Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese

My Dear Parishioners,

On March 7, 2024 Archbishop Perez will ordain three Philadelphia priests as Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese. This has never happened in all my time in Philadelphia. It is very exciting for our local church. Our 2024 Confirmation class will be the first class ever confirmed by Bishop-elect Chylinski. In case you would like to know more about our newest bishops, I took the following from the Archdiocesan website. Please pray for them as they respond to God’s call.

Biographical Information Regarding Bishop-elect Keith J. Chylinski

Bishop-elect Keith J. Chylinski was born on July 23, 1971 to Edmund Chylinski and the late Kelly Donovan. A native of Schenectady, New York, he attended West Woods Elementary and Middle School in Hamden, Connecticut, and Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Prior to entering the program of priestly formation  at  Saint  Charles  Borromeo Seminary, he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Temple University. While studying at the Seminary, he earned a Master of Divinity Degree in 2006 and a Master of Arts Degree in 2007. He was ordained to the Priesthood by Cardinal Justin Rigali on May 19, 2007. Bishop-elect Chylinski served as Parochial Vicar of Saint Anselm Parish (Philadelphia) from 2007 to 2011; Parochial Vicar of Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish (North Wales) from 2011 to 2012; and a faculty member at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary from 2014 to 2022. He also served as a Board Member of the Council of Priests from 2009 to 2011 and assisted with weekend ministry at Saint Joseph Parish (Downingtown) from 2014 to 2017. He has served as a weekend assistant at Saint Alphonsus Parish (Maple Glen) since 2017. Since 2022, Bishop- elect Chylinski has served as the Rector of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Biographical Information Regarding Bishop-elect Christopher R. Cooke

Bishop-elect Christopher R. Cooke was born on November 8, 1973 to Randall Cooke and Mary Lou Cooke and grew up in Saint Vincent de Paul Parish (Richboro). Prior to entering the program of priestly formation at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Bishop-elect Cooke earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 1996. He then worked in the field of chemical manufacturing and design. While studying at the Seminary, he earned a Master of Divinity Degree in 2005 and a Master of Arts Degree in 2006. He was ordained to the Priesthood by Cardinal Justin Rigali on May 20, 2006. Bishop-elect Cooke served as Parochial Vicar of Saint Eleanor Parish (Collegeville) from 2006 to 2008; Parochial Vicar of Saint Martin of Tours Parish (Philadelphia) from 2008 to 2012; Parochial Administrator of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish (Norristown) from 2012-2013; and Director of the Spirituality Year Program at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary from 2013 to 2021. Bishop-elect Cooke also served as a Board Member of the Archdiocesan Council of Priests from 2011 to 2014. Since 2021 he has served as the Dean of Men for the Theological Seminary at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Biographical Information Regarding Bishop-elect Efren V. Esmilla

Bishop-elect Efren V. Esmilla was born on June 18, 1962 to the late Cristobal and Crispina Esmilla. Prior to entering the program of priestly formation at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from San Beda College in Manila, The Philippines, in 1984. While studying at the Seminary, he earned a Master of Divinity Degree in 1992.  He was ordained to the Priesthood by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua on May 15, 1993. Bishop-elect Esmilla served as Parochial Vicar of Saint John Chrysostom Parish (Wallingford) from 1993 to 2001; Parochial vicar of Maternity B.V.M. Parish (Philadelphia) from 2001 to 2003; Assistant Director of Pastoral and Apostolic Formation and Priest Faculty Member at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary from 2003 to 2004; Director of the Spirituality Year Program at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary from 2004 to 2005; Parochial Vicar of Saint Martha Parish (Philadelphia) from 2005 to 2006; and Pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish (Philadelphia) from 2006 to 2020. Since 2020, Bishop-elect Esmilla has served as Pastor of Saint James Parish (Elkins Park). He also has served as the Spiritual Director for the Legion of Mary (Holy Family Curia) since 2001; Chaplain of the Archdiocesan Filipino Apostolate since 2005; and Pastor of Saint Martin of Tours Parish (Philadelphia) since 2021.

Additionally, Bishop-elect Esmilla served as Regional Dean of Deanery 12 (Lower Northeast Philadelphia) from 2017 to 2022; Adjunct Spiritual Director at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary from 2017 to 2020; and Parochial Administrator of Saint Martin of Tours Parish (Philadelphia) from May 2021 to October 2021.

May God Bless you,
Fr. Bordonaro