As we prepare to enter a year of Jubilee for the Church, it is with great joy that the Archdiocese shares the news of Pope Francis’ appointment of two new Auxiliary Bishops for Melbourne—Rev Fr Thinh Nguyen and Rev Fr Rene Ramirez RCJ.
Most Rev Peter A Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne, said, ‘I am deeply grateful to the Holy Father for this gift and blessing to our Archdiocese.’
‘The Melbourne Archdiocese is the largest in Oceania, and we have waited a long time to have our full complement of Auxiliary Bishops to assist in ministering to God’s people.
‘Both Fr Nguyen and Fr Ramirez are men who have a heart for the Gospel and a missionary energy for God’s people,’ said the Archbishop.
‘They are well known to the Melbourne Archdiocese, and have already made valuable contributions to the life of the local Church. I know that each will continue to share their distinctive gifts and passionate commitment to our faith communities in the years to come.
‘I ask for your prayers as they begin this new journey in their ministerial lives.’
Both Frs Nguyen and Ramirez expressed their surprise at the news of their appointment.
‘I felt overwhelmed at first by the responsibility and the weight of the task ahead,’ said Fr Nguyen. ‘However, I am reminded of the scene where Jesus appeared to the frightened disciples in the boat, saying, “Take heart! It is I! Do not be afraid!” (Matthew 14:27). It is this voice of Jesus that empowered me to say YES to the call. I am grateful to Pope Francis and Archbishop Comensoli for trusting me with the responsibility of watching over the people of God.’
Fr Ramirez, too, shared his reaction to the unexpected news.
‘My first thought was to visit the Blessed Sacrament in prayer, and to ask of the Lord —“Why me?”’
‘I have since been reflecting deeply on St Matthew “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,” and humbly accept that my pathway and commitment is to serve the community with faith and trust in God’s plan.’
Both Bishops-elect will join Bishop Martin Ashe and Bishop Tony Ireland in bringing together the leadership of the four regions of the Archdiocese.
In welcoming the news, Archbishop Comensoli also expressed his acknowledgement and deepest gratitude to Bishop Terry Curtin, who has ministered as an active Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese well past his formal retirement date.
‘Bishop Curtin’s dedication and care for our people has been exceptional,’ he said. ‘I ask that we keep him in prayer as he concludes his role and prepares to take up a joyous time of well-deserved rest!’
The Episcopal Ordination for the Bishops-elect is to take place in the morning of 1 February 2025 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne. More information will be shared as planning gets further underway.
Further information on the Bishops-elect can be found below.
Fr Thinh Xuan Nguyen
Bishop-elect
Born in 1973 in Saigon, Vietnam, to Hang Xuan Nguyen and Coi Thi Nguyen (nee Pham), Fr Thinh Nguyen is the third youngest of nine brothers and four sisters.
Following his early education at Ket Doan, Saigon, Fr Thinh arrived in Australia at 13 years of age, and took up secondary studies at Redden Catholic College in Preston Victoria. He later obtained a Bachelor of Building Engineering and a Diploma in Lighting Design whilst working with an engineering firm. In 1999, he entered Corpus Christi College Regional Seminary Carlton, and was ordained for the priesthood by Archbishop Denis Hart on 16 September 2006 in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
Fr Thinh has served in the Melbourne Archdiocesan parishes of Deer Park, Fitzroy and Bennettswood, and has also served as Chaplain to the Archdiocesan Office of Youth, Chaplain to the University of Melbourne, Formator at Corpus Christi College (Regional Seminary) and Assistant Vocations Director for the Archdiocese. He also holds a Master’s degree in Theological Studies, and a Master of Arts in Spirituality.
In 2022, Fr Thinh was appointed Co-ordinator of Clergy, Life and Ministry, the Archdiocesan office that undertakes ongoing formation of clergy in the human, intellectual, pastoral and spiritual areas of their lives. With more than 200 active priests and deacons, and over 100 retired clergy, this substantial role has enabled Fr Thinh to strengthen and support the clergy in finding their personal meaning in the midst of God’s people.
Fr Rene Ramirez RCJ
Bishop-elect
Fr Rene Ramirez, born on 28 March 1969, hails from Gapan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, a city located 90 kilometres north of Manila. He has been a priest since June 1998, after completing 13 years of seminary formation and joining the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in May 1985. His first assignment as a priest was as the Vocation Director for his congregation in the Philippines.
From 1999 until early 2003, Fr Rene later served as Administrator, Treasurer and Vice Rector at Rogationist College in Cavite City while pursuing a Master in Educational Management at De La Salle University in Dasmariñas City. He then moved to Rome in 2003 to complete his Licentiate studies in Spirituality and earn a Diploma in Social Communications from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Upon returning to the Philippines in 2006, he was appointed Director of Social Communications and Spiritual Director for the seminary students of philosophy at Rogationist Seminary College in Parañaque City, where he also taught. From 2009 to 2015, he served as the Superior of St Hannibal Rogate Centre, which included the Communications Office, the Provincial House and the House for Rogationist Late Vocation Seminarians.
In Australia, Fr Rene became the pastor of Holy Family Parish in October 2015, overseeing the Catholic communities of West Footscray, Maidstone and Braybrook within the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He played a crucial role in the amalgamation of the partnered parishes of Maidstone and Braybrook in 2018 and has been actively involved in parish renewal through Ron Huntley Leadership Coaching.
In November 2023, he was assigned by his congregation to establish a new presence in the Diocese of Sandhurst as the Parish Priest of St Mel’s Parish in Shepparton South and St Malachy’s Parish in Nagambie. In January 2024, he was tasked by the Bishop of Sandhurst to be the Supervising Priest (Canon 517 §2) in Rushworth, which includes four Mass centres.
