By CatholicPhilly Staff • Posted March 8, 2024

On March 7, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez ordained Most Reverend Keith J. Chylinski, Most Reverend Christopher R. Cooke, and Most Reverend Efren V. Esmilla to the Episcopacy at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, in front of a capacity congregation. If you missed watching the ordination of Auxiliary Bishops Chylinski, Cooke, and Esmilla, you can see a replay below.

Most Reverend John J. McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, and Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, and former Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, were the Co-Consecrators. His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, presented the Papal Bulls (official public decrees) proclaiming the new auxiliary bishops.

The role of an auxiliary bishop is to assist the diocesan bishop by sharing in his pastoral and administrative work and to act in his name. Like all bishops, auxiliaries are successors to the Apostles.

These bishops are the 28^th, 29^th, and 30^th auxiliary bishops in the history of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. They will join Most Reverend John J. McIntyre, who has served in that capacity since 2010, and succeed recently retired Auxiliary Bishops Most Reverend Edward M. Deliman and Most Reverend Michael J. Fitzgerald, along with Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, who had served as an Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia from 2009 until the summer of 2023 when he was appointed the 12^th Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg by Pope Francis.

Watch the ordination of Auxiliary Bishops Chylinski, Cooke and Esmilla for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia below.