Pope names Oro priest as new bishop of Tandag

POPE Francis has named a priest from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro as the new bishop of Tandag in Surigao de Sur.

According to an article posted on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Fr. Raul Dael will be the third bishop of the diocese and will succeed Bishop Nereo Odchimar, 77. Dael is from Jasa-an, Misamis Oriental.

Prior to his appointment, Dael served as the vicar for the clergy of the local archdiocese.

Odchimar, former CBCP president, is set to retire having passed the age limit of 75. He has served the diocese for almost 17 years.

Dael was born on Oct. 10, 1966. He completed his philosophy course at Xavier University and studied Theology at St. John Vianney Seminary of Theology, both are located in Cagayan de Oro City.

He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese in 1993 at the age of 27, and started his ministry as parochial vicar of the Metropolitan Cathedral. In 1995, he was reassigned as parochial administrator of St Peter the Apostle parish in Sugbongcon in Misamis Oriental.

In 2000, he obtained a Licentiate in Theology at the Loyola School of Theology of the Ateneo de Manila University and served as a professor and director of spiritual and pastoral formation at St. John Vianney Seminary of Theology.

He studied spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 2003 to 2009. After his Rome studies, he became professor of Pastoral Theology at the same seminary.

On the other hand, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma lauded the new post of the bishop-elect to head the Tandag Diocese.

“This is a welcome news. Fr. Dael is vicar for clergy in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and has been active in our drug rehabilitation program as well as disaster relief in Bohol, etc. He is also a much appreciated speaker on spirituality,” he added.

Dael’s episcopal ordination has not been set.

Odchimar will continue as head of the diocese on an interim capacity. (pna)