The Archdiocese of Manila is set to make a major reshuffle of its priests into their new parish assignments.
The new clergy assignments, which will take effect in November, will be announced by October, according to Fr. Jerome Secillano of the archdiocese’s public affairs ministry.
“But some were already reassigned because of the priests who were expected to be in the seminary before the opening of classes,” Secillano said.
Msgr. also confirmed the planned reshuffle to church reporters. The archdiocese’s current vicar general and moderator curiae is Jose Clemente Ignacio.
Priests in Manila, like those in other dioceses, typically serve a six-year term before being transferred to other assignments.
The archdiocese’s last reshuffling of priest assignments occurred in 2015, during Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s tenure as archbishop.
Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula issued an order the day after he was installed as Tagle’s successor in June 2021 to maintain the status quo of priests’ assignments “in order that the administration of the Archdiocese of Manila and the pastoral services rendered to the people of God are ensured”.
The cardinal began forming his curia in November 2021 with the appointment of Fr. Marinay, Isidro, and Fr. Carmelo Arada Jr. will serve as chancellor and vice chancellor.
He appointed Fr. Regie Malicdem, the current rector of the Manila Cathedral in January of this year as the archdiocese’s spokesperson.
For many years, the archdiocese has no spokesperson. The most recent holder of the position was then-Manila Auxiliary Bishop Socrates Villegas, who is now Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.
The archbishop also appointed Secillano to head the ministry of public affairs, and Fr. Enrico Martin Adoviso to the Ministry of Socio-Political Advocacy or the Parish Pastoral Council for Voting Rights.
The archdiocese has 220 priests, which covers 86 parishes in Manila, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, and San Juan.