Pope Leo appoints Boholano as eighth Diocese of Tagbilaran bishop

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

Pope Leo has appointed a Boholano bishop to be the spiritual shepherd of the Diocese of Tagbilaran in Bohol province, the Vatican announced.

Bishop Crispin Barrete Varquez, who is currently the bishop of the diocese of Borongan, was born in Sevilla town in Bohol.

Varquez, according to information posted by the Holy See Press Office, studied philosophy at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran, and theology at the Saint Augustine Major Seminary in Tagaytay.

The prelate was born ordained a priest on April 14, 1989 for the diocese of Tagbilaran.

Varquez has held the following offices: parish vicar in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro (1989-1991); parish vicar of Our Lady of Fatima in Nueva Ecija (1991-1992); formator of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran (1992-1995); parish priest of Panglao (1995-1996); formator of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran (1996-2000); parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagbilaran and vicar forane (2001-2005); parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Tagbilaran (2005-2007); and vicar general (2007).

He was appointed bishop of Borongan on August 4, 2007 and he received the episcopal consecration on the 8th of November of the same year.

Varquez succeeds Archbishop Alberto "Abet" Uy, who was appointed as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Earlier, Pope Leo appointed a Boholano priest, Fr. Gerardo F. Saco Jr., who later announced that he is withdrawing from his scheduled episcopal ordination as bishop of Tagbilaran. — BAP, GMA News