Pope appoints new Iligan bishop

FILE: Bishop-elect Jose Rapadas of Ilagan. (Photo from BP. Alberto Uy Facebook Account via CBCP News/Website)

MANILA — Pope Francis has named Fr. Jose Rapadas as the new head of the Diocese of Iligan, the youngest Filipino bishop-elect in and outside of the country at 46.

The Vatican announced Rapada’s appointment noon (6 p.m. Manila time) on Thursday.

According to an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website, the new head of the Iligan diocese will replace Bishop Elenito Galido, who died on Dec. 5, 2017.

Bishop Severo Caermare of Dipolog has been overseeing the diocese as apostolic administrator.

Before his appointment, the bishop-elect has been serving as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Rapadas was born in Tondo, Manila in 1972. He is a product of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro City, and was ordained a priest in 1999.

He holds a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Loyola School of Theology in Ateneo de Manila University.

In his 20 years as a member of the clergy, he has served in a number of pastoral roles including parish vicar and coordinator of diocesan social pastoral ministry.

Rapadas also served as a seminary professor, director of the Office of Catechesis for the Family and Life, rector of the Saint Joseph College Seminary and professor of religious studies at the University of Zamboanga.

He will be serving as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Iligan, which has around a million Catholic population in 26 parishes.