Pope Francis appoints a bishop for Catarman diocese

The incumbent Apostolic Administrator of Catarman diocese has been appointed by Pope Francis as its new bishop, according to the announcement from the Vatican on Friday.

Bishop Nolly Camingue Buco, 61, is also an auxiliary bishop of Antipolo and holds the titular of the see of Gemellae in Byzacena since July 10, 2018 and was consecrated on September 8, 2018.

He has been the apostolic administrator of Catarman since the 8th of December 2023.

Bishop Buco was born in Baganga, Davao Oriental, on 27 November 1963. He studied philosophy at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte and theology at the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

He was ordained a priest on 18 October 1993 for the diocese of Antipolo.

Buco has held various positions since his ordination, including parish vicar of Saint Clement in Angono, Rizal, parish vicar of Antipolo Cathedral in Antipolo City, member of the Presbyteral Council, member of the College of Consultors, and priest chargé at San Isidro Labrador in Antipolo Hills, Antipolo City and Defender of the Bond at the Court of First Instance.

He holds a master's degree in theological studies from the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Guiguinto, Bulacan, awarded a doctorate in anthropology from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City (2003).

In 2016, he received a doctorate in juridical sciences from San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila , and held the role of parish priest of Our Lady of Light in Cainta, Rizal. — BAP, GMA Integrated News