Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop John F. Du, current prelate of the Diocese of Dumaguete, as Archbishop of Palo, Leyte.
The Diocese of Dumaguete received official word about the Appointment of Archbishop of Metropolitan Post (Philippines) from the Vatican late Saturday, according to Msgr. Julius Heruela, parish priest of the St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Dumaguete.
Msgr. Heruela said officials from the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte will be arriving in Dumaguete next week to discuss the installation of Archbishop Du to his new post.No date has yet been set for the installation of Archbishop Du to his new post while the Vatican also has not announced his replacement for the Diocese of Dumaguete.
Archbishop John F. Du was born in Bantayan, Cebu on Oct. 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. Archbishop Du was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cebu on June 1, 1979. After ordination he was assigned Vice-rector for three years there. 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 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 Nov. 21, 1997 and was ordained Jan. 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. (PNA/RMA/Judy Flores Partlow)
