Priest receives birthday gift from Pope Leo XIV, an appointment as bishop of Tabuk

The announcement of the appointment of Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk's new bishop was timed on the 54th birthday of Fr. Sean Mejia on Tuesday, the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCP) News reported.

Before the appointment, Father Mejia was the temporary administrator of the vicariate that has about 22 mission stations and parishes, administered by 25 diocesan priests with support from missionary priests of various congregations.

Mejia, the report stated, will be the third apostolic vicar of Tabuk, which is a missionary jurisdiction established in 1992.

"The vicariate has been without a bishop since February 2025, when Bishop Prudencio Andaya Jr. was transferred to the Diocese of Cabanatuan," according to the report.

Mejia was born in Bulanao, Tabuk City and studied philosophy at San Pablo Seminary in Baguio City and theology at the Immaculate Conception School of Theology in Vigan City.

"He was ordained a priest for the vicariate on Oct. 19, 1999, and holds a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome," the report stated.

The Bishop-elect has held pastoral and administrative work, including parochial vicar of Flora Catholic Mission, head of Lubuagan Catholic Mission, formator at seminaries in Vigan, chancellor of the vicariate, and parish priest of St. William’s Cathedral in Tabuk City.

"He has also served as chairman of the Education Commission, superintendent of Catholic schools in Tabuk, and director of the vicariate’s Faith and Doctrine Commission and Ecology Desk," CBCP News said.

Since March 31, 2025, Mejia has served as pro-apostolic vicar, overseeing the vicariate’s governance and pastoral care. He also serves as president of St. Louis College of Bulanao.

"As apostolic vicar, Mejia will lead a mission territory where the Church is not yet organized as a diocese," the report said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News