VARQUEZ |
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Another
Boholano will be ordained as Bishop after Pope Benedict
XVI appointed last night Msgr. Crispin Varquez as new
Bishop of Borongan, Samar.
He
is the 14th Boholano bishop.
This
proved once more that the Boholano clergy and lay people
are highly recognized owing to the number of vocation
to the priesthood and religious life.
As
early as July 30, the Pope has communicated Varquez'
appointment through Msgr. Wojciech Zaluski, Charge d'
Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila.
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However,
the Pope's selection of Varquez was "a closely guarded
secret" until the public announcement was made last night
during a holy mass at the St. Joseph's Cathedral.
The
announcement was made to coincide with the Holy Father's official
notice at 12 noon in Rome (6 p.m. local time).
Due
to the absence of Tagbilaran Diocese Bishop Leonardo Medroso,
who is currently in the United States to meet with Boholano
priests, the Judicial Vicar of Tagbilaran, Fr. Jeffrey Malanog,
read the message from the apostolic nuncio last night at the
Cathedral.
According
to Malanog, Varquez' investiture will be announced soon.
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The
Borongan Diocese was the former post of Bishop Medroso
which had been vacant since the latter assumed as Tagbilaran
Bishop on December last year.
Varquez
is the fourteenth in the line of Boholano bishops since
Msgr. Manuel Mascariñas was ordained bishop in
1938.
Other
Boholano bishops include the late Archbishop of Lipa
Mariano Gaviola, the late Msgr. Felix Zafra and the
late Msgr. Alfredo Bacquial, who served as Auxiliary
Bishop of Davao.
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On
retirement status are Msgr. Miguel Cinches, the Bishop emeritus
of Surigao; Msgr. Jesus Tuquib, the Archbishop emeritus of
Cagayan de Oro.
Boholano
bishops currently on active service are Msgr. Juan de Dios
Pueblos of Butuan, who is also a prominent member of the Melo
Commission investigating extrajudicial killings in the country;
Msgr. Zacharias Jimenez, Bishop of Butuan; Msgr. Antonieto
Cabahug, Bishop of Surigao; Msgr. Romulo Valles, the Archbishop
of Kidapawan; Msgr. Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon; Msgr.
Edgardo Juanich, the Vicar Apostolic of Palawan; and Msgr.
Emmanuel Cabajar, Bishop of Pagadian.
Of
71 actively serving bishops in the country, eight are Boholanos.
THE
NEW BISHOP
Msgr.
Varquez was born on December 5, 1960 to Sinforiano Varquez
and Justina Barrete of Sevilla town.
He
finished elementary and high school in Sevilla and later entered
the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (IHMS), this city where
he obtained a degree in Philosophy.
Varquez
pursued his Theology at the the St. Augustine Major Seminary
in Tagaytay.
He
was ordained to the priesthood on April 14, 1989.
His
first assignment was in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro in 1989
to 1991. He was later transferred to Nueva Ecija in 1991 to
1992.
Varquez
came back to the IHMS in 1992, as one of the seminary's formators
and was then assigned as parish priest of Panglao in 1995
to 1996.
From
2001 to 2005, Varquez held several positions of the Tagbilaran
Diocese as Vicar Forane of the St. Joseph Vicariate; chairman
of the Family and Life; chairman of the personnel board and
parish priest of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, this city.
In
2005, he was appointed as parish priest of St. Joseph the
Worker Cathedral.
His
assignment at the Lourdes Parish and at the St. Joseph's Cathedral
as parish priest projected Varquez as one of the most effective
priests who have initiated major church improvements as what
he did in the two major parishes.
Early
this year, Varquez was designated as Vicar General of the
Diocese of Tagbilaran.
In 1991, Varquez took up a course in seminary formation in
Cebu.
He
likewise obtained post-graduate studies in family counselling
at the Ateneo de Manila.
HOW
ONE BECOMES BISHOP
Every
three years, the bishops within a province make up a confidential
list of priests whom they think would make good bishops.
The
list is sent to the papal nuncio who conducts an investigation
of the proposed prelates. The nuncio talks to bishops in the
area, and to members of the college of consultors to get their
opinions, and he may even talk to priests and laity about
their ideas of the qualifications of the priests.
This
is especially done when a certain priest is being proposed
for a certain diocese. All of this information is then collated
and sent to the Holy See in Rome. A list of three priests
is presented to the Holy Father, who can select one or send
the whole list back.
Once
a papal nomination is rendered, the nuncio then informs the
priest of his appointment and gives him a very short time
to pray about the matter before making his decision.
Once
the priest has accepted the appointment, the province is informed
and the media may also be informed at that time.
Finally,
the priest has three months to be consecrated bishop after
he receives the apostolic letter from the pope. No priest
can be consecrated bishop without the letter.
During
the consecration ceremony the new bishop makes the profession
of faith and takes the oath of fidelity to the Holy See, and
only then does he take canonical possession of the diocese
where he will be assigned.
A
priest must at least be 35 years old and ordained to the priesthood
for at least 5 years to become bishop.
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