Most Reverend Anthony C. Celino, D.D., J.C.L.
First Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of EL Paso
“Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous, teach me to serve you as you deserve.” This is how the prayer of generosity, a Jesuit prayer ascribed to St. Ignatius of Loyola, begins. This prayer has guided Bishop Celino throughout his life and inspired him in his ministry. It was the theme of his ordination to the priesthood at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso. It appears once again on his bishop coat of arms.
On February 8, 2023 Pope Francis appointed Reverend Anthony C. Celino, JCL, a priest ordained for the Diocese of El Paso almost twenty-six years ago, as auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of El Paso, the third Filipino to be elevated a U.S. bishop.
The Celino family are mestizos, a mixture of Filipinos and Spaniards, who are farmers. Anthony Cerdan Celino was born on April 29, 1972 in Anda, Pangasinan, Philippines to Teodolo Celino and Mines Cerdan Celino. He is the youngest of seven children. His siblings are Juventino, Victoria, Cirilo, Margie, Teofanie, and Cristina. Anthony’s father died when he was four years old, leaving his mother to raise the children on her own. A college-educated schoolteacher, Mines, born into the Methodist faith and an adult convert, would play a vital role in the future bishop’s Catholic faith journey, education, and vocation.
As the youngest child, he often found himself tagging along with his mother who was active at their local parish. He was an altar server by the time he was six years old. When he was getting ready to finish middle school, Father Hans Meyer, a Columban priest, hand-picked three students to visit the high school seminary on vocation day. Bishop Celino enjoyed the experience, and, at the urging of his mother, made the decision to leave his family home and attend Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary.
He went on to attend Mary Help of Christians College Seminary. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1993, graduating at the top of his class. While he was discerning his vocation, he also considered attending law school in the Philippines. It was at that time that his oldest brother encouraged him to move to the United States. In addition, Bishop Raymundo J. Peña invited him to consider becoming a priest for the Diocese of El Paso. Bishop Celino accepted the invitation and arrived in El Paso in July of 1993. He thought he might be lost when all he heard was Spanish in the airport but would be welcomed with open arms by his brother and members of the community, and immediately started laying down roots in his home away from home.
He submitted an application to Mundelein Seminary and was invited to interview with Bishop Gerald Kicanas, who was the rector of Mundelein at the time, and other priests. Following a weekend at Mundelein, he went with a cohort from the Diocese of El Paso to World Youth Day in Colorado. He remembers seeing Pope John Paul II and feeling present and inspired by the amazing experience along with so many young people immersed in this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Bishop Celino was accepted to the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois and graduated with a Master of Divinity and Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology in 1997. He credits Mundelein for his strong academic and pastoral training and instilling a deep sense of loyalty and brotherhood.
As a young seminarian, Bishop Celino had several formative experiences. When he returned to El Paso during his vacations, he called St. Stephen Parish his home and had opportunities to be of service to the community. His older brother insisted that he should be self-sufficient, making him take the bus when he had no car to drive. He quickly got to know the city and its people. He spent a summer internship under Rev. Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas at St. Pius X and was often given assignments of books to read. Msgr. Bañuelas organized group discussions over lunch to ensure the future priest understood Hispanic theology and ministry.
After his ordination to the priesthood on June 6, 1997, Bishop Celino was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso on the same day that Very Rev. Richard A. “Rick” Matty was assigned as rector. During his four years as parochial vicar at the Cathedral, Father Rick mentored Celino, walked with him, challenged him, led by example, and helped shape the priest he is today. As vicar general, Father Rick was instrumental in ensuring that Bishop Celino continued his studies. He was sent by the diocese to study canon law at Catholic University of America and received a Licentiate in Canon Law in 2003.
Bishop Celino has served the Diocese of El Paso as a vicar general, moderator of the curia, and chancellor, given his time to numerous boards, mentored young priests, served as pastor of several parishes, including Our Lady of Peace in Alpine and Santa Lucia, now St. John Paul II. From December 2011 to July 2013 during the sede vacante, he served as the delegate of the Apostolic Administrator. He currently serves as judicial vicar and the pastor of St. Raphael Parish.
He continues “to serve without counting the cost”.
On February 8, 2023 Pope Francis appointed Reverend Anthony C. Celino, JCL, a priest ordained for the Diocese of El Paso almost twenty-six years ago, as auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of El Paso, the third Filipino to be elevated a U.S. bishop.
The Celino family are mestizos, a mixture of Filipinos and Spaniards, who are farmers. Anthony Cerdan Celino was born on April 29, 1972 in Anda, Pangasinan, Philippines to Teodolo Celino and Mines Cerdan Celino. He is the youngest of seven children. His siblings are Juventino, Victoria, Cirilo, Margie, Teofanie, and Cristina. Anthony’s father died when he was four years old, leaving his mother to raise the children on her own. A college-educated schoolteacher, Mines, born into the Methodist faith and an adult convert, would play a vital role in the future bishop’s Catholic faith journey, education, and vocation.
As the youngest child, he often found himself tagging along with his mother who was active at their local parish. He was an altar server by the time he was six years old. When he was getting ready to finish middle school, Father Hans Meyer, a Columban priest, hand-picked three students to visit the high school seminary on vocation day. Bishop Celino enjoyed the experience, and, at the urging of his mother, made the decision to leave his family home and attend Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary.
He went on to attend Mary Help of Christians College Seminary. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1993, graduating at the top of his class. While he was discerning his vocation, he also considered attending law school in the Philippines. It was at that time that his oldest brother encouraged him to move to the United States. In addition, Bishop Raymundo J. Peña invited him to consider becoming a priest for the Diocese of El Paso. Bishop Celino accepted the invitation and arrived in El Paso in July of 1993. He thought he might be lost when all he heard was Spanish in the airport but would be welcomed with open arms by his brother and members of the community, and immediately started laying down roots in his home away from home.
He submitted an application to Mundelein Seminary and was invited to interview with Bishop Gerald Kicanas, who was the rector of Mundelein at the time, and other priests. Following a weekend at Mundelein, he went with a cohort from the Diocese of El Paso to World Youth Day in Colorado. He remembers seeing Pope John Paul II and feeling present and inspired by the amazing experience along with so many young people immersed in this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Bishop Celino was accepted to the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois and graduated with a Master of Divinity and Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology in 1997. He credits Mundelein for his strong academic and pastoral training and instilling a deep sense of loyalty and brotherhood.
As a young seminarian, Bishop Celino had several formative experiences. When he returned to El Paso during his vacations, he called St. Stephen Parish his home and had opportunities to be of service to the community. His older brother insisted that he should be self-sufficient, making him take the bus when he had no car to drive. He quickly got to know the city and its people. He spent a summer internship under Rev. Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas at St. Pius X and was often given assignments of books to read. Msgr. Bañuelas organized group discussions over lunch to ensure the future priest understood Hispanic theology and ministry.
After his ordination to the priesthood on June 6, 1997, Bishop Celino was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso on the same day that Very Rev. Richard A. “Rick” Matty was assigned as rector. During his four years as parochial vicar at the Cathedral, Father Rick mentored Celino, walked with him, challenged him, led by example, and helped shape the priest he is today. As vicar general, Father Rick was instrumental in ensuring that Bishop Celino continued his studies. He was sent by the diocese to study canon law at Catholic University of America and received a Licentiate in Canon Law in 2003.
Bishop Celino has served the Diocese of El Paso as a vicar general, moderator of the curia, and chancellor, given his time to numerous boards, mentored young priests, served as pastor of several parishes, including Our Lady of Peace in Alpine and Santa Lucia, now St. John Paul II. From December 2011 to July 2013 during the sede vacante, he served as the delegate of the Apostolic Administrator. He currently serves as judicial vicar and the pastor of St. Raphael Parish.
He continues “to serve without counting the cost”.