Pope Francis appoints Filipino priest as new bishop of a diocese in southern Philippines

Serving as a parish priest and a diocesan administrator since 2014, Fr. Ronald Anthony Parco Timoner was named by Pope Francis as the new bishop of the Diocese of Pagadian, a statement issued by the Vatican Press Office on April 3 (Manila time).

Timoner, who has been parish priest of San Juan Bautista in the Diocese of Daet and its administrator for the last 11 years, would succeed Bishop Lunas, who passed away on January 2, 2024.

Timoner is a native of Daet, the capital of Camarines Norte, more than 300 kilometers southeast of Manila, the country’s capital.

The 53-year-old bishop-elect took his philosophy at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in the pilgrim city of Naga in Camarines Norte’s neighboring province of Camarines Sur.

He took his theology at the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest existing university in Asia.

He obtained a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas—Angelicum in Rome.

In May 1997, the Diocese of Daet ordained Timoner as a priest.

He served as parish vicar of Our Lady of Candelaria in Paracale, another town in Camarines Norte, his home province. He also served as parish vicar of Saint Francis of Assisi in Talisay, another town in Camarines Norte.

Timoner was also the spiritual director at the Holy Trinity College Seminary in Labo, Camarines Norte.

He also served as chaplain of the Church of Saint Thomas in Milan, Italy, from 2004 to 2009. He also served as chancellor of Daet.

Timoner is the younger brother of Fr. Gerald Francisco Timoner, the first Asian and current Master of the Order of Preachers, otherwise known as the Dominican Order.

As the new bishop of Pagadian, he will oversee a diocese with more than 1.3 million people in 26 parishes.