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Gerard Francisco Timoner III

Gerard Francisco Parco Timoner III, O.P. (born 26 January 1968), is a Filipino Roman Catholic priest and Dominican friar serving as the 88th Master of the Order of Preachers since 2019, marking the first time an Asian has led the 800-year-old international religious order founded by Saint Dominic.^[1]^[2] As Master, he oversees the Order of Preachers with approximately 6,500 friars across more than 80 countries, while leading the broader Dominican Family comprising about 4,000 nuns, 35,000 sisters, and over 100,000 lay members worldwide in its mission of preaching, teaching, and intellectual pursuit in service to the Catholic Church.^[3]^[4] His election reflects the growing influence of the Global South in global Catholicism, bringing a perspective shaped by the rapid expansion of the Dominicans in Asia.^[5] Born in Daet, Camarines Norte, in the Philippines, Timoner entered the Dominican novitiate and made his simple profession of religious vows on 13 May 1989.^[2] He pursued philosophical studies at the Philippine Dominican Center of Institutional Studies in Quezon City, followed by theological formation at the University of Santo Tomas, where he earned a bachelor's degree in sacred theology in 1994.^[3] Timoner was ordained to the priesthood on 14 May 1995 and later advanced his education at Radboud University Nijmegen (formerly Catholic University of Nijmegen) in the Netherlands, obtaining a licentiate in sacred theology and a master's degree in intercultural theology in 2004.^[3]^[2] Throughout his career, Timoner held key leadership roles within the Dominican Order and the Church in the Philippines, including serving as vice chancellor of the University of Santo Tomas from 2006 to 2019 and rector of its Central Seminary from 2007 to 2012.^[1] He was elected prior provincial of the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Philippines, a position he held from 2010 to 2014, during which he oversaw the order's growth and formation programs in the region.^[5]^[6] In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him as a member of the International Theological Commission, recognizing his contributions to contemporary theological discourse.^[1] From 2015 to 2019, he served as socius (assistant) to the Master of the Order for the Asia-Pacific region, facilitating coordination and development across a diverse and expanding area of the order.^[2]

Early life

Birth and family background

Gerard Francisco Timoner III was born on January 26, 1968, in Daet, the capital of Camarines Norte province in the Bicol region of the Philippines.^[1] He is the son of Francisco Timoner Jr. and Lilia Parco, both of whom have since passed away; his mother originally hailed from Bato in Camarines Sur but grew up in Naga City.^[7] The Timoner family lived in a provincial setting typical of rural Luzon, where community life revolved around agriculture, local trade, and deep-rooted Catholic practices amid the Philippines' predominantly Roman Catholic culture.^[1] This environment, marked by strong familial ties and religious observance, likely shaped his early years, as reflected in the parallel vocations of his siblings to the Church.^[8] Timoner's younger brother, Ronald Anthony Timoner, followed a similar ecclesiastical path, serving as a priest in the Diocese of Caceres (Daet) before his appointment as Bishop of Pagadian in 2025.^[8]

Primary and secondary education

Gerard Francisco Timoner III received his primary education at La Consolacion College in Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines, an institution administered by the Augustinian Order. He completed his grade school studies there in 1981, graduating with first honors, which highlighted his early academic excellence.^[9] Timoner continued his secondary education at the same school, where the Catholic environment fostered his initial faith formation through Augustinian teachings and religious activities. He demonstrated strong intellectual aptitude throughout high school, culminating in his graduation as valedictorian in 1985.^[9]

Religious formation

Entry into the Dominican Order

Gerard Francisco Timoner III joined the Order of Preachers, known as the Dominicans, following a period of vocational discernment after completing his secondary education. His early formation took place within the Philippine Dominican province, where he engaged in the initial stages of religious life, including postulancy and preparation for the novitiate.^[2] The novitiate period provided Timoner with intensive training in Dominican spirituality, emphasizing the order's core pillars of preaching the Gospel, pursuit of truth through study, communal living, and prayer. This year-long immersion in the traditions of St. Dominic prepared him for a lifelong commitment to the order's mission. On May 13, 1989, Timoner made his first religious profession, formally entering the Dominican Order through temporary vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This profession initiated his full integration into the community of friars, setting the foundation for his subsequent theological studies and ministry.^[2]

Ordination and initial ministry

Gerard Francisco Timoner III was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1995, within the Dominican Order in the Philippines.^[2] Following his ordination, Timoner commenced his initial ministry in the Dominican Province of the Philippines, where he engaged in formation work for aspiring Dominicans and pastoral activities.^[3] His early roles emphasized the order's core mission of preaching, including leading retreats that incorporated biblical reflections, storytelling, and community engagement to foster spiritual growth among participants.^[3]

Academic and ecclesiastical career

Teaching and administrative roles

Following his ordination to the priesthood in 1995, Timoner began contributing to the Dominican academic tradition through teaching and administration at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila.^[2]^[10] Timoner's academic preparation laid the foundation for his teaching career. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the Philippine Dominican Center of Institutional Studies in 1991 and a Bachelor in Sacred Theology from UST's Faculty of Sacred Theology in 1994.^[11]^[12] In 2004, he obtained both a Licentiate in Sacred Theology and an M.A. in Intercultural Theology from Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen in the Netherlands, enhancing his expertise in theological education.^[11]^[12] These qualifications directly supported his role as a professor of theology at UST, where he has taught in the Faculty of Sacred Theology, focusing on sacred and intercultural theology.^[11]^[13] In administrative capacities, Timoner served as Vice Chancellor of the University of Santo Tomas from 2006 to 2019. He served as Vice Rector for Religious Affairs at UST from 2007 to 2009.^[1]^[12] He then advanced to Rector of the UST Central Seminary from 2007 to 2012, leading the interdiocesan institution during a period of ecclesiastical formation and development.^[1]^[11] These roles underscored his commitment to institution-building within the Dominican educational legacy at UST, the oldest existing university in Asia.^[11]

Provincial and regional leadership

In 2012, Gerard Francisco Timoner III was elected Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, a position he held until 2016.^[14] In this leadership role, he oversaw the governance of the province, including the administration of friaries, educational institutions, and pastoral ministries across the region, while emphasizing the Order's commitment to preaching and community service.^[6] Drawing briefly on his prior experience in theological education at the University of Santo Tomas, Timoner prioritized the formation of friars through structured programs that integrated academic rigor with Dominican spirituality.^[14] During his tenure as Prior Provincial, Timoner focused on expanding the province's missionary outreach and fostering new vocations among the youth in the Philippines, implementing initiatives to recruit and train candidates amid growing interest in religious life in Southeast Asia.^[6] These efforts contributed to increased enrollment in Dominican formation houses and strengthened local missions in underserved areas, aligning with the Order's charism of evangelization.^[15] In 2017, Timoner was appointed Socius of the Master of the Order for the Asia-Pacific region by then-Master Bruno Cadoré, serving in this capacity until his election as Master in 2019.^[14] As Socius, he coordinated activities among the various Dominican provinces and vice-provinces in the region, facilitating collaboration on shared challenges such as cultural adaptation and resource allocation for apostolic works.^[6] This role involved regular consultations with provincial leaders to harmonize regional strategies, particularly in diverse contexts from the Philippines to Oceania.^[16] Timoner's work as Socius extended his provincial efforts to a broader Asian scope, where he promoted Dominican vocations through inter-provincial discernment programs and supported mission expansions in emerging areas like Vietnam and Indonesia.^[6] These initiatives aimed to address the rapid growth of the Catholic population in Asia while sustaining the Order's contemplative and preaching traditions amid secular pressures.^[14]

Global leadership in the Dominican Order

Appointment to international commissions

In 2014, Pope Francis appointed Gerard Francisco Timoner III as a member of the International Theological Commission (ITC), a body of 30 theologians tasked with reflecting on doctrinal questions and advising the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.^[1] The appointment, announced on September 23, marked Timoner as the fourth Filipino to serve on the commission, following Catalino Arevalo SJ (1974 and 1980), Luis Antonio Tagle (1997), and Francis Gustilo (2009).^[17] His five-year term (2014–2019) aligned with the ninth quinquennium of the ITC, during which the group produced key documents addressing contemporary ecclesial themes.^[18] During his tenure, Timoner contributed to the ITC's theological dialogues, particularly on synodality, as the commission developed its 2018 document Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church, which explored the participatory and communio dimensions of the Church's journey under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.^[19] This work emphasized listening to the sensus fidei among the faithful and fostering structures for shared discernment, themes resonant with Timoner's prior experience coordinating Dominican provinces in the Asia-Pacific region. His involvement helped integrate perspectives on inculturation and a "Church of the poor, participatory, and in mission," drawing from Filipino ecclesial traditions to enrich universal doctrine.^[17] As the sole Filipino representative on the ITC at the time, Timoner served as a bridge between Asian theological insights—particularly on intercultural dialogue and contextualizing the Gospel—and the broader Church's doctrinal framework, ensuring diverse voices informed Vatican reflections on global faith issues.^[17]^[20]

Election as Master of the Order

On July 13, 2019, during the General Chapter of the Order of Preachers held in Biên Hòa, Vietnam, Gerard Francisco Timoner III was elected as the 88th Master of the Order, succeeding Bruno Cadoré whose nine-year term had concluded.^[2]^[1] At 51 years old, Timoner became the youngest person to hold the office in modern times and the first from Asia to lead the 800-year-old Dominican Order, marking a significant shift toward greater representation from the Global South in its global governance.^[21]^[22] The election occurred amid the Order's quinquennial General Chapter, a gathering of over 300 Dominican friars from around the world to address priorities such as formation, mission, and internal renewal, following the theme "Dominicans: Sentinels of the Dialogue." Timoner's selection reflected his extensive experience within the Order, including his role from 2015 to 2019 as socius (assistant) to the Master of the Order for the Asia-Pacific region, where he coordinated initiatives across a rapidly growing area of Dominican presence.^[1]^[6] Prior to that, he had served as prior provincial of the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Philippines from 2010 to 2014, overseeing administration, formation, and evangelization efforts in the country's largest Dominican jurisdiction.^[21]^[22] His academic contributions, including positions as vice rector and vice chancellor at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, further underscored his qualifications in theology and ecclesiastical leadership.^[23] Additionally, his appointment by Pope Francis in 2014 to the International Theological Commission highlighted his engagement with contemporary doctrinal issues on a global scale.^[20] This milestone election symbolized the evolving demographics of the Dominican Order, with Asia now representing a vital center of growth and vitality, comprising over 20% of the friars worldwide and contributing to the Order's mission of preaching and dialogue in diverse cultural contexts.^[5]^[24]

Key initiatives during tenure

During his tenure as Master of the Order of Preachers, Gerard Francisco Timoner III prioritized the promotion of synodality within Dominican communities, emphasizing collaborative decision-making processes inspired by the Church's broader synodal journey. He encouraged the integration of synodal practices at all levels of the Order, from local priories to international assemblies, to foster greater participation and discernment among friars, sisters, nuns, and laity. This approach was articulated in his 2024 letter to the Order, where he described the Eucharist as both the "source and paradigm of synodality," calling for communities to center their life and mission on Eucharistic spirituality as a means of building unity and openness to the Holy Spirit.^[25]^[26] Timoner expanded the Order's justice and peace efforts through strengthened engagement with global advocacy networks, notably as a board member of UNOP-Dominicans for Justice and Peace, the official non-governmental organization representing the Dominican Family at the United Nations. Under his leadership, the initiative organized annual Dominican Months for Peace, addressing regional crises such as conflict in Myanmar (2022), environmental threats in the Amazon (2023), and violence in Haiti (2024), while promoting projects like MOSAIKO in Angola for social development and Songhai in Benin for sustainable agriculture. In his introduction to UNOP's 2023 annual report, he highlighted the Dominican tradition of defending human dignity, urging the Order to intensify advocacy on issues like climate justice and migrants' rights, including the release of a 2024 handbook on climate and human rights in the Philippines.^[27]^[28]^[29]^[30] In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Timoner issued pastoral letters emphasizing spiritual resilience and communal solidarity amid isolation, instructing communities to reflect on God's nearness during "quarantena en quaresima" (quarantine in Lent) and adapt preaching through digital means while maintaining fraternal bonds. He navigated travel restrictions by conducting virtual canonical visitations and prioritizing health protocols, which allowed the Order to sustain formation and mission activities globally. On vocations, particularly in Asia, his leadership supported growth in regions like Vietnam and Myanmar, where new foundations and formation houses were established to address rising interest among youth, integrating local cultural elements into Dominican life.^[31]^[32]^[28] Timoner advanced intercultural dialogue by promoting interreligious initiatives and the Salamanca Process, a framework for mission among peoples, encouraging Dominicans to engage diverse cultures through dialogue and contextual theology. As ex officio Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) since 2019, he oversaw institutional renewal, including the appointment of new professors, expansion of research programs in intercultural theology, and enhanced international collaborations to form preachers responsive to global challenges. Through 2025, his tenure included the establishment of a theological commission on the vocation of Cooperator Brothers and order-wide apostolic forums, culminating in the approval of the first Ratio Formationis et Studiorum Laicorum for lay Dominicans and preparations for the General Chapter in Krakow, where he presented a relatio outlining strategies for revitalizing common life and mission.^[28]^[33]^[34]^[35]

References

[1]
Filipino chosen as first Asian head of the Dominicans - Vatican News
Jul 13, 2019 · Father Gerard Francisco Timoner III, who hails from the Philippines, was elected Master of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order.
[2]
Fr Gerard TIMONER, OP is the new Master of the Order of Preachers
It elected brother Gerard Francisco III TIMONER PARCO, born in Daet, Camarines Norte (Philippines), on 26 January. He is 51 years old.
[3]
What's Happening | Father Gerard Francisco Timoner
### Biographical Summary of Gerard Francisco Timoner III
[4]
New Master of the Dominicans: The Future of the Church Is Not ...
Jul 26, 2019 · Born in Camarines Norte, in the Philippines, Father Timoner, 51, is the former leader of the Philippine province of the Dominicans and has also ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[5]
Master of the Order - ORDO PRAEDICATORUM | OFFICIAL
Timoner previously served as Socius of the Master for Asia-Pacific and prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines. At the University of Santo ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[6]
Bicolano Master of the Dominicans to visit Daet - Bicol Mail
Jul 18, 2019 · Gerard Parco Timoner is the son of the late +Francisco Jr and the late +Lilia Parco, who hails from Bato CS but grew up in Naga and she was ...Missing: parents | Show results with:parents
[7]
Bishop Timoner installed in Pagadian: 'Arise and walk' | CBCPNews
Aug 13, 2025 · Also present at the ordination was his older brother, Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, the first Asian to serve as Master of the Order of ...
[8]
[PDF] Rev. Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, OP
He attended the. Augustinian-administered La Consolacion College – Daet, graduating first honors from grade school in 1981, and as high school valedictorian in ...Missing: education | Show results with:education
[9]
Filipino priest elected first Asian Head of the Dominicans | ICN
Jul 15, 2019 · Filipino priest, Father Gerard Timoner III was elected Master of the Order of Preachers (OP), or the Dominican Order, during the ongoing ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography<|separator|>
[10]
TIMONER, Gerard Francisco P. - University of Santo Tomas
Licentiate in Sacred Theology and M.A. in Intercultural Theology, 2004. Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen. Bachelor in Sacred Theology, 1994
[11]
Pope appoints UST vice chancellor to International Theological ...
1969. Timoner commenced his four-year term as the prior provincial of the Filipino Dominicans in 2012. He also served as UST vice rector for religious affairs ...
[12]
Master general of the Dominican Order on Malta visit
Jul 1, 2025 · He is a professor of theology at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and, since 2014, a member of the International Theological Commission.
[13]
Timoner is new successor of St. Dominic de Guzman - The Varsitarian
Jul 13, 2019 · Timoner served as prior provincial of the Dominican Province in the Philippines from 2012 to 2016. In 2017, he was appointed by Cadoré as the ...
[14]
Theology Week: Pass mercy to others, says Dominican provincial ...
Fr. Gerard Timoner, III, O.P., prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, emphasized the role of God's mercy on the foundation of the Order ...
[15]
Ex-vice chancellor is new socius for Dominicans in Asia-Pacific | The ...
Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P. has been appointed socius for Asia-Pacific of the Order of Preachers. Timoner replaces Fr. Vincent Lu Hua, O.P. of the ...<|separator|>
[16]
Philippines' top Dominican 'humbled' by Vatican job - Rappler
Oct 4, 2014 · Fr Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, becomes the 4th Filipino to join the International Theological Commission for a 5-year term. Born in Daet, ...
[17]
Press Release (23 September 2014) - The Holy See
Sep 23, 2014 · This year the eighth five-year term of the International Theological Commission, which began with the pontifical appointment of its Members in ...
[18]
Synodality in the life and mission of the Church (2 March 2018)
Mar 2, 2018 · During its 9th Quinquennium, the International Theological Commission undertook a study of synodality in the life and mission of the Church. The ...
[19]
Members of the International Thological Commission - The Holy See
Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, O.P., Philippines. Fr. Gabino Uríbarri ... Appointments of July 26, 2014. Eighth Quinquennium. 1) H.E. Msgr. Savio HON ...
[20]
Dominicans elect 51-year-old Filipino as master general - Crux
Jul 15, 2019 · Timoner was born Jan. 26, 1968, in Daet, the capital of the Philippines' Camarines Norte province. At the time of his election, he was the ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[21]
Filipino priest Gerard Timoner III is elected the first Asian Master of ...
Jul 15, 2019 · Gerard Francisco Timoner III is 51 years old and is the first Asian ... (UST), in 1994. He was ordained a priest in 1995. In 2004, he ...<|separator|>
[22]
Dominicans elect 88th Master of the Order: Filipino priest Fr. Gerard ...
Jul 19, 2019 · Gerard Francisco Parco Timoner III, O.P., a son of the Dominican Province of the Philippines and first Asian Master of the Order. The ...Missing: Lilia | Show results with:Lilia
[23]
New Master of the Order Elected! - Dominican Province of St. Joseph
Jul 13, 2019 · Gerard Francisco Timoner, O.P., was elected Master of the Order. Fr. Timoner, who is aged 51, is the 87th Successor of St Dominic – the 88th ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[24]
Eucharist, Source and Paradigm of Synodality – fr. Gerard ... - LaiciOP
Communion and Stewardship: Human Persons Created in the Image of God – International Theological Commission · Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church – ...Missing: contributions intercultural
[25]
[PDF] Eucharist, Source and Paradigm of Synodality1 Dear Brothers and ...
This “synodal” process enabled the Order to adapt its life and mission to ... Timoner III, OP. Master of the Order. Biblioteca Agostiniana edition). For ...
[26]
Board - UNOP Dominicans for Justice and Peace
Gerard Francisco Parco Timoner III, who hails from the Province of Camarines Norte, in the Philippines, was appointed as the new Master of the Order in 2019.
[27]
Relatio of the Master of the Order to the General Chapter of Krakow ...
May 29, 2025 · The Master of the Order, Brother Gerard Francisco Timoner ... They shared their reflections, strategies and best practices in promoting vocations.
[28]
Dominican justice NGO publishes 2023 report
In his introduction to the report, the Master General of the Order of Preachers, Fr. Gerard Timoner, remarked on the deep tradition of Dominican defense of ...
[29]
https://springfieldop.org/dominican-justice-ngo-publishes-2023-report/
[30]
COVID—19 Coronavirus Statement from the Master of the ...
Even in our solitude, God is close to us, and we are never alone for we all belong to the Body of Christ. Your brother,. fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, OP.Missing: response | Show results with:response
[31]
Top Dominican: Reflect on the nearness of God amid 'social ...
Mar 18, 2020 · Gerard Timoner III, O.P. in his letter addressing the Covid-19 outbreak. He also encouraged the faithful to reflect on the nearness of God ...
[32]
Intercultural Theology as a Way of Doing Theology
Aug 6, 2025 · Download Citation | On Jan 1, 2006, O.P. Gerard Francisco Timoner III published Intercultural Theology as a Way of Doing Theology | Find, ...Missing: sacred Angelicum Nijmegen
[33]
Gerard Francisco Timoner III - Wikipedia
Gerard Francisco Parco Timoner III OP (born 26 January 1968) is a Filipino Catholic priest who has served as the 88th Master of the Order of Preachers
[34]
Historic Milestone for the Dominican Laity: First-Ever Ratio ...
May 30, 2025 · Gerard Francisco Timoner III, Master of the Order, who formally approved it on July 16, 2025. Rooted in the Lay Dominican Rule and General ...
[35]
LETTER FROM THE MASTER OF THE ORDER ON THE ...
May 24, 2025 · Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, has asked the upcoming General Chapter to reflect upon and propose concrete strategies to strengthen the ...