Sescon, rector of Quiapo Church, is new bishop of Balanga

LEADER OF THE FLOCK In this January photo, Rev. Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr. gives his blessings to police who will maintain order during the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila. Sescon has been named the new bishop of Balanga in Bataan. —Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has appointed a new head of the Diocese of Balanga more than a year after it was left vacant.

The Pope named on Tuesday Fr. Rufino “Jun” Sescon Jr. of the Archdiocese of Manila as bishop of the diocese covering Bataan province, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

READ: Pope Francis appoints new bishop to oversee Laguna

Latest figures from the Vatican show that the diocese is home to almost 700,000 Catholics, around 80 percent of the entire province’s population, who are shepherded by 59 priests.

Sescon, 52, will succeed Bishop Ruperto Santos, who was installed to lead the Diocese of Antipolo in Rizal province in July last year.

Prior to his new post, Sescon served as rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, more known as Quiapo Church in Manila, for two years.

After he was ordained as a priest in 1998, he served as personal secretary to then-Manila archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin.

He also held various positions within the archdiocese, including chancellor and administrator of Villa San Miguel (Archbishop’s Palace).

Before moving to Quiapo Church, Sescon spent many years in Makati City as chaplain of Greenbelt Chapel and priest in charge of Mary, Mother of Hope Chapel at Landmark.

He also served as the Archdiocese of Manila’s commissioner for the Formation of the Laity and Christian Communities, director of San Lorenzo Ruiz Lay Formation Center, and member of the Presbyteral Council.

Sescon is the executive director of the Catholic Mass Media Awards.