Pope names Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales
to succeed Cardinal Sin in Manila

His Holiness Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinl Sin from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Manila. His Excellency Most Rev. Gaudencio B. Rosales, Archbishop of Lipa has been nominated as the successor to the See of Manila. Until the installation of his successor, Cardinal Sin will continue to govern the Archdiocese of Manila as Apostolic Administrator with powers of Ordinary Bishop.

This was announced at the Vatican at noon (6 p.m. Manila time) on September 15, 2003.

In giving this announcement, the Holy Father expressed his deep gratitude to Cardinal Sin for his unconditional dedication and love for the people entrusted to his care, first in Jaro and then in Manila, for his great affection and devotion to the Successor of Peter, for his constant affirmation of Christian values in social life, and for his untiring action in defense of the common good.

Archbishop Rosales, 71, was born in Batangas City on August 10, 1932. He was ordained priest on March 23, 1958, at the age of 25. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Esco and auxiliary bishop of Manila on August 12, 1974. He was ordained bishop on October 28, 1974. He was appointed coadjutor bishop of Malaybalay on June 9, 1982, and became bishop of Malaybalay on September 14, 1984. He was appointed Archbishop of Lipa on December 30, 1992.

Following is his complete bio-data.

MOST REV. GAUDENCIO B. ROSALES, D.D.

Archbishop-elect of the Archdiocese of Manila

PERSONAL

Birth: August 10, 1932
Place of Birth: Batangas City
Parents: Godofredo D. Rosales and Remedios Borbon
Siblings: Third child. Sisters: Rosie, Teresita and Mary Grace
Brothers: Guillermo, Gabriel and Gilbert
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Manila: August 12, 1974
Titular Bishop of Esco
Episcopal Ordination: October 28, 1974
Appointed Coadjutor bishop of Malaybalay (in Bukidnon): June 9,. 1982
Installed Bishop of Malaybalay by Succession: September 14, 1984
Appointed Archbishop of Lipa : December 30, 1992
Installed Archbishop of Lipa: March 18, 1993

EDUCATION

Elementary: Batangas Elementary and St. Bridget’s Grade School, Batangas City (1938-1944)

Secondary: Batangas High School, Batangas City (1944-1951)

Seminary:
San Jose Minor Seminary, Manila (1947-1951)
San Jose Major Seminary, Manila (1951-1958)

Some highlights in Archbishop Rosales: Ministry

• 1958-1966- Prefect Rector, St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary, Lipa City
• 1966-1970 Spiritual director, professor, St. Francis de Sales College Seminary, Lipa City
• 1970-1972- Parish priest, Immaculate Conception, Batangas City
• 1972-1975- Parish priest, Immaculate Conception, Batangas City
• 1974-1980 – Auxiliary bishop of Manila, District Bishop, East Antipolo, Rizal
• 1980-1982- Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
• District Bishop, Archdiocese of Manila South
• 1975-1982 – National Director

PONTIFICAL MISSION AID SOCIETIES, Manila

• 1977-1982- Delegate Rep for Asia, Propaganda Fide, Rome. H. Council / National Director , Mission Society of the Philippines
• 1980-1982- Rector, San Carlos Seminary, Archdiocese of Manila
• 1982-1992 – Bishop of Malaybalay, Diocese of Malaybalay, Bukidnon
• 1984-1999 – Chairman for Seminaries, CBCP Apostolic Visitator of Seminaries in the Phils
• 1987-1991 – Member, Permanent Couincil of the CBCP, Representative for Mindanao Region
• December 30 1992 – Elected Archbishop of Lipa
• March 18, 1993 – Installed Archbishop of Lipa
• 1995-1999 – Member, CBCP Permanent Council, Representative Southern Luzon Region
• 1997-1999- Vice President, CBCP
• April 1995 – Spearheaded the rethinking restatement of the Archdiocesan Vision:
• Isang baying tinawag ng Ama kay Jesukristo upang maging mga sambayanan ng mga taong may kaganapan ng buhay sa sanlibutan, sumasaksi sa paghahari ng Diyos sa pagsasabuhya ng Misteryo Paskwal sa Kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo
• April 1996 – Convened LAGPAS 1 (First Lipa Archdiocesan General Pastoral Assembly) where the Archdiocesan Vision was discussed and owned by the general faithful together with the priests and religious in the Archdiocese.
• April 1998 – Convened the LAGPAS II that launched the Aral ng Batangueno, a handbook on local catechesis as aid in the implementation of the Archdiocesan Vision
• 1998 – CBCP Delegate to the 1998 Continental Synod of Asian Bishops (Rome)
• Jan 2000 – present Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Clergy (CBCP).
• April 2000 – Convened the LAGPAS III that launched the Pondong Batangan as an alternative community foundation to sacramentalize the enfleshment of the Archdiocesan Vision through Aral ng Batangueno
• 2001 - CBCP delegate to the X Synod of Bishops, Vatican
• April 2002 – Convened LAGPAS IV with theme: Gawing ang Bawat Angkan sa Ating Lalawigan, Pugad ng Pondong Batangan.
• September 2003 – Convened the First Conference of Businessmen of Batangas – a gathering of businessmen of Batangas or Executives or Business firms operating in Batangas. It was convened by the Archbishop together with Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, representing the government and Don Enrique Zobel, representing the business sector. It aimed at catechizing the businessman to the theology and practice of Pondong Batangan. The theme of the conference was “Beyond Corporate Social Responsibility—Pondong Batangan.”

Some Awards and Distinctions

• 1982 COR JESU AWARD - Given by His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin for his “untiring efforts and drive for the canonical erection of the Sacred Heart Parish, the National Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, San Antonio Village, Makati
• 1981 Hubong Dagat Award - Given by Rear Admiral Ernest Ogbinar, Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy, for his deep concern in strengthening the moral values of the men and women of the Philippine Navy.
• 1991 Priests Guard Forests - “The clergy of Bukidnon takes the lead in efforts to stop logging and involve the people in planting trees.”
• Excerpts from article in FOCUS Magazine:

  The indiscriminate logging (continues) which has been taking its toll on the province. When the rains come, they rush down bald, barren slopes, swelling rivers and flooding villages. Thus, until it is stopped, Bukidnon would become a wasteland soon. The alaram has been raised by the government, who declared a stop to all logging operations in the province. But it took the priests of Bukidnon to ensure that that moratorium is observed. …..Vastly different from armchair church activities who pontificate on injustice in the abstract, or other clerics who dip their fingers into big business, media and traditional partisan politics, Bishop Rosales and his army of foresters have done a good job ridding the province of loggers.

• 1991: Bukas-Palad Award

  Probably the most enlightening recognition of Archbishop Rosales—the man his mission and his vocation—is best expressed is the award conferred by the Ateneo de Manila university. Originally the Peypoch Award, it is given in memory of Fr. Manuel Peypoch, S.J. it is intended for clergy and religious persons, not as a reward to the recipient, but as a reminder to students that there are religious persons in the Philippines who have dedicated their lives to God and to the Church and who work unselfishly for the good of their neighbor. The award was renamed Bukas-Palad Award to capture the Ignatian spirit of generosity and to give recognition to the undconditional dedicated service fot eh religious in Christ’s kingdom.

  Indeed, the life and ministry of Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales has always been an eloquent testimony of the ideal of St. Ignatius of Loyola – Ut in omnibus quaerant deum—That they may seek God in all things and his own Episcopal motto. Si mortuum fuerit, frutum affert. “If it dies, it yields much fruit” – John 12:24. He has fallen in love with this verse long before he became a bishop-as early as in his student days at the seminary. It is also the gospel read on the feast of St. Lawrence, deacon, his birth patron saint.