Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr. Crispin Barrete-Varquez as the new Bishop of Borongan in Eastern Samar province, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines announced Saturday night.
In a statement on its website (
www.cbcpnews.com), the CBCP said Varquez will replace Bishop Leonardo Medroso, who was transferred to the Diocese of Tagbilaran last year.
His appointment was released in the Vatican at high noon Saturday, Rome time, or 6 p.m. in Manila. Apostolic Nunciature charge d’affaires Msgr. Wojciech Zaluski made the announcement in Manila.
The Philippines has been without a Papal nuncio since last month after Archbishop Fernando Filoni was appointed as Assistant Secretary of State in Vatican.
Varquez, 46, was born in Sevilla, Bohol. He studied Philosophy at the Immaculate Heart Seminary in Tagbilaran City and Theology at St Augustine Major Seminary in Tagaytay City.
He was ordained priest at age 28, and then did Postgraduate studies on Seminary Formation in Cebu City and on Family Counseling in the Center for Family Ministry at the Ateneo de Manila University.
He served as Formator in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran, for four years and as Formator at St Augustine Major Seminary in Tagaytay for five years more.
Varquez also became Vicar Forane of the St Joseph Vicariate, and then Vicar General of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. He was serving in that position when he was appointed as the new prelate of Borongan.
The Diocese of Borongan covers 74 diocesan and religious priests, in 29 parishes, and by 58 sisters. It also has 131 seminarians studying in the Diocese, and 27 more studying in Palo, and in Manila.
No date has been set for the consecration of Varquez as bishop or for his installation in Borongan. - GMANews.TV
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Topic: Pope names Crispin Barrete-Varquez new bishop for Samar (Read 1060 times)