Barely three weeks after Vatican announced the appointment of a new bishop from Ubay, another Boholano was added to the growing list of priests elected as bishop in the Lord’s vineyard.
Fr. Socrates “Soc” Mesiona, MSP was appointed as bishop in an official pronouncement issued by the Vatican yesterday, according to Fr. Joe of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. He is the second bishop from Sevilla, Bohol, the hometown of Bishop Crispin Varquez.
Bishop-elect Mesiona will assume as the apostolic vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa. His jurisdiction includes the city of Puerto Princesa and the southern municipalities of Palawan.
The 53-year old Boholano bishop studied philosophy at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (1980-’84) and philosophy at the Divine Word School of Theology (1984-’89).
He was ordained to priesthood in 1989.
From 1994 to ’96 he studied for a licentiate in Missiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Fr. Mesiona was entrusted with several responsibilities such as principal of the school and later as rector of the Fil-mission Seminary in Tagaytay City, parish priest in Madaluyong City and bursar and member of the Mission Society of the Philippines.
He served as MSP superior general from 2004-2009, after which he was appointed national director of the national Pontifical Mission Societies.
Fr. Mesiona had served in the Mission Society of the Philippines as Seminary formator (Director of the MSP Scholasticate, and then, Rector of the MSP Seminary in Tagaytay City); Parish Priest (of Our Lady of the Abandoned in Mandaluyong City); and Administrator (General Councilor, Bursar General, and lastly, Superior General/ Father Moderator from 2004-2009).
He earned his Licentiate in Missiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1994-1996). Presently, he is a member of the Philippine Association of Catholic Missiologists (PACM).
Details of his ordination and installation rites will be announced later.
RELATED NEWS: Vatican appoints new bishop to head Diocese of Tagbilaran
Only recently, Diocese of Talibon episcopal vicar, Msgr. Alberto “Abet” Uy was named bishop to succeed retired Bishop Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.
The 15 other Boholano bishops are Msgr. Manuel M. Mascariñas(deceased), former Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran; Msgr. Felix Zafra (deceased), former Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran; Msgr. Alfredo Bacquial (deceased), former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Davao;  Most Rev. Jesus B. Tuquib ,Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro;   Msgr. Juan de Dios M.Pueblos, Bishop of the Diocese of Butuan;   Msgr. Zacarias Cenita Jimenez; Bishop of the Diocese of Pagadian;.  Msgr. Arturo M. Bastes, SVD Bishop of the Diocese of Sorsogon;   Msgr. Romulo G. Valles, Archbishop of Zamboanga;  Msgr. Antonieto D. Cabajog, Bishop of the Diocese of Surigao; . Msgr. Crispin B. Varquez, Bishop of the Diocese of Borongan;  Archbishop Bernardito  Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations; Bishop Miguel Cinchez, Bishop Mariano Gaviola, Bishop Eduardo Juanich and Bishop Elinito Galido