas. — VDV, GMA Integrated News