Bartolome Gaspar Santos Jr., is a Filipino Catholic prelate, appointed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Iba in Zambales.[1] A Licentiate in Biblical Theology degree holder, he taught various theology subjects at the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary, in Guiguinto, Bulacan, and was rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary from 2005-2009.[2]


Bartolome G. Santos Jr.

5th Bishop of Iba
Santos in 2022
SeeIba
AppointedFebruary 17, 2018
PredecessorFlorentino Lavarias
Orders
OrdinationAugust 27, 1992
by Cirilo Almario
ConsecrationApril 30, 2018
by Luis Antonio Tagle
Personal details
Born
Bartolome Gaspar Santos Jr.
DenominationCatholic Church
EducationLicentiate in Biblical Theology
Alma mater
MottoDives in misericordia et caritate Dei (Rich in mercy and love of God)
Styles of
Bartolome G. Santos Jr.
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Early life

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Santos was born on December 1, 1967, in Santa Maria, Bulacan.[3] He finished high school at the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Guiguinto, Bulacan, then continued for the priesthood, studying philosophy and theology at the University of Santo Tomas Faculties of Ecclesiastical Studies.[2][3]

Priesthood

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Santos was ordained to the priesthood on August 27, 1992, by the then bishop of Malolos, Most. Rev. Cirilo R. Almario, Jr., D.D.[3] He was assigned at San Pascual de Baylon Parish in Obando, Bulacan from 1992-1994, then San Isidro Labrador Parish in Pulilan, Bulacan (1994-1995), before being appointed as spiritual director of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Guiginto Bulacan in 1995.[1]

In 1996, Santos left the Philippines to study in Rome, obtaining a Licentiate in Biblical Theology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1999.[4] Upon returning to the Philippines, he resumed his role as spiritual director of the minor seminary (1999-2005), and was subsequently appointed as rector (2005-2009).[3]

Santos was appointed parish priest and rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Valenzuela City from 2009, and has served at that role until he was appointed by Pope Francis as bishop on February 17, 2018.[2][1] In the Diocese of Malolos, he was named Episcopal Vicar for the Religious, serving from 2005-2013, and was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese from 2013 until his election as Bishop of Iba.[3]

Episcopate

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Santos was ordained a bishop on April 30, 2018, at the Malolos Cathedral.[5][6] He was ordained by then archbishop of Manila, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, principal consecrator, with Archbishop Florentino Lavarias of San Fernando, Pampanga, and Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos as co-consecrators.[6] For his episcopal ministry, Santos chose his motto, "Dives in misericordia et caritate dei (Rich in mercy and love of God),” taken from the Christian Bible's Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 4.[7]

He was installed at the St. Augustine Cathedral on May 25, 2018.[8] Archbishop Lavarias, Santos' predecessor as bishop of Iba, presided the Mass and installation of the new bishop.[9][8]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Bishop of Iba Diocese Bartolome Gaspar Santos | UCA News". www.ucanews.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Pope names new bishop of Iba". CBCPNews. February 17, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Garcia, Lexanne (February 18, 2018). "Thomasian is new bishop of Iba, Zambales". Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Patinio, Ferdinand (February 19, 2018). "Bishop 'happy, nervous' on appointment as head of Iba diocese". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "New Iba bishop ordained in Malolos". CBCPNews. May 1, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Zulueta, Lito (May 23, 2018). "New bishop of Iba, Zambales to be installed May 25". Lifestyle.INQ. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Lagarde, Roy (May 25, 2018). "New Iba bishop's marching order: Keep the churches 'clean'". CBCPNews. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Sebastian, Raymond (March 5, 2018). "'Man of the people': Getting to know Iba's new bishop". CBCPNews. Retrieved April 5, 2024.