Father Romeo Convocar, currently the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Agana, will be moving north.

Pope Francis made the announcement from Rome on Monday that now the bishop-elect Convocar will lead the  Diocese of Chalan Kanoa on Saipan.

This comes as the diocese in the NMI celebrates 40 years in the community.

His Eminence, Luis Tagle is currently in Saipan for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa's 40th anniversary of canonical establishment. 

The church cheered after he made the announcement locally. 

"The Holy Father today has named the Bishop of Chalan Kanoa of the Northern Marianas Islands the Rev.  Romeo Duetao Convocar of the clergy of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Agana, Guam, parish priest of  of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in Tamuning, Guam. So you have a new Bishop,” said Tagle. 

It’s an exciting time for the church in the NMI after their former bishop,  Archbishop Ryan Jimenez was appointed to lead here in Guam. 

Bishop-elect Convocar's Episcopal Consecration will be announced at a later date. 

He is currently on his annual retreat. 

The bishop-elect said, “Having experienced and known through the years the joys, fulfillment, and challenges of ministry in the Lord's vineyard, I receive this news of the appointment with mixed feelings.”

“I am deeply humbled and express my profound gratitude to the holy father for this appointment,” he added. 

Bishop-elect Convocar thanks the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Agana who he served in different capacities for more than a decade.

He also wants the clergy and the faithful of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa to know, this call to serve in CNMI is a call to follow Jesus wherever he desires to bring and ask him to serve.