Ruperto Santos

Ruperto Cruz Santos, D.D. (born October 30, 1957), is a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines serving as the fourth and current bishop of Balanga since July 8, 2010, succeeding Socrates Villegas who became archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on November 4, 2009. Due to Fr. Gerry Jorge was stepped down as parish priest of St. Nicholas de Tolentino Parish Church in Mariveles, Bataan on June 2020, he also serves as parish priest of the said parish church since the said month.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Cruz and the surname or paternal family name is Santos.
The Most Reverend

Ruperto C. Santos

D.D.
Bishop of Balanga
ProvinceBataan
SeeBalanga
InstalledJuly 8, 2010
PredecessorSocrates Villegas
SuccessorIncumbent
Other post(s)Chairman, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino (December 1, 2019–present)
Parish Priest of St. Nicholas Tolentino Parish Church, Mariveles, Bataan (June 2020–present)
Orders
OrdinationSeptember 10, 1983
ConsecrationJune 24, 2010
Personal details
Born (1957-10-30) October 30, 1957
San Rafael, Bulacan, Philippines[1]
NationalityFilipino
Previous post(s)Priest of Archdiocese of Manila (September 10, 1983–July 8, 2010)
Rector of Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, Italy (2000–July 8, 2010)
Motto"Ad Seminandum" (To Sow)
Coat of arms
Styles of
Ruperto Santos
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

Santos was born on October 30, 1957 in Caingin, San Rafael, Bulacan. His parents are the late Norberto Santos and the late Aurelia Cruz. They are five siblings in the family.

He had his primary education at Caingin Elementary School and completed his studies and seminary formation in Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary (high school) and in San Carlos Seminary in Makati (college and theology) of the Archdiocese of Manila. He was ordained priest on September 10, 1983 at the Manila Cathedral by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin.

After several years in the ministry serving the archdiocese, he was sent to Rome for further studies and took up his Licentiate in Church History in Pontificia Universita Gregoriana. He has been Academic Dean of San Carlos Graduate School of Theology. He also became Rector of Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome. In 2003, he became the National Coordinator of the Italian Bishop's Conference for Pastoral Care of Filipino Migrants in Italy. In 2005, he became a member of Pontificio Comitato per i Congressi Eucaristici Internazionali in the Vatican. He has also written a number of books regarding Historical interest published by the Archdiocese of Manila and about Homilies, Prayers, and Spirituality published by St. Paul's (SSP).

Santos previously served as priest of the Archdiocese of Manila from September 10, 1983 until he became Bishop of Balanga in Bataan on July 8, 2010 where he succeeded Socrates Villegas as the latter became archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on November 4, 2009. He also previously served as rector of Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI named Santos as fourth bishop of Balanga on April 1, 2010 to succeed Socrates Villegas. He was ordained as bishop and consecrated by Cardinal Gaudencio Borbon Rosales, the then Archbishop of Manila, on June 24, 2010, and became bishop of Balanga upon his installation on July 8, 2010.[1] Since he became bishop of Balanga on July 2010, five parishes, and one minor basilica and chapel were created during his term as bishop of the diocese, with Residencia Sacerdotal, Retirement Home for Priests (Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel) in Taglesville, Balanga was built months after he became bishop of Balanga.

After Fr. Gerry Jorge stepped down as parish priest of St. Nicholas Tolentino Parish Church in Mariveles, Bataan, Santos became parish priest of the said parish church in June 2020 where he currently serves the unexpired and remaining term of Fr. Gerry Jorge as the church's parish priest from June 2020 to June 5, 2023.[2]

Coat of arms
Coat of arms of Ruperto Santos
Adopted
July 8, 2010
Helm
Bishop's Galero
The shield is surmounted by the bishop's galero or ecclesiastical hat of this rank with six tassels for each side in Vert (green) that signifies the rank of a Bishop.
Escutcheon
From 2010: Parted per fess: First: Azure (blue), three-stemmed lilies, Second: Gules (red), three youths reading books and golden (or) sun with the letters IHS; Impaled with a shield tierced per fess: First: Or, hand of the Divine Sower, Jesus Christ, Second: Azure, Blessed Mother's mantle of blue (azure).
Motto
AD SEMINANDUM
"To Sow." The motto was taken from Mark 4:3, "Audite: Ecce exiit seminans ad seminandum" (Hear this! A sower went out to sow). This is from the many parables that Jesus used to teach to the people that present to them an imagery of everyday life that they could identify with. Jesus, Himself, said that the parables were the way by which He tries to make them understand the mystery of the Kingdom of God.
Other elements
Latin Cross
The shield is also surmounted by the Latin cross, symbolizing the bishop's dignity.
Banner
The banner, either in golden brown (tenné) or white (argent), features the bishop's motto (Ad Seminandum).
Symbolism
The Marian symbol "M", like with his predecessor Socrates Villegas which previously served as bishop of Balanga from July 3, 2004 to November 4, 2009 and currently serving as archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan since November 4, 2009, represents the bishop's devotion and dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary beginning from his youth when he studied at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary of the Archdiocese of Manila. The Blessed Mother's mantle of blue is his source of consolation and peace in all the challenges of his priestly life.
The hand of the Divine Sower, Jesus Christ, amidst the brown color of the earth, which describes his family's roots as farmers. It also alludes to his pastoral ministry, as directed by the teachings of Saint Charles Borromeo, after whom was named San Carlos Seminary of the Archdiocese of Manila, where he underwent formation and studies for the priesthood.

See also

References
  1. Cheney, David. "Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos". Catholic Hierarchy.
  2. Aquino, Leslie Ann (December 18, 2020). "A wood stove inspires design of Christmas Belen in Mariveles, Bataan". www.mb.com.ph. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
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