Pope appoints new bishop of San Jose de Antique

Pope Francis has appointed today Monsignor Marvyn Maceda as the new bishop of the Diocese of San Jose de Antique.Maceda, 49, becomes the first bishop from Naval which was created a diocese in 1988.He succeeds now Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo who was appointed to head the Archdiocese of Jaro in February 2018.The bishop-elect took his philosophical studies at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte, and his theology at the San Jose Seminary in the Ateneo de Manila University.He was ordained a priest for the Naval diocese on May 29, 1996.Among his first assignments were as parish priest at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mission, Diocesan Director for the Youth, while performing the functions as diocesan financial administrator and chancellor.From 2000 to 2010, he was priest in charge St. Roch Mission Chapel and then of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Mission Chapel in Naval.He also participated in the diocesan group of formation of the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC), of which he was the diocesan director from 2006 to 2010.In 2010 to 2011, he went on sabbatical leave at Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Monastery, in San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras.Back in Naval, from 2011 to 2017, he was moderator of the group of ordained ministers at the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception parish and Pastoral Director of the BEC.He also served as Vicar General of Naval and became member of the Presbyteral Council and Board of Consultors.Upon his appointment, Maceda has been serving as Director of the Naval diocese’s Commission on Clergy.With his new assignment, Maceda becomes the fifth bishop of San Jose de Antique with about 54 priests and more than 80 religious women in 25 parishes.