Pope Francis names new prelates for Pampanga, Dipolog

The CBCP news site said the pope named Iba (Zambales) Bishop Florentino Galang Lavarias as Archbishop of San Fernando (Pampanga) to succeed Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, now 77.

 

It said the pope had accepted Aniceto's resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese due to his age.

 

Lavarias will head an ecclesial province with 3,324,000, Catholics, 176 priests and 155 religious.

 

Also, the pope named Fr. Severo Caermare, 44, as Bishop of Dipolog. Caermare will head 787,000 Catholics, 68 priests, one permanent deacon and 58 religious.

 

Caermare, who has been a priest for over 18 years, will head an ecclesial province that covers the entire Zamboanga del Norte. He succeeds Bishop Jose Ricare Manguiran, 77.

 

Caermare is administrator of St. Anthony of Padua parish in Gulayon, Dipolog City and rector of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosaryin Dipolog City.

 

He was ordained in 1996 and holds a master’s degree in Theology and pastoral ministry from the St. John Vianney theological seminary in Cagayan de Oro City.

 

Caermare served as parish administrator of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and San Isidro in Zamboanga del Norte.

 

He was also formator, rector, professor and liturgist at Cor Jesus Seminary of Dipolog City and later formator, professor, rector of St. Mary’s Theologate of Ozamis City.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News