José Rojas Rojas

Filipino Catholic bishop (born 1956)

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal  family name is Rojas and the surname or paternal family name is Rojas.

The Most Reverend

José Rojas Rojas Jr.

D.D.

Bishop of Libmanan
Church| Roman Catholic Church
Province| Caceres
Diocese| Libmanan
Appointed| May 19, 2008
Installed| July 2, 2008
Predecessor| Prospero N. Arellano
Orders
Ordination| March 29, 1981
by Teopisto Valderrama Alberto
Consecration| September 15, 2005
by Antonio Franco
Personal details
Born|  (1956-08-18) August 18, 1956 (age 68)

Cebu City, Philippines

Nationality| Filipino
Denomination| Roman Catholic
Parents| José Rojas Sr. and Emiliana Rojas
Alma mater| Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
University of Santo Tomas
Motto| Ipsi Gloria in Saecula
Coat of arms|
Styles of
José R. Rojas Jr.

Reference style|

* His Excellency
* The Most Reverend

Spoken style| Your Excellency
Religious style| Bishop

José Rojas Rojas Jr. (born August 18, 1956) is a Filipino bishop of the Roman Catholic Church who has served as the Bishop-Prelate of Libmanan since 2008 and continued as its first diocesan bishop following its elevation to a diocese in 2009.[1][2][3][4]

## Early life and education

[edit]

José Jr. was born on August 18, 1956, in Cebu City, Philippines, to parents José Rojas Sr. and Emiliana Rojas.[4][5] His early education took place at Naga Parochial School from 1962 to 1968. He continued his studies at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City, Camarines Sur where he completed his secondary education in 1973.[1][6]

He pursued his philosophical and theological studies at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary in Naga City from 1973 to 1980. After completing his seminary education, he earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the University of Santo Tomas in 1980, followed by a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1982 from the same institution.[1]

Furthering his academic pursuits, he obtained a Master of Arts in Religious Education from the University of Santo Tomas in 1982. He then proceeded to Belgium, where he earned a Master of Arts in Religious Studies in 1985, a Doctorate in Religious Studies in 1987, and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology in the same year from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.[1][6]

## Priesthood

[edit]

Rojas was ordained as a priest on March 29, 1981, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Naga City by Archbishop Teopisto Valderrama Alberto.[4][5][6] In the summer of that year, he served as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish in Naga City. The following year, he was appointed Priest-in-Charge of GRS in Ragay, Camarines Sur.[1]

Beginning in 1982, he taught at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary, eventually becoming vice rector and professor from 1987 to 1989. He later served as rector of the seminary from 1989 to 1998, overseeing the formation of future priests. During this period, he was also chairman of the Commission on Priestly Formation and a judge in the Ecclesiastical Marriage Tribunal from 1991 to 1994.[1]

Beyond his academic roles, he chaired several key commissions, including the Committee on the Conservation of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary as a National Historical Landmark in 1989 and the Committee on the Consolidation of Resolution under the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council of Caceres in 1991. His contributions extended to media and social communications, serving as an auxiliary member of the Caceres Commission on Communication in 1992 and an associate judge in the Caceres Ecclesiastical Tribunal in 1998.[1]

From 1998 to 2008, he was assigned as the parish priest of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Naga City while simultaneously serving as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Caceres. He took on leadership roles in the Jubilee Executive Committee for the Golden Jubilee of Caceres from 1999 to 2001 and later chaired the Second Archdiocesan Pastoral Council in 2000. His pastoral responsibilities expanded when he became director of the Caceres Family Ministry in 2001 and a member of the International Commission on Bioethics in 2004.[1]

## Episcopal ministry

[edit]

On July 25, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rojas as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Caceres and Titular Bishop of Idassa, he was the first appointee of Pope Benedict XVI.[5] His episcopal consecration took place on September 15, 2005, with Archbishop Antonio Franco presiding over the ceremony.[4]

Three years later, on May 19, 2008, he was appointed as the Bishop-Prelate of the then Territorial Prelature of Libmanan.[4][2] He was officially installed on July 2, 2008, and following the elevation of Libmanan to a diocese on March 25, 2009, he became its first diocesan bishop.[4][3][7]

Within the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, he was the vice-chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Bioethics from 2005 to 2013.[1][8][9] He also served as the Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Doctrine of the Faith from 2019 to 2025. [10][11][12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Most Rev. JOSE R. ROJAS, Jr., D.D." Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
2. ^ a b "Rinuncia del vescovo-prelato di Libmanan (Filippine) e nomina del nuovo vescovo-prelato" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. May 19, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
3. ^ a b "Elevazione a diocesi della Prelatura territoriale di Libmanan (Filippine) e nomina del primo vescovo" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. March 25, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Bishops: Past & Present". Diocese of Libmanan. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
5. ^ a b c "Nomina dell'ausiliare di Caceres (Filippine)" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. July 25, 2005. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
6. ^ a b c "Pope names new Filipino bishop". The Philippine Star. July 27, 2005. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
7. ^ "Pope elevates Libmanan prelature to full diocese". The Philippine Star. March 27, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
8. ^ "CBCP Officers (2009-2011)" (PDF). Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
9. ^ "CBCP Officers (2011-2013)" (PDF). Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
10. ^ "Chairmen and Members of the CBCP Commissions, Committees, and Offices". CBCP News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
11. ^ "CBCP Commissions". CBCP News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
12. ^ "Heads of CBCP Episcopal Commissions, Committees, and Offices". CBCP News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.

Catholic Church titles

New title |  Bishop of Libmanan
2009–present  | Incumbent
Preceded by

Prospero N. Arellano

|  Bishop-Prelate of Libmanan
2008–present  | Succeeded by

Himself

as Bishop of Libmanan
Preceded by

Bogdan Bejze

|  Titular Bishop of Idassa
2005–2008  | Succeeded by

Vincent Jordy

* v
* t
* e

Roman Catholic Diocese of Libmanan

Dioecesis Libmanana

Territories|

* Western Camarines Sur (Cabusao, Del Gallego, Libmanan, Lupi, Milaor, Minalabac, Pamplona, Pasacao, Ragay, San Fernando, Sipocot)

Ordinaries|

* Prospero Nale Arellano
* José Rojas Rojas Jr.

Cathedral|

* St. James the Greater Apostle

Shrine|

| Diocesan|

* Our Lady of Pillar

|

Parishes|

| Vicariate of
St. Joseph
the Worker|

* St. Joseph the Worker (Milaor)
* St. Padre Pio Mission Station (Milaor)
* Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Minalabac)
* Our Lady of Salvation (Minalabac)
* Sts. Philip and James (Minalabac)

|

Vicariate of
St. Michael|

* St. Michael the Archangel (Pamplona, Camarines Sur)
* St. Rose of Lima (Pasacao)
* St. John the Baptist (San Fernando, Camarines Sur)

Vicariate of
St. James|

* St. James the Greater Apostle
* St. Joseph the Patriarch
* St. Paschal Baylon (Cabusao)
* St. Bernardine of Siena (Cabusao)
* St. Vincent Ferrer

Vicariate of
Our Lady of
the Pillar|

* Our Lady of the Pillar
* Our Lady of Lourdes
* St. Anthony of Padua
* St. Francis of Assisi Mission Station

Vicariate of
St. John
the Baptist|

* St. John the Baptist (Sipocot)
* St. Pius X (Sipocot)
* St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Sipocot)
* St. John Paul II Mission Station (Lupi, Camarines Sur)
* St. Peter Baptist (Lupi, Camarines Sur)
* Sagrada Familia (Lupi, Camarines Sur)
* St. John Paul II (Lupi, Camarines Sur)
* St. John Mary Vianney Mission Station (Lupi, Camarines Sur)
* Sto. Niño De Praga (Sipocot)

Vicariate of
Most Holy
Trinity|

* Most Holy Trinity (Ragay)
* Sta. Rita de Cascia (Del Gallego)
* Our Lady of Peñafrancia (Del Gallego)
* San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila (Ragay)
* Nuestra Señora de Salvacion (Ragay)
* St. Anthony of Padua (Sipocot)
* St. Andrew the Apostle Mission Station (Ragay)

* Ecclesiastical Province of Cáceres
* Catholicism portal
* Philippines portal

## External links

[edit]

* Bishop José R. Rojas Jr. at Catholic-Hierarchy
* CBCP Online - Bishop José R. Rojas Jr.
* Diocese of Libmanan - Bishops: Past & Present

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