Efren V. Esmilla

Filipino priest

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Efren Veridiano Esmilla
Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia Titular Bishop of Ottana
Archdiocese	Philadelphia
Appointed	December 8, 2023
Installed	March 7, 2024
Other post(s)	Titular Bishop of Ottana
Orders
Ordination	May 15, 1993 by Anthony Bevilacqua
Consecration	March 7, 2024 by Nelson J. Pérez, John J. McIntyre, and Michael Francis Burbidge
Personal details
Born	(1962-06-18) June 18, 1962 (age 61) Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines
Motto	Sicut qui ministrat (As He who ministers)

Styles of Efren Veridiano Esmilla

Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Efren Veridiano Esmilla (born June 18, 1962) is an Filipino-born priest of the Catholic Church who has been serving as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania since 2023.

Biography

Early life

Efren Esmilla was born on June 18, 1962 to Cristobal and Crispina Esmilla in Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines. In 1984, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from San Beda College in Manila, Philippines.^[1]

After coming to the United States, Esmilla enrolled at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Charles in 1992.^[1]

Priesthood

On May 15, 1993, Esmilla was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.^[2] After his 1993 ordination, Esmilla served as parochial vicar of the following parishes in Pennsylvania:

Saint John Chrysostom Parish in Wallingford (1993 to 2001)
Maternity B.V.M. (Blessed Virgin Mary) Parish in Philadelphia (2001 to 2003)^[3]

Emilla left Maternity B.V.M in 2003 after being appointed to the faculty and as assistant director of pastoral and apostolic formation of Saint John Borromeo. In 2005, he left the seminary positions to become parochial vicar of Saint Martha Parish in Philadelphia. The next year, Esmilla became pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in the same city, a posting he would hold for the next 14 years. In 2020, the archdiocese transferred him to Saint James Parish in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, to serve as pastor there.^[3]

Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia

Pope Francis appointed Esmilla as an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia on December 8, 2023.^[4]^[1] ^[3] On March 7, 2024, Esmilla was consecrated as a bishop by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, with Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre and Bishop Michael Burbidge serving as co-consecrators.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishops of Philadelphia". US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Bishop Efren Veridiano Esmilla [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Pope Francis Names Reverend Efren V. Esmilla, Reverend Efren V. Esmilla, and Reverend Efren V. Esmilla Auxiliary Bishops for The Archdiocese of Philadelphia". Retrieved December 8, 2023.
^ "Resignations and Appointments, 08.12.2023". Retrieved December 8, 2023.