Diocese of Alaminos set to install new bishop

CAGAYAN, Philippines – After being appointed by Pope Francis on February 20, Archdiocese of Tuguegarao Auxiliary Bishop Ricardo Lingan Baccay is set to be formally installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Alaminos in Pangasinan province.

The Liturgical Reception Rite and Canonical Installation is scheduled for 9:30 am of May 4, 2016 at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Alaminos.

Baccay will be the third bishop of the 31-year old diocese after Bishop Jesus Cabrera and Bishop Marlo Mendoza Peralta.

Baccay was born on April 3, 1961 in Tuguegarao and was ordained a priest on April 10, 1987. Having studied his secondary education at a seminary in Penablanca town in Cagayan province, Baccay took philosophy and eventually theology courses in Pontifical Central Seminary, University of Santo Tomas, Manila from 1982 to 1987.

He was ordained priest by former Tuguegarao Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, whom he later served as assistant.

He headed 2 pastoral parishes in Tuguegarao before being assigned as rector of San Jacinto Seminary and, later on, became member of different offices of the Catholic Conference of Bishops of the Philippines.

As the new bishop of Alaminos, Baccay will lead the over 300,000 member of Roman Catholic in the area.

He will also lead 14 diocesan priests, 5 Columban Missionary priests, 2 Capuchin Missionaries and 58 women religious from 13 congregations. – Rappler.com