Nolly C. Buco

The Most Reverend

Nolly C. Buco

D.D.
3rd Bishop of Catarman
SeeCatarman
AppointedOctober 16, 2024
PredecessorEmmanuel Trance
Orders
OrdinationOctober 18, 1993
by Protacio Gungon
ConsecrationSeptember 8, 2018
by Francisco M. De Leon
Personal details
Born
Nolly Camingue Buco
DenominationCatholic Church
EducationDoctor of Canon Law
Alma mater
MottoLex Dei Vitae Lampas (The Law of God is the Lamp of Life)
Styles of
Nolly C. Buco
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Nolly Camingue Buco (born 27 November 1963)[1] is a Filipino Roman Catholic prelate who was appointed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Catarman. Prior to that, he was apostolic administrator of the said diocese following the resignation of Emmanuel Trance due to health reasons, while concurrently serving as the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo.

Buco is also Judicial Vicar of the National Tribunal of Appeals, a Church office that handles marriage nullity cases in the Philippines. He is the author of the 2024 book, Freeing Distressed Couple from Guilt, The Need for State Recognition of the Church's Declaration on Marriage Nullity.[2]

Early Life and Education

Buco was born in Baganga, Davao Oriental. After finishing high school, he enrolled at the Seminary of the Sacred Heart in Palo, Leyte, earning a degree in philosophy.[1] Buco then transferred to the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Guiguinto, Bulacan for his theological studies, graduating in 1993.[1][3]

Priesthood

Buco was ordained a deacon on March 25, 1993, then as priest for the diocese of Antipolo on October 18, 1993.[1][4] Both ceremonies were presided by then bishop of Antipolo Protacio Gungon.[4]

Buco subsequently studied Canon Law at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, earning his licentiate in 1999 and his doctorate degree in 2004.[5] He also enrolled in a PhD program in Anthropology at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.[6]

Buco held various positions in the diocese such as Judicial Vicar, member of the Presbyteral Consultors, and rector of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Seminary.[6] Before becoming a bishop, his last parish assignment was in Our Lady of Light Parish in Cainta, Rizal.[6]

Episcopacy

In July 2018, Buco was named as auxiliary bishop of Antipolo by Pope Francis. He is known to be the first priest elevated to the episcopate and only the second auxiliary bishop in Antipolo's history.[6] He is also the first alumnus of the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary to become a bishop.[3]

In December 2023, Pope Francis appointed Buco as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Catarman, simultaneous with the pope's acceptance of the resignation of its bishop, Emmanuel Trance, due to health reasons.[7] He was consecrated as bishop on September 8, 2018.[8] Bishop Francisco de Leon of Antipolo acted as principal consecrator, with bishops Oscar Florencio and Jacinto Jose serving as co-consecrators.[4] For his episcopal ministry, Buco chose the motto, Lex Dei Vitae Lampas (The Law of God is the Lamp of Life), taken from Psalm 19:8 of the Christian Bible.[9]

In October 2024, Buco was subsequently appointed as the third Bishop of Catarman in an announcement made by Pope Francis.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  2. ^ Rodriguez, King (March 2, 2024). "PGMA lauds Bishop Buco's book on marriage nullity". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Panganiban, Kendrick Ivan (July 23, 2018). "Bulacan seminary honors 1st bishop alumnus". CBCPNews. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Bishop Nolly Camingue Buco [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  5. ^ Panganiban, Kendrick Ivan (September 12, 2018). "Antipolo's 1st bishop-son ordained". CBCPNews. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "Pope names auxiliary bishop for Antipolo". CBCPNews. July 10, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  7. ^ Lagarde, Roy (December 8, 2023). "Pope Francis accepts Catarman bishop's resignation, names apostolic administrator". CBCPNews. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "Diocese of Antipolo". Shrine & Parish of Our Lady of Aranzazu. May 3, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Esmaquel, Paterno II (October 18, 2024). "Canon law expert Nolly Buco is new bishop of Catarman". RAPPLER. Retrieved October 24, 2024.