Pope Francis Names New Bishop of the Diocese of Bayombong

A new bishop for the Diocese of Bayombong has been formally installed at Bayombong on July 25, 2018.

Bishop Jose Elmer Imas Mangalinao was installed by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Gabriel Giordano Caccia and witnessed by clergy officials of Northern Luzon, local government officials and Catholic faithful.

Bishop Mangalinao, 58, and a former auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan succeeded Bishop Ramon Villena.

He was born in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, studied priesthood at San Carlos Seminary in Makati City and ordained as a priest in October 12, 1958, for the Diocese of Cabanatuan City.

Pope Francis elected him as auxiliary bishop for Lingayen – Dagupan in May 31, 2016 and appointed as bishop of the Diocese of Bayombong in May 24, 2018.

Mangalinao is the third bishop of the Diocese of Bayombong after Bishop Alberto Van Overbeke (1966-1986) and Bishop Ramon Villena (1986-2016). Bishop Sofronio Bancud also served as apostolic administrator after Villena’s retirement.

The installation was witnessed by more than 200 priests and over 500,000 Catholic faithful in the Diocese and outside Nueva Vizcaya. (MDCT/BME/PIA 2-Nueva Vizcaya)>