The Diocese of Antipolo is set to welcome its new shepherd Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos on July 22.
Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos (Manila Bulletin photo)
In a Facebook post, the diocese said it is “all set to sail on A VOYAGE TO SOW on July 22, 2023, as it welcomes its 5th Bishop, who will assume the role of spiritual guide and shepherd for the Local Church.”
“Together with him in a journey, may we discover the seeds of faith, hope, and love that will be planted by the Divine Sower in our hearts. With great anticipation, may we cultivate a sense of mission to sow together as people of God,” the diocese said.
A holy mass will be held at 10 a.m. at the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Cathedral) on July 22.
The Holy Father Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Francisco De Leon on May 24 and appointed Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos as the new bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo. The Diocese of Balanga is now “sede vacante” (vacant).
Bishop Santos was born on Oct. 30, 1957, in San Rafael, Bulacan. He attended philosophy and theology courses at the San Carlos Seminary and was ordained a priest on Sept. 10, 1983, for the Archdiocese of Manila.
After his ordination, he served as deputy parish priest of the Immaculate Conception in Metro Manila, chaplain of the Pasig Catholic College (1983-1986), and parish priest in Maybunga(1986).
He was awarded a licentiate in history from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1987-1990), and went on to hold the offices of professor of Church history at the San Carlos Seminary of Manila (1990-1995), and superior and subsequently rector of the Pontifical Filipino College in Rome.
He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Balanga on April 1, 2010.
Bishop Santos served in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines as Regional Representative (Central Luzon) in the Permanent Council (2015-2017 and 2017-2019), Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (2015-2017 and 2017-2019), Member of the Committee on International Eucharistic Congress and Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (2017-2019), and as Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino (2019-2021 and 2021-2023). He is also the CBCP Bishop Promoter of Stella Maris Philippines which looks after the spiritual needs of Filipino seafarers.
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