The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Philippines, the Rev. Fidelis B. Layog, of the clergy of the same archdiocese, currently parish priest of the Our Lady of Purification Parish, assigning him the titular see of Giro di Tarasio. The Vatican made the announcement on March 18, 2019.
Bishop-elect Layog was born in Dagupan, in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, on November 20, 1968. After elementary and secondary schools, he studied philosophy at the “Mary Help of Christians” High School seminary in Dagupan City and theology at the “Immaculate Conception” School of Theology in Vigan City. Between 2000 and 2003 he also attended the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas in Rome, where he studied biblical theology.
After receiving priestly ordination on April 29, 1996, for the archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, he spent the first four years of his priesthood as prefect of discipline at the “Mary Help of Christians” High School seminary in Dagupan City.
Since returning to his diocese following the years of study in Rome, he has served as: moderator of the Holy Family parish team ministry in Pangasinan (2006-2009); Moderator of the team ministry of the Saint Peter and Paul parish and vicar forane (2011-2014); and director of Mapandan Catholic School (2014-2016). Since 2017 he has served as pastor and moderator of the team ministry of the “Our Lady of Purification” parish and director of the Saint Columban Institute of Domalandan in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
