New Capiz archbishop named

Pope Benedict XVI has named a vocal opponent of the Reproductive Health bill as new leader of the archdiocese of Capiz.

The new assignment of Bishop Jose F. Advincula, 59, of the diocese of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, was announced in a statement released by the Vatican Information Service on its website www.news.va on Nov. 9.

He will succeed Archbishop Onesimo Cadiz Gordoncillo, who will resign when he turns 75 in February. The date of the new archbishop’s installation was not indicated in the statement.

Canon or church law stipulates that bishops should tender their resignation to the Pope upon turning 75 years old.

Advincula will head an archdiocese with 715,128 Catholics, 113 priests and 122 religious. The diocese of Capiz was created on Jan. 27, 1951 and elevated to archdiocese on Jan. 17, 1976.

The archdiocese comprises the whole province of Cadiz and Roxas City as well as the satellite dioceses of Kalibo and Romblon.

Advincula is the latest namesake of Pope Benedict (baptismal name Joseph Ratzinger) appointed to lead a Philippine diocese.

The Pope appointed Bishop Jose Bantolo to head Masbate last June, while Archbishop Jose Palma was installed head of the Cebu archdiocese in January.

Advincula will be the third archbishop of Capiz.

The archbishop’s installation will be a sweet homecoming since he is native of municipality of Dumalag, Capiz. Bishops are rarely appointed to lead their home dioceses.

Last Holy Week, Advincula called on Catholic politicians who proposed the RH bill to reflect and change their stand.

Last year, he stood witness to the historic signing of a covenant for a peaceful campaign period and elections by contenders for office in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Advincula was born on March 30, 1952. He was ordained priest on March 4, 1976 and bishop in Sept. 8, 2001.

He finished high school and philosophy at St. Pius X Seminary, Laaw-an, Roxas City, and theology at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila. He earned a master of arts degree in guidance and counseling from the De La Salle University in 1983 and subsequently studied canon law at UST and in Rome.

He is currently a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines permanent commissions on Women, Family and Life, Indigenous Peoples and Doctrine of the Faith. INQUIRER