By Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY, Nov. 3 (PIA) – Rev. Fr. Severo C. Caermare, 44, a priest from Sibutad, Zamboanga del Norte was ordained recently as the new bishop of the Diocese of Dipolog following his appointment by Pope Francis, replacing Bishop Jose R. Manguiran.
He is the third bishop of the See of Dipolog and a Doctor of Divinity who will head 787,000 Catholics and 68 priests.
Prior to his appointment as diocesan bishop, Fr. Caermare has served as rector of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary here after Fr. Virgilio P. Belleno in early May of this year.
He studied philosophy at the Cor Jesu Seminary and St. Vincent’s College in Dipolog City, and his theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro City where he earned a master's degree in Theology and Pastoral Ministry.
He was ordained priest for the Diocese of Dipolog on April 22, 1996 and worked as the Administrator of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Godod, Zamboanga del Norte from 1996-1997.
In 1997 to 2002 he served as a trainer at Cor Jesu Seminary in Dipolog City; an administrator of St. Isidore parish, Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte from 2002-2003; a trainer, rector and professor at St. Mary's Theologate of Ozamis City from 2003-2004; a rector, liturgist and professor at Cor Jesu Seminary in Dipolog City from 2004-2006; a trainer, professor and dean of studies at St. Mary's Theologate of Ozamis City from 2006-2007.
In 2013 he was chief executive at St. Antonio de Padua Parish in Gulayon, Dipolog City.