Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez To Ordain Bishops-Elect Keith J. Chylinski, Christopher R. Cooke, And Efren V. Esmilla to the Episcopacy at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia will ordain Bishops-elect Keith J. Chylinski, Christopher R. Cooke, and Efren V. Esmilla to the Episcopacy on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The co-consecrators will be Most Reverend John J. McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, and Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington and a former Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.

His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, will be in attendance to present the Papal Bulls (official public decrees) proclaiming the new auxiliary bishops.

Live streaming video will be available on https://vimeo.com/event/2470138 beginning with the procession at 1:40 p.m.

Thursday, March 7, 2024
2:00 p.m. (Ordination Mass)
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18^th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Archbishop Pérez shared Pope Francis’ appointment of Bishops-elect Chylinski, Cooke, and Esmilla as Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at a news conference on December 8, 2023.

Bishop-elect Chylinski currently serves as the Rector of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Bishop-elect Cooke currently serves as the Dean of Men at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, and Bishop-elect Esmilla currently serves as the Pastor of Saint James Parish in Elkins Park (Montgomery County) and Saint Martin of Tours Parish in Philadelphia.

Biographical Information Regarding Bishop-elect Keith J. Chylinski

Bishop-elect Keith J. Chylinski, age 52, was ordained to the Priesthood by Cardinal Justin Rigali in 2007. In addition to his service at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary as Rector, Bishop-elect Chylinski has 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 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.

Biographical Information Regarding Bishop-elect Christopher R. Cooke

Bishop-elect Christopher R. Cooke, age 50, was ordained to the Priesthood by Cardinal Justin Rigali in 2006. Prior to his service as the Dean of Men at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, 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.

Biographical Information Regarding Bishop-elect Efren V. Esmilla

Bishop-elect Efren V. Esmilla, age 61, was ordained to the Priesthood by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua in 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.

Live streaming broadcast quality video of the Mass will be provided in its entirety at

https://vimeo.com/event/2470138

Archbishop Pérez’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ArchbishopPerez

Embed Code:

# # #

Editor’s Note: For media covering the Mass, a press mult-box with the Program and Clean feeds from the multi-camera system in the Cathedral is available with 1080i SDI embedded audio (BNC), Program audio (XLR) and power access. Crews will need a live truck or recording device.

The mult-box is located on the exterior wall of the Cathedral in the parking lot opposite the loading dock of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center. Crews can enter by the 17th Street entrance. Please note that due to recent renovations in the area a 50 foot cable is recommended for media vehicles.

Please contact Daniel Kearns with any technical concerns regarding streaming or mult-box access at 215-888-0305 (cell).

Reporters and still photographers will be permitted in the Cathedral but are asked to remain in the designated area for the media (by the side pillars). All media are asked to remain clear of the front aisle and center aisle at all times.

A detailed media production briefing and walk-through will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul on Wednesday, March 6th at 1:30 p.m. RSVPs should be sent to the attention of the Archdiocesan Office for Communications at [email protected] .

For more information about the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit www.archphila.org.

Contact:

Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)