Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Maria Obviar is a Filipino Servant of God
who is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. His cause for beatification is currently underway; He was declared Servant of God on 6 March 2001 with saint protocol number: 2398 . He is the founder of Missionary Catechists of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. He was the Bishop of Lucena City
until his death.
, Batangas
to Telesforo Obviar and Florentina Catalina Aranda.
He received his early religious formation and education at the Jesuit College of St. Francis Xavier in Manila
where he graduated in 1901. He earned his degree in Bachelor of Arts at the Ateneo de Manila
in 1914. He then proceeded to the University of Santo Tomas
Pontifical Seminary for Theological Studies.
The Rev. Obviar received the Sacerdotal Ordination on 15 March 1919. His pastoral ministry began that same year at Luta, now Malvar, Batangas
, and continued as Pastor of the Cathedral
Parish in Lipa City
(1927–1944). In both parishes, he established Catechetical Centers at the Poblacion
and the barrios. He was also Vicar General
for the Archdiocese of Lipa
.
of Lipa.
On January 22, 1951, Bishop Obviar was installed as Apostolic Administrator
of the new Diocese of Lucena
. Motivated by his great work for catechesis, he founded the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese (MCST) on August 12, 1958.
After more than 18 years as Administrator, Bishop Obviar was declared First Residential Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena on July 15, 1969.
He was declared Servant of God
in 6 March 2001.
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
who is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. His cause for beatification is currently underway; He was declared Servant of God on 6 March 2001 with saint protocol number: 2398 . He is the founder of Missionary Catechists of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. He was the Bishop of Lucena City
Lucena City
Metro Lucena has an estimated population of 700,000 which is mostly concentrated in the flat south-central portion of Quezon, which includes the cities of Lucena and Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, Lucban & Pagbilao . The people are often characterized as friendly and hardworking...
until his death.
Early life
Most Rev. Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar was born on 29 August 1889 in Mataas na Lupa, Lipa CityLipa City
The Lipa City /Li-pâ/ is a first class city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. It is one of the three component cities of Batangas province...
, Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
to Telesforo Obviar and Florentina Catalina Aranda.
He received his early religious formation and education at the Jesuit College of St. Francis Xavier in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
where he graduated in 1901. He earned his degree in Bachelor of Arts at the Ateneo de Manila
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
in 1914. He then proceeded to the University of Santo Tomas
University of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
Pontifical Seminary for Theological Studies.
The Rev. Obviar received the Sacerdotal Ordination on 15 March 1919. His pastoral ministry began that same year at Luta, now Malvar, Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
, and continued as Pastor of the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
Parish in Lipa City
Lipa City
The Lipa City /Li-pâ/ is a first class city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. It is one of the three component cities of Batangas province...
(1927–1944). In both parishes, he established Catechetical Centers at the Poblacion
Poblacion
A Poblacion or Población, literally "town" or "Population" in Spanish, is the name commonly used for the central barangay or barangays of a Philippine city or municipality. Common features of the poblacion include a town plaza, church, market, school and town hall. It is sometimes shortened to...
and the barrios. He was also Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
for the Archdiocese of Lipa
Archdiocese of Lipa
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa today comprises the civil province of Batangas located in the southwestern part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines.-Suffragan dioceses:*Diocese of Boac*Diocese of Gumaca*Diocese of Lucena-Location:...
.
Religious life
After 25 years in the ministry, Fr. Obviar was ordained to the Episcopate on June 29, 1944 and served as the first Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Lipa.
On January 22, 1951, Bishop Obviar was installed as Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the new Diocese of Lucena
Lucena City
Metro Lucena has an estimated population of 700,000 which is mostly concentrated in the flat south-central portion of Quezon, which includes the cities of Lucena and Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, Lucban & Pagbilao . The people are often characterized as friendly and hardworking...
. Motivated by his great work for catechesis, he founded the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese (MCST) on August 12, 1958.
After more than 18 years as Administrator, Bishop Obviar was declared First Residential Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena on July 15, 1969.
Death
Bishop Obviar died on October 1, 1978, on the Feast of his patron saint, St. Therese of the Child Jesus.Veneration
Bishop Obviar has the Saint protocol number: 2398He was declared Servant of God
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
in 6 March 2001.