Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop John Du, head of the Diocese of Dumaguete, as Archbishop of Palo, Leyte in the Philippines.

The Diocese of Dumaguete was informed about the appointment by the Vatican Saturday, Msgr. Julius Heruela, parish priest of the St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Dumaguete, said.

Heruela said officials from the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte will arrive in Dumaguete next week to discuss the installation of Du.

No date has been set yet for the installation and the Vatican has also not announced his replacement in Dumaguete.

Du was born in Bantayan, Cebu on October 18, 1954. After completing high school, he attended a special course at the Pope John XXIII Seminary, and from 1971 to 1975, studied philosophy at the San Carlos Junior College in Cebu.

He proceeded with his theological studies at the St. Augustine Major Seminary of the SVD Fathers in Tagaytay City.

Du was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cebu on June 1, 1979. After ordination, he was assigned as the vice rector there for three years.

In 1982, he was appointed Professor in the Minor Seminary in Cebu, later becoming attorney and vice rector. He was also the spiritual director of the Missionaries of Charity in Cebu, and a member of the Commission for the Ongoing Formation of Clergy of the same archdiocese.

Du was elected titular bishop of Thymic and Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu on November 21, 1997 and was ordained January 6, 1998 for his new title.

On April 21, 2001, he was transferred to the Diocese of Dumaguete and has served as treasurer of the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines.*JFP

back to top