Efren V. Esmilla


Efren Veridiano Esmilla is a Filipino-born prelate of the Catholic Church who has been serving as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania since 2023.

Biography

Early life

Efren Esmilla was born on June 18, 1962, to Cristobal and Crispina Esmilla in Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines. In 1984, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from San Beda College in Manila, Philippines.
After coming to the United States, Esmilla enrolled at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Charles in 1992.

Priesthood

On May 15, 1993, Esmilla was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. After his 1993 ordination, Esmilla served as parochial vicar of the following parishes in Pennsylvania:
Emilla left Maternity B.V.M in 2003 after being appointed to the faculty and as assistant director of pastoral and apostolic formation of Saint John Borromeo. In 2005, he left the seminary positions to become parochial vicar of Saint Martha Parish in Philadelphia. The next year, Esmilla became pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in the same city, a posting he would hold for the next 14 years. In 2020, the archdiocese transferred him to Saint James Parish in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, to serve as pastor there.

Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia

Pope Francis appointed Esmilla as an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia on December 8, 2023. On March 7, 2024, Esmilla was ordained a bishop by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, with Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre and Bishop Michael Burbidge serving as co-consecrators.