With his characteristic self-deprecating humour, Bishop René Ramirez RCJ shared his own surprise at being called to serve as the ninth Bishop of Sandhurst. Revealing that he has survived three heart attacks in three different countries and, when he was young, had been formed in three different seminaries due to ‘obedience’ problems. Behind the humour, Bishop René RCJ is grateful for where the Holy Spirit has led him. "Nothing entrusted to God is wasted," he said.

Installed as the ninth Bishop of Sandhurst at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo on 30 July 2026, he spoke before a congregation of more than 1100 people from across Victoria, including civic leaders, clergy and representatives of Catholic organisations. Many members of Victoria’s Filipino Catholic community also travelled to Bendigo to witness the installation of the first Filipino-born Bishop of Sandhurst.

Addressing the congregation for the first time as their bishop, Bishop René RCJ reflected on the unlikely journey that had brought him to Bendigo. "When we look back on our lives, we can often see that God was guiding us all along," he said. "My story has taught me one simple lesson: we can trust the Lord. God sees what we cannot see. He knows the road ahead, including its unexpected turns. He can work through our strengths, our weaknesses and even our damaged hearts."

A member of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus (RCJ), Bishop René RCJ has served the Church in the Philippines and Australia, with a particular focus on formation, education, youth ministry and the care of communities.

Born in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, The Philippines, Bishop René RCJ joined the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in 1985. After thirteen years of seminary formation, he was ordained a priest in 1998. His first assignment as a priest was as the Vocation Director for his congregation in the Philippines.

From 1999 to early 2003, Bishop René RCJ served as Administrator, Treasurer and Vice Rector of Rogationist College in Cavite City while completing a Master of Educational Management at De La Salle University in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

In 2003, he moved to Rome to complete Licentiate studies in spirituality and earn a Diploma in Social Communications from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

In 2006, he returned to the Philippines and was appointed Director of Social Communications and Spiritual Director at Rogationist Seminary College in Parañaque (Metro Manila), where he also taught.

From 2009 to 2015, he served as the Superior of St Hannibal Rogate Centre, which included the Communications Office, the Provincial House and the House for Rogationist Late Vocation Seminarians.

Bishop René RCJ moved to Australia in 2015 to serve the Holy Family Parish in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, overseeing the communities of West Footscray, Maidstone and Braybrook. He played a crucial role in the amalgamation of the partnered parishes of Maidstone and Braybrook in 2018 and was actively involved in parish renewal through Ron Huntley Leadership Coaching.

In November 2023, Bishop René RCJ was assigned by his congregation to establish a new presence in the Diocese of Sandhurst as the Parish Priest of St Mel’s Parish in Shepparton South and St Malachy’s Parish in Nagambie. In January 2024, he was tasked by the Bishop of Sandhurst to be the Supervising Priest (Canon 517 §2) in Rushworth, which includes four Mass centres.

In February 2025, he was ordained a bishop and served as an Auxiliary Bishop (Northern Region) of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, becoming the first Filipino-born priest to become a Catholic bishop in Australia.

In April 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop René RCJ the ninth bishop of Sandhurst.

Bishop René RCJwas installed as the ninth Bishop of Sandhurst at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Thursday, 30 July 2026.