Jesus Y Varela

infobox bishopbiog
name = Most Rev. Jesus Y Varela

religion = Catholic Church
See = Diocese of Sorsogon
Title = Bishop Emeritus of Sorsogon
Period = 2003 - retired
Predecessor =
Successor = Most Rev Arturo Mandin Bastes
ordination = March 17, 1956
bishops = March 28, 1967
post =
date of birth = Birth date and age|1927|18|12|mf=y
place of birth = Bacolod City|

The Most Reverend Jesus Y Varela is the Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon, since he retired in April 16 2003, he was appointed bishop of sorsogon in Nov 27 1980, prior to that he served as the first ever Bishop of then Diocese of Ozamis , he also served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zamboangaand titular Bishop of Tatilti.

infobox bishopstyles
name=Jesus Y Varela
dipstyle=The Most Reverend
offstyle=Your Excellency
relstyle=Bishop emeritus
deathstyle=not applicable |

Life

He was born on December 18 1927, in Bacolod City, the son of Vicente Varela, a Judge from Bago City within the same province of Negros Occidental he is a direct descendant of Gregorio Varela, a spaniard who was one of Bago city's founding fathers, and through Gregorio's wife Josefa Araneta he is a distant relation to revolutionary Juan Araneta. He attended Colegio Del Sagrado Corazon in Iloilo City for kindergarten , and Iloilo Normal School for half of his elementary years in Surigao Elementary School when his father was assigned to be a provincial Judge there. The family later moved to Sorsogon when his father was again reassigned where he studied in Sorsogon National Highschool, this is also where he answered his calling and entered Our Lady of Peñafrancia Minor Seminary. He also later studied in the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila and the University of the Angelicum in Rome.

He was ordained on March 17, 1956 in Cebu City, where his father would last serve as Provincial Judge. He joined the Society of Jesus following in the footsteps of his older brother Mariano who was a Jesuit Priest. Later on his two younger sisters would become nuns, together with a cousin of his.His nephew Richard Varela of the Salesian Order is the latest in the family to join religious service.

Aside for his service as a Bishop,the Most Rev Jesus Varela was also involved in broadcasting, in 1972 he served as Vice President of UNDA , a catholic radio and television organization, he became it's president in 1974, he was also President of Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters, using this position for his criticism of then Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, at a time when all media were censured or under the direct control of the government.

He also serves as Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines, he is a member of it's permanent council to which all fiipino roman catholic bishops belong.

EDUCATION

* The Basic School of the Family1927-1932
* Colegio del Sagrado CorazonIloilo, Kindergarten
* Iloilo Normal School Training Department1932-1938
* Surigao Elementary School1938-1940
* Sorsogon National High School1940-1946
* Our Lady of Peñafrancia Minor SeminarySorsogon, 1946-1949
* Ph.LUST Central SeminaryManila, 1949-1952
* STLUST Central SeminaryManila, 1952-1956
* STD, JCBUniversity of the AngelicumRome, 1958-1961

Ministry

* 1956-1958- Chaplain, Agriculture College, Pili, Camarines Sur
* 1956-1957- Curate, Pili, Camarines Sur
* 1957-1958- Archdiocesan Vice Chancellor, Caceres
* 1961-1963- CATWELO/CBCP Asst. Secretary General, Manila
* 1963-1965- Archdiocesan Chancellor, Caceres
* 1967-1975- Cursillos de Cristiandad/Archdiocesan Director, Caceres
* 1967-1971- Auxiliary Bishop, Zamboanga
* 1968-1972- Member, CBCP Administrative Council
* 1971-1981- Diocesan Bishop, Ozamis
* 1972
* Vice President, UNDA Philippines
* President, Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters
* 1974- President, UNDA Philippines
* 1980-1994- Diocesan Bishop, Sorsogon
* 1982-present
* Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Family and Life
* Member, CBCP Permanent Council

ee also

*Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon
*Varela Family of Negros

ources

*http://www.cbcponline.org/bishops/bishops/varela.html
*http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bvarela.html
*http://www.cbcponline.net/jurisdictions/sorsogon.html
*http://www.igreens.org.uk/catholic_bishops_support_gmos.htm