Parish Priest in Katanning and Kojonup, Western Australia
From his beginnings in Orion to the distant islands of Batanes and the communities of Western Australia, Rev. Fr. Marlon Ramos Chingwangco has followed a priestly vocation marked by courage, obedience, and faithful service. Ordained in 2011, he continues to celebrate the sacraments and accompany God’s people while preserving a lasting connection to the parish community that helped nurture his faith.
Early Life and Orion Roots
Rev. Fr. Marlon Ramos Chingwangco was born and raised in Orion, Bataan. He is the eldest child of Reynaldo Chingwangco and Marilou Ramos.
For parents, accepting that their eldest child wishes to become a priest is not always easy. The vocation requires a willingness to entrust a son to the Church, knowing that his ministry may eventually bring him far from his family and hometown.
When Marlon decided to enter seminary formation, his parents supported his desire to follow God’s call. They also accepted that his vocation could lead him to distant places and communities they had never imagined.
His faith was further nurtured within the community of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Orion. The parish became part of the foundation upon which his vocation to prayer, service, and priestly ministry was built.
Formation and Discernment
Marlon entered seminary formation to prepare himself for the responsibilities of ordained ministry. His journey involved years of prayer, study, discipline, pastoral exposure, and discernment.
As his formation progressed, he came to understand that priesthood was not simply a personal ambition. It was a life entrusted to God and offered in service to the Church.
His vocation also called him to embrace a missionary spirit—the willingness to leave familiar surroundings, live among different communities, and serve wherever the Church needed him.
Ordination to the Diaconate and Priesthood
On September 15, 2010, Marlon Chingwangco was ordained to the transitional diaconate. This marked the final stage of his preparation for priestly ordination.
Four months later, on January 14, 2011, he received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and became Rev. Fr. Marlon Ramos Chingwangco.
His ordination marked the beginning of a ministry devoted to celebrating the Eucharist, administering the sacraments, proclaiming the Gospel, and accompanying the faithful through the different seasons of their lives.
For his family and the people of Orion, his ordination was both a joyful celebration and the beginning of a mission that would eventually take him far from home.
Pastoral Service in Batanes
One of Fr. Marlon’s early missionary assignments brought him to the remote islands of Batanes.
Serving in Batanes required patience, adaptability, and a willingness to become part of communities shaped by their own language, culture, traditions, and geographical challenges.
In these island communities, Fr. Marlon celebrated the sacraments, proclaimed the Word of God, and accompanied individuals and families in their life of faith. The experience strengthened his ability to minister with dedication and compassion, even in places far removed from the surroundings in which he had grown up.
His service in Batanes showed that the priesthood often calls a person beyond familiar boundaries—not only geographical boundaries but also those of culture, language, and personal comfort.
Continuing Theological Formation
Recognizing the importance of continuing formation, Fr. Marlon pursued further studies in Theology at the University of Santo Tomas.
His studies helped deepen his understanding of the Catholic faith and strengthen his preparation for pastoral ministry. They also equipped him to respond more effectively to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the people entrusted to his care.
For Fr. Marlon, learning remained an important part of priestly service. Further theological formation allowed him to unite prayer, pastoral experience, and academic study in fulfilling his mission.
A Mission Beyond the Philippines
Fr. Marlon’s priestly journey eventually brought him beyond the Philippines. He was sent on pastoral assignment to the Catholic Diocese of Bunbury in Western Australia.
Moving to another country required him to serve within a different cultural and pastoral environment. Yet the mission remained the same: to celebrate the sacraments, proclaim the Gospel, build communities of faith, and accompany people in their relationship with God.
His ministry in Australia has allowed him to serve people from different cultural backgrounds, including Filipino Catholics living far from their homeland. Through his presence, he helps members of the Catholic community remain connected through faith, prayer, and the Eucharist.
Present Ministry in Western Australia
As of 2026, Fr. Marlon serves as Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Katanning and St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Kojonup, Western Australia.
The Catholic Diocese of Bunbury lists Rev. Marlon Chingwangco as Parish Priest in Katanning, while the local Catholic school community likewise identifies him as the parish priest of St. Patrick’s.
Through these parish assignments, Fr. Marlon celebrates the Eucharist and the other sacraments, proclaims the Word of God, provides pastoral care, and guides the communities entrusted to him.
His ministry reflects the universality of the priesthood. Although he was formed in the Philippines and first served among the islands of Batanes, his vocation now allows him to share his faith and pastoral gifts with Catholic communities in Western Australia.
A Heart Always Connected to Home
Despite the great distances that have shaped his ministry, Fr. Marlon remains deeply connected to Orion.
Whenever he returns to the Philippines, he makes it a point to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St. Michael the Archangel Parish—the church community that helped nurture his faith and vocation.
These homecoming Masses are more than visits to a familiar place. They reflect his gratitude to the parish and people who became part of the earliest chapters of his priestly journey.
Wherever his vocation takes him, St. Michael the Archangel Parish remains a spiritual home—a place where his faith was strengthened and where the seeds of his priestly calling were first nurtured.
A Vocation Without Borders
From Orion to Batanes and from the Philippines to Western Australia, Fr. Marlon’s journey reflects a priesthood willing to cross boundaries in response to the needs of the Church.
His life reminds us that answering God’s call may require leaving familiar places and embracing communities far from home. Yet distance does not erase one’s roots. Instead, it allows the faith first received at home to be shared with others.
As he continues serving the communities of Katanning and Kojonup, Rev. Fr. Marlon Ramos Chingwangco remains a witness to courageous faith, humble service, and wholehearted obedience to God’s call.
His priesthood forms a meaningful part of Orion’s continuing spiritual heritage—a vocation nurtured within the town and now bearing fruit across islands, cultures, and nations.
Key Milestones
