Pope names new bishop of Tarlac

LINGAYEN-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), will ordain the Most Rev. Enrique Macaraeg as a bishop on May 24, after Macaraeg received his appointment as bishop-elect of Tarlac from Pope Francis.

The ordination, to be held at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Dagupan City, will be witnessed by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto and other bishops.

Macaraeg was appointed the third bishop of Tarlac by Pope Francis after Bishop Florentino Cinense resigned.

Meanwhile, Macaraeg’s formal installation as bishop of the Diocese of Tarlac will be officiated by  Pinto on May 31 at 9 a.m. at St. Sebastian Cathedral in Tarlac City.

Prior to his appointment, Macaraeg was vicar general of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Pangasinan, and parish priest at St. Ildefonse, Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

He studied Philosophy and Theology at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila and obtained his Master’s degree in Oriental Religions and Cultures from the UST Graduate School. Tina G. Santos