SAIPAN, Guam — Another Filipino priest has been appointed by Pope Francis as the new bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The appointment of Bishop-elect Romeo Convocar was announced by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who was in Chalan Kanoa for the diocese’s 40th anniversary celebration.

Convocar will succeed fellow Filpino prelate Ryan Jimenez, who has served as archbishop of Agaña in Guam since August the current year.

The Iloilo-born bishop-elect served as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Agaña and also served the archdiocese’s apostolic administrator for about a year while awaiting the appointment of a new archbishop.

He will be the third bishop of Chalan Kanoa, which was established as a diocese in 1984.

Convocar completed his philosophy studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Dumaguete City and his theological studies at St. Joseph Regional Seminary in Iloilo City. He was ordained a priest in 1996 and was initially incardinated in the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines.

After his ordination, he served in various roles, including the chaplainship of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP-CenCom) and the Cavite Naval Base.

In 2016, Convocar moved to Guam, where he was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Agaña. There, he held several key positions, including rector of the Archdiocesan Seminary and rector of Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica.

Currently serving as the pastor of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores Parish in the municipality of Tumon in Guam, Convocar thanked Pope Francis for his appointment and also the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Agana who he served in different capacities for more than a decade.

“Having experienced and known through the years the joys, fulfillment, and challenges of ministry in the Lord’s vineyard, I receive this news of the appointment with mixed feelings,” he enthused.

“I am deeply humbled and express my profound gratitude to the holy father for this appointment,” he added.