Pope Francis names first auxiliary bishop for Antipolo

Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Nolly C. Buco as auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Antipolo, the first auxiliary bishop in the 35year history of the diocese.

The first priest to be elevated to the episcopate, Buco is currently the parish priest of the Our Lady of Light Parish in Cainta, Rizal.

An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the diocese. The Antipolo diocesan bishop is Francisco de Leon.

Born on Nov. 27, 1964, Fr. Buco completed his degree in Philosophy at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte and his Theology at the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Guiguinto, Bulacan. He was ordained priest on October 18, 1993.

In 2004, he completed his Doctorate in Canon Law at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Between 2002 and 2003, he attended the PhD program in Anthropology at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Buco also served as Judicial Vicar of Antipolo, rector of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Seminary and member of the Board of Presbyteral Consultors.