Pope Francis has appointed Father Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado of the Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP) as new coadjutor bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Fr. Getalado, currently the head of the church in Funafuti, Tuvalu, will become the ninth bishop of the Diocese.

His selection was made public in the Vatican, Rome, at midnight on December 8 (CET Central European Time).

As coadjutor bishop, Fr. Getalado will eventually succeed the current head of the church, Bishop Paul Patrick Donoghue.

Once ordained, Fr. Getalado will work alongside Bishop Donoghue in preparation for assuming his role as bishop. Until this date is determined by Pope Francis, Bishop Donoghue will continue as the bishop of the Cook Islands.

Church law requires every bishop to be ready to retire at the age of 75. Bishop Donoghue will turn 75 in a month on January 18, 2024.

In most dioceses, to prepare for a bishop’s retirement, Pope Francis is requested to appoint a coadjutor bishop. This allows the new bishop to learn from the retiring bishop before assuming the role fully.

When both the new bishop and the diocese feel settled, the retiring bishop relinquishes his seat in the cathedral to the new bishop.

The duration of having two bishops can vary. If the new bishop is already within the diocese, the transition may be brief. However, if the new bishop comes from outside, a longer preparation period is expected.

Since Easter, Pope Francis through the nuncio, a Vatican representative accredited as an ambassador to a civil government that maintains official diplomatic relations with the Holy See, has been consulting various people about who should be the next bishop of Rarotonga.

Bishop Donoghue said that the diocese should pray for the ninth bishop of Rarotonga as his time presiding from the bishop’s chair draws to a close.

“Please be ready to welcome this change which will come from Pope Francis himself,” he stated.

Fr. Getalado, MSP, was born on August 5, 1959, in Muntinlupa City, Philippines. He is a member of the Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP).

His educational background includes Muntinlupa National High School, Philippines, a Bachelor of Science (zoology) from Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Theology at Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

He was ordained priest on August 4, 1988. From 1988 to 1999 he was a Missionary in the Diocese of Daru-Kiunga in Papua New Guinea, from 2000 to 2003 he served in the Diocese of Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand, from 2003 to 2004 he was Parish Vicar in Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

In 2005 he left as Missionary for the Diocese of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. On February 24, 2014 he was appointed ecclesiastical superior of the Missio sui iuris in Funafuti, Tuvalu.