DAGUPAN CITY, Nov. 4, 2009─Archbishop Socrates Villegas was installed as archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan at 10:00 a.m. today in what is described as solemn and memorable rites attended by more than 60 arch/bishops through out the country including Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

The Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams read the message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Villegas who turned 49 last September 28 is one of the youngest archbishops in the Catholic Church. He was ordained priest by then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin in October 5, 1985. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Manila in July 25, 2001, and ordained Bishop and Titular of Nona in August 31, 2001.

He was later appointed Bishop of Balanga (Bataan) in May 3, 2004 and installed in July 3, 2004. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan last September 8, 2009.

The Diocese of Lingayen was erected in May 19, 1928 and was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Manila and originally covered the entire province of Pangasinan.

The name was changed into the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in February 11, 1954.

Its previous ordinaries were Cesar Marie Guerrero who was appointed February 22, 1929 and later appointed Auxiliary Bshop of Manila in December 16, 1937. Guerrero was succeeded by Bishop Mariano Madriaga in March 17, 1938 but resigned on February 7, 1973.

Archbishop Federico G. Limon, SVD succeeded Archbishop Madriaga in February 7, 1973 and retired July 15, 1991.

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz was appointed fourth ordinary of the archdiocese in July 15, 1991 and retired last September 8, 2009.

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has over a million Catholics with about 70 Catholic priests and 11 religious priests in 26 parishes, after the Diocese of Urdaneta and Alaminos were erected in January 12, 1985. (Melo M. Acuna)