Pope Francis appoints Pinoy priest as third Chalan Kanoa bishop

A Filipino priest who hails from Janiuay, Iloilo and currently based in Tamuning, Guam has been appointed by Pope Francis as the third bishop of Chalan Kanoa, Northern Mariana Islands.

Reverend Romeo Duetao Convocar of the clergy of the metropolitan archdiocese of Agaña, Guam and currently the parish priest of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in Tamuning, Guam will succeed then-bishop Ryan Jimenez.

Bishop Jimenez has been serving as archbishop of Agaña in Guam since August 2024.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News reported that the appointment of Msgr. Convocar was announced in Chalan Kanoa by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

Cardinal Tagle was in Chalan Kanoa to attend the 40th anniversary celebration of the diocese.

According to the announcement posted by the Holy See Press Office, Msgr. Convocar was born on 13 April 1970 in Janiuay, Iloilo, Philippines.

"He carried out his studies in philosophy in Dumaguete City, Philippines (1987-1991) and in theology in Jaro, Philippines (1991-1996). He was ordained a priest on 17 September 1996 and incardinated first in the military ordinariate of the Philippines, from which he was excardinated on 15 March 2016, in order to be incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Agaña."

Msgr. Convocar held the roles of chaplain in service at the Office of the Military Ordinary (1996-1997), and interim chaplain of the Southern (1997-1998) and Northern Command (1998-2002) of the armed forces.

He completed the basic and advanced courses for military officials at the Combat Arm School, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army in Nueva Ecija then he served as chaplain of the Central Command of the armed forces and chaplain of the naval base of Cavite (2002-2004), chaplain of the military base at Fort Bonifacio (2004-2006), parish administrator of Saint Joseph, Inarajan, Guam (2006-2007), spiritual father at the Seminary of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, Domus Josephi Formation Centre (2007-2012).

In Guam, he held various positions including parish priest of Sant Isidro, Malolojloj, Guam (2012-2018), and rector of the archdiocesan seminary of Guam, Saint John Paul II the Great (2014-2017). — BAP, GMA Integrated News