Bishop Romeo (Romy) Duetao Convocar

HIS EXCELLENCY, MOST REVEREND ROMEO DUETAO CONVOCAR, D.D. Romeo Duetao Convocar is a Filipino-born Catholic priest appointed bishop by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, on November 25, 2024, and consecrated and installed on March 8, 2025, as the 3rd Bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Early Life and Education Convocar was born on April 13, 1970, in Janiuay, Iloilo to Cirilo Madero Convocar and Salvacion Pinuela Duetao. He completed his high school education at St. Joseph Seminary in Dumaguete City and stayed on in the same seminary and finished his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a minor in English. He took and completed his studies in Sacred Theology in March 1996 at St. Joseph Regional Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City. He also went into military schooling and finished his Technical Service Officers Basic Course (1998) and Technical Service Officers Advance Course (2002) in the Combat Arms School, Training, and Doctrine Command of the Philippine Army in Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. In the years 2018 and 2019, he studied Tribunal Practice in Sydney, Australia, at the Institute of Tribunal Practice, which is affiliated with the Catholic Institute of Sydney and is governed by the Canon Society of Australia and New Zealand. Priesthood and Military Chaplaincy On September 17, 1996, he was ordained into the priesthood for the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines. Following his ordination, Father Convocar was commissioned as a military chaplain with the rank of Captain in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He served as a chaplain officer assigned to various military installations and units, including the A.F.P. Southern Command, Naval Forces North, Naval Forces Central, Naval Base Cavite, and the Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City. Moreover, he also served for five years as the Spiritual Director and Procurator of the Domus Josephi Formation House, the seminary of the Military Ordinariate. Ministry in Guam In 2006, Father Convocar transitioned to civilian pastoral work in Guam and was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Agana on March 15, 2016. He served the archdiocese as the Parish Administrator of St. Joseph Church in Inalajan, Pastor of San Isidro Parish in Malojloj, and the Rector of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Agana, Pastor of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores Parish in Tumon. Additionally, he was the Advocate and Auditor in the Metropolitan Tribunal and the Vicar General of the Archdiocese; following the resignation of Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes on March 28, 2023, he was appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana. Appointment as Bishop On November 25, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Father Convocar bishop, and on March 8, 2025, he was ordained and installed as the 3rd Bishop of Chalan Kanoa by the Papal Nuncio, Most Reverend Gabor Pinter, succeeding Archbishop Ryan Pagente Jimenez, who was appointed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana. Bishop Convocar has demonstrated a commitment to pastoral care, leadership, and service within military and civilian communities throughout his ministry.