New Year, New Bishop

The new bishop-elect, Fr. Junie Maralit 

Pope Francis ends the year 2014 with a surprise. In the waning hours of December 31, the Pope named Fr. Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr., as bishop of the Diocese of Boac in the Philippines. The appointment comes 15 days before his apostolic visit to the Philippines and 1 day before 2014 ends. 

According to the Vatican, Fr. Maralit studied philosophy at St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary in Lipa City. He studied theology at the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, earning a licentiate in Sacred Theology. He also obtained a licentiate in Church History from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.

He was ordained priest in the Archdiocese of Lipa on March 13, 1995. He served as Parochial Vicar of the Immaculate Conception parish in Bauan, Batangas from 1995 to 1996; professor at the St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary in Lipa City from 1996-1996; and was earlier Deputy Director of the Diocesan Commission for Vocations and later, became director of the same commission.

He was vice chancellor, professor, educator and Dean of Studies at St. Francis Theological Seminary from 2003 to 2009 and Rector of the St. Francis Theological Seminary from 2009 to 2013. From 2013 until today, Maralit served as pastor of the Invencion de la Santa Cruz parish at Alitagtag and member of the Council of Priests of the Archdiocese of Lipa.