Bishop Jose Oliveros was last seen publicly during the episcopal ordination of his former Vicar General, Msgr. Bartolome Santos, at the Malolos Cathedral on April 30, 2018. ROY LAGARDE
By Roy Lagarde
May 11, 2018
Manila, Philippines
Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos has died after a long battle with cancer on Friday morning.
He was 71 years old.
Oliveros died at around 9:12am at the Mary Immaculate Hospital in Malolos City.
Fr. Nick Lalog, spokesman of the diocese, said the bishop was found unconscious in his room at around 8am.
He said the bishop was then rushed to the nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
Oliveros had been been under treatment for prostate cancer since 2015, which has limited his physical activities.
But Lalog said Oliveros’ health condition has not stopped the prelate from doing his duties.
Visibly frail, he was last seen publicly at the Malolos Cathedral on April 30 during the ordination of the diocese’s vicar general, Msgr. Bartolome Santos Jr., as bishop of the Diocese of Iba.
His remains will lie in state at the cathedral, also known as the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, in Malolos City.
Funeral services are planned for 9am on Thursday, May 17 at the Malolos Cathedral. Internment will follow in the crypt below the basilica’s altar.
Oliveros was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lucena by Pope Paul VI at Rizal Park in Manila on Nov. 28, 1970. He was then incardinated to the Diocese of Dumaca in 1984.
In 2000, he was appointed bishop for the Diocese of Boac. Four years later, Oliveros was named the fourth bishop of Malolos, a post he held for almost 14 years.
During his active ministry, Oliveros served as Vice-Chairman of the bishops’ Commission on Doctrine of the Faith, Chairman of the Office on Bioethics, and Vice-Chairman of the Commission on the Laity.
Cancer-stricken bishop: ‘I trust in God’s mercy’
Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros gives the homily during the Mass to cap off the fourth day of the ongoing 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM4) at the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy, Jan. 19, 2017 ROY LAGARDE
By Nirva’Ana Ella Delacruz
January 19, 2017
Marilao, Bulacan
Leaving several delegates teary-eyed, a bishop reaffirmed his trust in the Lord amid an ongoing battle with cancer, on fourth day of the 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM4) at the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy.
“Especially at difficult moments I would say and pray, ‘Confido in misercorida Dei’ (I trust in the mercy of God). Lately, the Lord is asking me to trust more in His mercy,” said Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros in a Mass presided over by Bishop of Minna Martin Uzoukwu of Nigeria earlier today.
“You know I am not feeling well. That’s why I was not present in the first three days of our congress. And even now as we start the Mass I feel so weak, but I trust in God’s mercy,” added the prelate.
Trust in God forever and ever
Oliveros, who shared his personal journey with the Divine Mercy during his homily, asked the faithful gathered for prayers.
“Next week, we will start a new round of radiation therapy and chemo therapy. Please pray for me.. I trust in the mercy of God,” he said.
Tracing how the Divine Mercy has guided him throughout the years, the prelate said it was after his then bishop tasked him to give a series of talks on God the Father and His mercy that he was appointed bishop, during the Great Jubilee year 2000.
“The Holy Father appointed me as a bishop inspite of my unworthiness and my sinfulness. And I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever,” he said.
‘Like a growing olive tree’
Oliveros shared: “As my episcopal motto I chose ‘Confido in misericordia Dei’, I trust in the mercy of God, taken from Psalm 52 where it says: ‘I am like a growing olive tree in the house of the Lord.’”
During a noon press conference, vicar general Msgr. Bartolome Santos said the bishop was following the prescriptions of his doctor as closely as possible.
Earlier today, some 5,000 WACOM4 delegates visited “places of mercy” in the Diocese of Malolos to spend time with orphans, abused women, and indigenous people housed in several charitable institutions.
