By Leslie Ann Aquino
Pope Francis appointed on Monday Fr. Fidelis B. Layog from Dagupan as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.
(FACEBOOK/ MANILA BULLETIN)
According to a CBCP News post, as auxiliary bishop, Layog will assist Archbishop Socrates Villegas in running the archdiocese.
Born in Dagupan City on November 20, 1968, Layog studied philosophy at Mary Help of Christians College Seminary and theology at the Immaculate Conception School of Theology in Vigan City.
After his priestly ordination on April 29, 1996, he spent the first four years of priesthood as Prefect of Discipline at the Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary in Dagupan City.
In 2003, he obtained a degree in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome.
After years of study in Rome, he served as parish priest of the Holy Family Parish in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan (2006-2009); parish priest of St. Peter and Paul Parish in Calasiao, Pangasinan and Vicar Forane (2011-2014); and director of Mapandan Catholic School (2014-2016).
The bishop-elect is currently serving at the Our Lady of Purification Parish in Binmaley, Pangasinan.
Aside from being a parish priest in Binmaley, he is also the Director of St. Columban Institute of Domalandan in Lingayen, Pangasinan since 2017.