Bishop Socrates B. Villegas appointed to Balanga
diocese
 Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, Most Rev. Socrates B.
Villegas, has been named by Pope John Paul II to be
the new bishop of the Diocese of Balanga ( Bataan).
The announcement was made in the Vatican on May 3,
2004 at 12 noon ( 6 p.m. Philippine time).
Bishop Villegas is also the chairman of the Episcopal
Commission on Catechetics and Catholic Education (ECCCE)
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines,
a post he assumed in December last year.
Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales made the formal announcement
at 6 p.m. on May 3 at the Villa Immaculada to the members
of the Consultores of the Archdiocese of Manila, and
to Bishop Villegas’ mother, Norma, his co-workers,
Edsa Shrine Community and friends.
In his remarks Archbishop Rosales congratulated Bishop
Villegas’ new appointment, which, he described
as a way of God bringing about growth and changes.
“Every change is full of doubts and hesitation,
but we are doing this for God and God will make sure
that you will mature. God will entrust to you great
responsibilities if you generously respond,” he
said.
He also assured the young bishop of the full support
of the archdiocese in his new role. “We will
be behind you. Don’t be afraid. This is the only
way to grow. Be faithful to what God has given you,” the
archbishop said.
Bishop Villegas admitted to being “afraid” of
the new task ahead of him. But he sees his going to
Bataan as a mission. He said that when the Papal Nuncio
told him about his appointment he wrestled with God
in prayer, bringing up to him three questions that
haunted him: “Who will take care of the Cardinal
(Sin)?”; “Who will take care of my mother?”; “Who
will take care of the Edsa Shrine?”
The answers to these questions, he said, came to him
in prayer. “The answer is God. God will take
care of them.”
Bishop Villegas said that in accepting the new challenge, “I
open myself to the graces of God and allow Him to work
through me. God will do the work for me in Balanga.
It will not be my work, but God’s work.”
A native of Pateros, Rizal, Bishop Villegas, 43, was
born on September 28, 1960. He completed his studies
and seminary formation at the San Carlos Seminary of
the Archdiocese of Manila. He was ordained priest on
October 5, 1985 and was ordained bishop on August 31,
2001. He served as secretary of Jaime Cardinal Sin
since his ordination, 18 years ago. He has been Rector
of the Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of Edsa Shrine
since its establishment in December 1989. He was official
spokesman of the Archdiocese of Manila until Cardinal
Sin’s retirement in September.
Bishop Villegas is a popular and widely regarded preacher
and speaker. He has written seven books of his homilies
at the Edsa Shrine and talks in retreats and other
events. He is also the chairman of the Episcopal Commission
on Catechesis and Catholic Education of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
He will be the third bishop of Balanga, following
Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco, 55, who is now the Bishop
of the newly created Diocese of Cubao ( Quezon City).
Before the partition of the Archdiocese of Manila
with the creation of five new dioceses in 2003—Cubao,
Kaloookan, Pasig, Parañaque, and Novaliches—it
had six auxiliary bishops. The appointment of Bishop
Villegas to Balanga leaves the Archdiocese of Manila
with no auxiliary bishops.
Bishop Villegas will be installed in the Diocese of
Balanga on July 3, 2004.
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