Bishop appointed for Kidapawan diocese in the Philippines

(Vatican Radio) The Holy Father on Monday appointed Bishop José Colin Mendoza Bagaforo, until now titular Bishop of Vazari Didda and Auxiliary of Cotabato, in the Philippines, as the new Bishop for Kidapawan diocese.

Msgr. Jose Colin Mendoza Bagaforo was born in Cotabato on January 30 1954. He studied philosophy at Notre Dame Seminary in Cotabato, and theology at St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary in Davao. He was ordained a priest on March 25, 1980, for the Archdiocese of Cotabato.

After two years as assistant priest in Tacurong City, he was Superintendent of the archdiocesan schools until 1990 and at the same time spiritual director at Notre Dame Seminary in Cotabato for two years.

From 1990 to 1991 he pursued theological studies at the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, in the U.S.A., attaining a specialization. This experience was repeated in 1994 at the Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro and in 2003 at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City, in both cases with a specialization in field of pedagogy.

From 1991 to 1997 he was parish priest of Cotabato Cathedral, 1997-1999 Pastor in Tacurong City, and from 1999 to 2001 Pastor in Maguindanao. From 2001 to 2002 he served as Treasurer of the Archdiocese. Since 2002 he has been President of the Notre Dame of Tacurong College. In 2004 he was appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cotabato. On 2 February 2006 he was appointed Titular Bishop of Vazari Didda and Auxiliary of Cotabato. He was consecrated bishop on 25 April, the same year.