By Jamie O’Brien and Phil Bayne
New Perth Auxiliary Bishop Nelson Po was encouraged to “feed the Lord’s lambs – look after His sheep,” during his Episcopal Ordination at St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday, 16 April.
More than 1200 people gathered for the historic occasion, which was led by Principal Consecrator Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, co-consecrators Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton and new Sandhurst Bishop Rene Ramirez RCJ, in addition to Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo and some 19 Bishops from across Australia.
Another 3000 people watched the historic occasion via livestream, including the new Bishop’s mother in the Philippines.
Perth priests Fr Conor Steadman, Nicholas Diedler and Jason Yeap served as MCs for the Mass with Deacons Jhee Baguinat, Paul Russell, Aaron Peters and Bruce Talbot assisting.
Speaking about the joy of the Episcopal Ordination, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB emphasised that it is through the powerful presence of God’s Spirit, acting through this sacrament of Holy Orders, that Bishop-elect Po will be not just commissioned but enabled to be all that the Lord and his Church requires of him, as a bishop, a successor of the apostles, in this diocese and in the Church.
“In handing the crozier, the shepherd’s staff, to our new bishop tonight, we are reminding him, or rather the Church is reminding him, that through the grace of this sacrament of God’s provident love, he will be remoulded, reshaped, into a living image of the presence of our one true Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, among his people,” Archbishop Costelloe explained.
“Our new bishop, already called to this through his baptism and his diaconal and priestly ordination, is now in a new and deeper way called to embody “God’s style” in every word he speaks, in every encounter he has, really in every breath he takes,” the Archbishop continued.
“You don’t have to be perfect to be a bishop. You just have to be someone who is determined to keep trying, day after day,” Archbishop Costelloe proclaimed.
The seventh Auxiliary Bishop for Perth, and the first from the Philippines, Bishop Nelson is preceded by Launcelot Goody, John Rafferty, Myles McKeon, Peter Quinn, Robert Healy and Don Sproxton.
Bishop Po’s ordination to the Order of Bishop is a first for the Archdiocese since Bishop Sproxton was ordained on 21 February 2002. The last Episcopal Ordination in Perth prior to that was for Bishop Robert Healy in December 1975.
He is the third of six children of Lope Po and Norma Abordo and hails from the village of Cantuhaon, Palompon, Leyte, Philippines.
A qualified industrial and management Engineer, Bishop Nelson worked for several years in his chosen profession before entering the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, where he completed a Masters degree in theology, with a major in pastoral ministry, at the Maryhill School of Theology, Manila.
After arriving in Perth in 2003, Bishop Po was ordained to the priesthood on 9 December June 2005 by now Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey.
As a priest, he served as Chaplain at Royal Perth Hospital and in the parishes of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Cloverdale and most recently at Applecross Parish.
In addition to his parish ministry, Bishop Nelson’s recent contributions to the Archdiocese of Perth include the Plenary Council Reference Group (2019-2021); the Perth Diocesan Assembly Reference Group (2023–2024); and the Jubilee for Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies in Rome (October 2025).
In his message of thanks, Bishop Nelson highlighted that the plan of God never ceases to amaze him, “always with love, care and mercy.”
“I am very honoured by the trust Pope Leo XIV has placed in me and also very humbled in saying yes, in the same way the Virgin Mary did in becoming the Mother of Christ,” the 57-year-old Filipino Bishop said, the second for Australia.
After thanking Archbishop Costelloe, Bishop Sproxton, Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn and Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, the Very Rev Fr Minh-Thuy Nguyen, Bishop Nelson also paid tribute to the people of the Archdiocese of Perth.
“I thank you for the welcome that I have received,” he exclaimed. “It is very humbling to be welcomed so generously.
“I pray that I may be a worthy shepherd with you in this Church. I look forward to living and working with you as together we continue to build up the presence of the Kingdom of God in this area of the vineyard,” he concluded.
Bishop Nelson also acknowledged Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey, who had originally encouraged him to come to Perth in 2003.
“I give thanks for the support, encouragement, acceptance and love that you have given to me throughout my life here in Perth. Without your generous spirit, I would not even be here in Perth,” he said.
Travelling from the Philippines for the occasion were Bishop Nelson’s brother, Marlon, and his wife, Vivian, and their daughter, Micah; his sister, Evangeline and her daughter, Giamy; and from Melbourne, cousin Raymond and his wife, Rochelyn Tan.
“To my family who have loved me and given so much of themselves for my life and vocation. I have been so blessed to have parents and grandparents who ensured that faith in Christ was central to my development in becoming the man and priest I am today,” Bishop Nelson concluded.
Bishop Nelson will travel to his hometown in the Philippines before attending the next Bishops Plenary meeting in May in Sydney.
A selection of photos will be available from Monday 27 April via https://archdioceseofperth.pic-time.com/-episcopalordinationofthemostrevnelsonpopublic
The Episcopal Ordination was livestreamed to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVDvs15E-5U
