New bishop appointed in Kidapawan

COTABATO CITY—Pope Francis has appointed Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo as the new bishop of the Diocese of Kidapawan.

The 62-year-old Bagaforo’s appointment was announced in a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday.

Bagaforo, more popularly known as Bishop Colin, has been serving as the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cotabato since his ordination in 2006.

The Diocese of Kidapawan was left without a bishop for more than two years after Bishop Romulo de la Cruz was appointed archbishop of Zamboanga.

Msgr. Carlito Garcia, the diocesan administrator, said the whole diocese is overjoyed at Bagaforo’s appointment.

“We are very happy that finally we have a new bishop that will watch over us, the clergy and faithful in the diocese of Kidapawan,” Garcia said.

He said the diocese considers the appointment of Bagaforo as “God’s blessing and answer for their prayers to have a shepherd.”

Garcia said the clergy will meet on Monday to discuss and plan the details of Bagaforo’s installation as the sixth bishop of the diocese.

Garcia said he hoped that by September, Bagaforo would already be installed.

Bagaforo was born here on Jan. 30, 1954.

He finished his elementary education at the PC Hill Elementary School in 1966 and joined the Cotabato Archdiocesan Seminary in 1967. Edwin Fernandez and Williamor Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao