Reynaldo Bendijo Bersabal (born October 15, 1964) is a Filipino American Catholic prelate serving as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento in California since 2024.
Biography
Early life
Reynaldo Bendijo Bersabal was born on October 15, 1964,[1] in Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. He is the youngest of three children born to Juanita Guzman Bendijo and Ananias Amparo Bersabal. Deciding to become a priest, he entered the diocesan seminary of San Jose de Mindanao. He later received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental.[2]
Priesthood
On April 29, 1991, Bersabal was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines by Jesus Tuquib.[3] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Bersabal as parish vicar of Our Lady of Snows Parish. He was transferred in 1992 to serve as administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. The archdiocese named him as pastor in 1995 of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Bersabal was named chancellor of the archdiocese in 1998 and archdiocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Philippines.[4][5]
Bersabal moved to Sacramento, California in 1999, at the invitation of Bishop William Weigand,[2][6] and was assigned as parish vicar of St. James Parish in Davis. The diocese transferred him in 2002 to St. Anthony Parish in Sacramento. Bersabal was named pastor of Saint Paul Parish in Sacramento in 2004. That same year, he was incardinated as a priest from the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro to the Diocese of Sacramento.[4][3]
The diocese sent Bersabal to St. John the Baptist Parish in Folsom in 2008. During this time, he was also made diocesan liaison for the Filipino presbyterate in 2012.[6] He returned to St. James, this time as pastor in 2016. In 2022, Bersabal was made pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Sacramento.[4]
Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento
Pope Francis appointed Bersabal as titular bishop of Balecio and as an auxiliary bishop of Sacramento on April 20, 2024.[4][5] On May 31, 2024, Bersabal was consecrated as a bishop at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento by Bishop Jaime Soto, with Bishop emertius Weigand and Archbishop Jose Cabantan of Cagayan de Oro serving as co-consecrators.[3][7] As auxiliary bishop, he also serves as vicar general for the diocese. Bersabal speaks English, Tagalog, Visayan, and Spanish.[8]
Episcopal succession
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by- | Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento 2024-Present | Succeeded by- |
References
- 1.Esmaquel, Paterno II R. (20 April 2024). "Pope Francis names Mindanaoan priest as 5th Filipino bishop in US". Rappler. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- 2.[2.2]"Pope Francis has appointed Father Rey Bersabal auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento". Diocese of Sacramento. 20 April 2024. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- 3.[3.2][3.3]"Bishop Reynaldo Bendijo Bersabal [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- 4.[4.2][4.3][4.4]"Resignations and Appointments, 20.04.2024". Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- 5.[5.2]"Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento". Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- 6.[6.2]"Most Reverend Bishop Rey Bersabal". Diocese of Sacramento. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- 7."Sacramento diocese ordains new Filipino bishop". CBCPNEWS. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- 8."Rev. Rey Bersabal named Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Sacramento; will assume his role following his episcopal ordination on May 31st" (PDF). Retrieved April 20, 2024.