Last week, Pope Francis named Monsignor Dennis Villarojo and Fr. Oscar L. Florencio as auxiliaries of the Archdiocese of Cebu, Philippines.
They will join three other auxiliaries in assiting Archbishop Jose Serofia Palma.
The archdiocese has more than 4 million Catholics, served by only 600-some priests, less than 2,000 religious and one permanent deacon.
Dennis Villarojo was born in Cebu City, Philippines, in 1967, and was ordained a priest in 1994. He received a licentiate in philosophy from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. He has served as the personal secretary of the archbishop emeritus of Cebu, Cardinal Vidal, and coordinator of the archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Board. He is currently moderator of the personal pastoral group of the parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Capitol, Cebu City, and secretary general of the 51st Eucharistic Congress to take place in Cebu in January 2016.
Oscar Florencio was born in Capoocan, Philippines, in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He received a licentiate in theology from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. He has served as parish vicar and spiritual director of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, and parish priest. He is currently rector of the Saint John School of Theology, Palo, and vice-chancellor of the same archdiocese.
