Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. as the new bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo, which covers Laguna province, located approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Manila.
The Diocese of San Pablo has been without a bishop since September 2023, following the resignation of Bishop Buenaventura Famadico due to health issues.
During the interim, Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig served as the apostolic administrator, overseeing the diocese.
The Vatican officially announced Maralit’s appointment at noon on Saturday (6 PM Philippine time), marking a new chapter for the diocese.
Bishop Maralit has an extensive academic and ecclesiastical background. He completed his philosophical studies at St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary in Lipa, Batangas, and earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Universidad de Navarra in Spain. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Lipa in 1995.
Furthering his education, Bishop Maralit pursued studies at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, where he obtained a Licentiate in Church History.
In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him as the bishop of the Diocese of Boac, which administers the island province of Marinduque, over 150 kilometers southeast of Manila.
The Diocese of San Pablo, established in 1966, is home to 92 parishes and honors St. Paul the First Hermit as its patron saint.
Bishop Maralit also serves as the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), where he oversees the Church's engagement in modern media and communications.
With this new appointment, the Diocese of San Pablo looks forward to continued spiritual growth and guidance under Bishop Maralit’s leadership.
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