by Russell Fleur Gallego
On the eve of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul last June 29, 2021, the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown, announced before the Mass at the Manila Cathedral, the appointment from the Vatican of Bishop Broderick Pabillo as Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay and Msgr. Noel Pedregosa as bishop–elect of the Diocese of Malaybalay.
Bishop–elect Pedregosa was born on October 18, 1964 at M’lang in Cotabato. He studied Philosophy at St. Isidro College in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. While he studied Theology in St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro. He took his Licentiate of Sacred Scriptures (S.S.L) in Loyola School of Theology in Ateneo de Manila University. He was ordained as a priest on September 11, 1991. He was the Vicar General of the Diocese of Malaybalay at the same time Rector of St. Isidro Cathedral in 2017. In July 2020, he became the administrator of the Diocese of Malaybalay when Bishop Jose Cabantan was elected as the new archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
The Diocese of Malaybalay was erected on April 25, 1969 as a Territorial Prelature of Malaybalay. On November 15, 1982 it was elevated as a diocese. It covers the province of Bukidnon except for Malitbog, which is under the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. The former bishops of the diocese include Bishop Francisco F. Claver (June 18, 1969 – September 14, 1984); Bishop Gaudencio Borbon Rosales (September 24, 1984 – December 30, 1992), Bishop Honesto Chaves Pacana (March 24, 1994 – May 15, 2010); and Bishop Jose Cabantan (May 15, 2010 – June 23, 2020).
Art Card from Diocese of Malaybalay at 50 Official Facebook Page
In the released official coat of arms of Bishop–elect Pedregosa of the Diocese of Malaybalay last July 6, 2021, the monogram IHS which stands for the Holy Name of Jesus which is also the seal of the Society of Jesus (SJ). The Jesuits had made Bukidnon as one of their mission districts and founded educational institutions where the bishop was educated. The color azure (blue) in the chief represents the devotion of the bishop–elect to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The colors of the seven tribes of Bukidnon are also present in the coat of arms, which symbolizes that the bishop–elect is the first who hails from the diocese. The Sacred Scriptures represent the great devotion to the Word of God of Bishop–elect Pedregosa. The tincture of gold symbolizes the illumination that the bishop–elect would give to his flock as well as the symbol of St. Joseph, the Universal Patron of the Church. The tree rooted in greenery represents the strong ecological trust of the entire church. Lastly, the motto of the bishop–elect “Ut Omnes Unum Sint” from the Gospel of John 17:21, which means “That They May All Be One”.
The installation of Bishop–elect Pedregosa is yet to be announced.