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ALFREDO VERSOZA (1917 - 1950) Bishop Versoza took over the diocese of Lipa from 1917-1950. He was from Vigan. He was a young priest when he was appointed Bishop of Lipa. His diocese covered Lipa, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon / Tayabas, Marinduque and Mindoro. His external appearance commanded respect. He always had a serious expression in dealing with priests, seminarians and parishioners in his pastoral visits. One possible explanation for his constant serious face was that he did not learn Tagalog. This prevented him from having rapport with the people. They in turn had no means of approaching him. Because he spoke only Ilocano and Spanish, he preached in Spanish and had an interpreter each time. The best known among his interpreters was Msgr. Obviar. Fr. Eustaquio Daite and Fr. Osorio de Souza, an Indian priest also served frequently as his interpreters. They served as interpreters in his homilies, pastoral visits and conversations. Bishop Versoza was holy. He knelt before the altar in prayer for fifteen minutes before celebrating Mass. He knelt for another fifteen minutes after His Mass. He loved his priesthood and valued it. Jealously guarding his priesthood made him scared of women. This explains why he did not even allow himself to be photographed with them. He was holy and always worthy of respect. This is attested to by Msgr. Salvatus whom he met in Lipa. Msgr. Salvatus got even closer to him because he took Fr. Salvatus with him to Vigan when he retired. Before finally going with Bishop Versoza, Fr. Salvatus, feeling unworthy of this confidence, went to Msgr. Obviar to inquire why he was the one chosen to do so when there were other priests who were more intelligent and even more close to the Bishop. “He chose you, what can I do about that?” This was the answer given to him by Msgr. Obviar. He was kind and holy. Even if sometimes he got impulsive, it was clear that he was kind. He was humble - he acknowledged his weakness before some of his priests, one of whom was Fr. Innumerable. This was a rare quality found in superiors like this Bishop: he sought out a priest for consultation. He implemented the Canon Law regarding the formation of his priests. He instructed priests to study Moral Theology in view of their hearing confessions. He met his priests monthly in an assembly. (M. De V.) Bishop Versoza knew how to express his love for his priests. If a priest did something wrong in relation to a woman, he did not allow the relationship to continue. He called the priest to the seminary and there gave him spiritual exercises. He cried every time he learned that one of his priests had gotten involved with a woman. RUFINO SANTOS (1950-1953) ALEJANDRO OLALIA (1953-1973) From Tuguegarao, Archbishop Olalia was assigned to Lipa in 1954. He replaced Lipa diocese’s Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Santos who became Archbishop – elect of Manila. His bearing when he was not officiating in the religious activities of the Archdiocese was that of a consummate businessman. In full Prelate regalia, he clutched his portfolio when he was not holding his mitre. CIRILO ALMARIO RICARDO VIDAL (1973-1981) Cardinal Vidal is remembered in Lipa as a very mild and very good Archbishop. Because of this kindness, priests could never refuse him, especially in matters of their assignments. Fr. Innumerable ia one of these priests: he did not want to be removed from Calaca but he could not refuse Cardinal Vidal's decision to move him to Tanauan. MARIANO GAVIOLA (1981-1992) GAUDENCIO B. ROSALES (1992-2004) Gaudencio B.Rosales was born the third child of Godofredo D. Rosales and Remedios M. Borbon on the 10th of August 1932 with Rosie, Teresita and Mary Grace as Sisters and Guillermo, Gabriel and Gilbert as Brothers in Batangas City. He was educated at the Batangas Elementary School, St. Bridget’s Grade School, the Batangas National High School, San Jose Minor and Major Seminaries Ordained priest on 23rd of March 1958 and Bishop on the 28th of October 1974, and named Titular Bishop of Esco. He was Prefect and Rector of St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary,as well as Spiritual Director and Professor at St. Francis de Sales College Seminary, Lipa City. He also taught and served as Rector of San Carlos Major Seminary, EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati City. He was Parish Priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish (Banaybanay, Lipa City), Immaculate Conception Parish (Batangas City), and Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Rizal). He also served as Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, District Bishop of East Rizal and Manila South of Pasig; was National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the Mission Society of the Philippines; was elected twice to the Supreme Council of Pro Propaganda Fide in Rome (for Philippines and Asia); was CBCP Delegate to the VIII Synod of Bishops (Vatican), 1990 and was Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Seminaries, CBCP, and Apostolic Visitator of Seminaries in the Philippines still serves as Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Clergy, CBCP, He served as Bishop of Diocese of Malaybalay (1982-1993) and was elected Archbishop of Lipa 30 December 1992 Installed Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lipa March 18, 1993.CBCP Delegate to the 1998 Synod of Bishops (Vatican) RAMÓN CABRERA ARGüELLES, DD, STL (2004 up to present) |
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GUISSEPPE PETRELLI (1910-1916) It is mysterious too, because the big archdiocese that Lipa is now, started from Bishop Petrelli’s little known pioneering work, based on the scarce information we have about him. His hidden work serves in the life of the Archdiocese, much like the biblical mustard seed and leaven in the dough. Only two essential decisions mark his ministry in Lipa which he chose in 1910 to be his see because of its cool climate. The first big decision was that of inviting different foreign congregations of missionaries to the Philippines. This was his response to the biggest problem that he encountered in Lipa, namely, the scarcity of priests. (50 Years) The second major decision of Bishop Petrelli was forming local priests. It was time for his second and last big step, that is, having a seminary. So in February of 1914, the Bishop ordered Fr. Catapang, together with the Bishop’s brother, Fr. Gustavo Petrelli, to put up a seminary in Bauan. It was a Seminary College, meaning it offered government recognized courses to ordinary college students and at the same time, it provided ecclesiastical courses with preparation for the priesthood, to the seminarians. It had some lay teachers. It was commonly called “Colegio Seminario.” (Salesius ‘97, M. Salvatus) At the same time in June 1914, Rev. Fr. Bruno Saiz, CM and Felix Perez, CM arrived in San Pablo and also opened the Seminary-College in the parochial convent of that town. Fr. Julio Ruiz CM, Fr. Baltasar Comin CM and Fr. Cecilio Martinez CM arrived a bit later to complete the faculty. It held regular classes with seventy students from 1914-1915. After this year, Bishop Petrelli transferred the seminarians of San Pablo to the Seminary College of Bauan and turned over its administration to the “Padres Paules.” (50 years…) The first rector in this “Colegio Seminario” in Bauan was Fr. Gancedo, CM. His staff members were Fr. Lorenzo Ibanez, CM and Bro. Aguirreche. Soon, Fr. Gancedo CM was called to teach in Manila. Fr. Antonio Perez, CM succeeded him as Rector. Bishop Petrelli served in Lipa until 1916.
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