Pangasinan priest appointed as new bishop of Baguio
POPE Francis has appointed Fr. Rafael Cruz, a Pangasinense, as the new bishop of Baguio.
The 64-year-old bishop-elect is currently the parish priest of St. Ildephonse Parish in Malasiqui, Pangasinan, and vicar forane of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.
According to CBCP News, the Vatican announced the appointment at 12 noon on Tuesday (6 PM in the Philippines).
The Diocese of Baguio has been without a bishop since May 2023, following Archbishop Victor Bendico’s move to lead the Archdiocese of Capiz. During this period, Fr. Roland Buyagan has served as the diocesan administrator.
In the website press.vatican.ca, it said that Msgr. Rafael Cruz was born on March 12, 1960 in Mapandan town. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the San Pablo Regional College Seminary, Baguio City, Bangued (1977-1981), receiving a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, and his studies in theology at the Immaculate Conception School of Theology, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, receiving a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (1981-1985).
He earned a Master of Arts (MA) in counselling psychology (1988-1990) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in clinical psychology from the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City (2002). He subsequently carried out his residency training programme at Loyola University of Chicago and the Carl Jung Institute of Evanston, Illinois.
He was ordained a priest on 8 September 1985 for the archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. (Eva Visperas)
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