Pope Francis has tapped Fr. Jose Rapadas to lead the Diocese of Iligan in the southern Philippines, the Vatican said on June 13, 2019.
The bishop-elect is just 46, the youngest Filipino bishop serving in and outside the country today, said CBCP News.
Rapadas will replace Bishop Elenito Galido who died on Dec. 5, 2017. Since then, Bishop Severo Caermare of Dipolog has been overseeing the diocese as apostolic administrator.
Upon his appointment, the bishop-elect has been serving as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Rapadas was born in Tondo, Manila in 1972. He is a product of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro City and was ordained a priest in 1999.
He also holds a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Loyola School of Theology in Ateneo de Manila University.
For 20 years in the priesthood, he has served in a number of pastoral roles including parish vicar and coordinator of diocesan social pastoral ministry.
The bishop-elect also served as a seminary professor, director of the Office of Catechesis for the Family and Life, rector of the Saint Joseph College Seminary and professor of religious studies at the University of Zamboanga.
Rapadas will be the fifth bishop of Iligan, with around a million Catholic population in 26 parishes.
