The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalibo will formally welcome its new bishop with a special Mass at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral on April 23.
Bishop-elect Cyril Villareal will become the fifth shepherd of Kalibo, established a diocese 50 years ago.
He succeeds Bishop Emeritus Jose Corazon Tala-oc, who led the diocese for nearly 14 years.
Several bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and lay faithful are expected to attend Villareal’s episcopal ordination and installation.
The ordination will be presided over by Archbishop Victor Bendico of Capiz as principal consecrator, with Tala-oc and Bishop Narciso Abellana of Romblon as co-consecrators.
Cardinal Jose Advincula, former archbishop of Capiz and now archbishop of Manila, will deliver the homily.
After the ordination rites, Villareal will be formally installed and will canonically take possession of the diocese.
The Vatican announced on Jan. 24 that Pope Leo XIV appointed Villareal, a 51-year old priest of the Archdiocese of Capiz, as the next bishop of Kalibo.
The diocese serves about 600,000 Catholics in 24 parishes and two mission stations across Aklan province.
Since Tala-oc’s retirement in June 2025, the diocese has been under the care of Bendico as apostolic administrator.
Kalibo is one of two suffragan dioceses of the Capiz archdiocese, along with Romblon.
The diocese’s principal patron is St. John the Baptist. Its secondary patrons are the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
