by Joel V. Ocampo
The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency, Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit, Jr, D.D., until now Bishop of Boac in the Province of Marinduque, as the new Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo in the Province Laguna.
Bishop Junie, as he is fondly known, was born on May 18, 1969 in Manila. He studied philosophy at Saint Francis de Sales Major Seminary in Lipa City; followed by Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. He further studied Licentiate in Church History at the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross) in Rome, Italy.
He received his Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters on March 13, 1995, as a priest for the Archdiocese of Lipa. As a priest, the then Fr. Maralit served in the following ministries:
Parochial Vicar, Parish of the Immaculate Conception, Bauan, Batangas (1995-1996);
Professor, Saint Francis de Sales Major Seminary, Marawoy, Lipa City (1995-1999);
Assistant Director, Archdiocesan Commission on Vocation (1996-1998);
Director, Archdiocesan Commission on Vocation (1998-1999);
Vice Rector, Professor, Educator, and Dean of Studies, Saint Francis Theological Seminary (2003-2009);
Rector, Saint Francis Theological Seminary (2009-2013);
Parochial Vicar, Parish of Sto. Niño, Marawoy, Lipa City (2011-2013);
Parish Priest, Invencion de la Santa Cruz, Alitatag, Batangas (2013-2014); and
Member, Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Lipa.
On December 31, 2014, Fr. Maralit was appointed as Bishop of the Diocese of Boac. Then on March 13, 2015, he was ordained Bishop at the San Sebastian Cathedral, Lipa City, with H. E., Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales as the Principal Consecrator, and H. E., Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle (then Archbishop of Manila), Archbishop Ramon Cabrera Argüelles, (then Archbishop of Lipa), and Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto (Apostolic Nuncio to Philippines from 2011-2017) as Co-Consecrators. His installation as the new Bishop of Boac was held on March 17, 2015.
Ordination as Bishop. Photo by Leonido C. Dolor
As a bishop, he served in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in the following ministries:
Member, Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (2015-2017);
Member, Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (2017-2019);
Vice-Chairman, Episcopal Commission Vocations (2015- 2021);
Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (2019 – present); and
Member, Episcopal Commission on Youth.
Bishop of Boac
During the pandemic where the country was placed under community quarantine, Bishop Junie became famous for his Daily Gospel based reflections called Thought for the Day. These reflections provided food from heaven to the people, not just in Marinduque but to anyone who has access to the internet. In May 2020, he said in one of the episodes, “By nature, we are communicators. We tell stories because we want to teach and we want to form. We tell stories because we want to inspire others.”
He was also known as an “Obispong Siklita” (Cyclist Bishop). He goes to different parts of Marinduque using his mountain bike. During these bike rides, he visits towns, parishes, communities, mountains, rivers, and seashores. Thus, he was able to know the situations of the community entrusted to him with these “Pastoral Visits on Bike”. Sometimes, he eats in local restaurants and eateries, conducts short talks (kwentuhan) with the people, thus supporting the local economy and his relationship with his flock. He shared in one of his bike rides, “I get to have a more relaxed and prayerful ride…” In one of his bike rides, he visited the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, in the Municipality of Torrijos. In this parish, he chanced upon seeing the practice of the parish choir where he jokingly said, “Water break. Ginulo ang practice ng choir… hehe.”
In his bike rides on mountains, rivers, and seashores, he saw a deeper understanding on the importance of caring for the environment. Thus, he said during the Ecology Month of 2020, “Go, let us take care of this common home because this is the only one and this is what God has given us!”
Bishop Maralit’s various bike rides to communities. Photos by Official Facebook Account of Bp. Junie Maralit managed by the Commission on Social Communication.
During the Catholic Social Media Summit 2020, he encouraged the social communicators, “Let the Spirit of God drive you in your ministry as a Social Communications Ministry volunteer. You should be Spirit driven and not person driven. Bring the true information to the churches. Huwag nating hayaan na mga fake news at bad news ang pumuno sa mga online services.” Furthermore, he encouraged the faithful to “Soar like an eagle, and do not remain like a chick that feeds on the ground.”
In another occasion, he encouraged the Filipino faithful to become responsible social media users saying, “Kapag magpopost ka pag-isipan mo muna at sana puno ng good intention ang ilalagay mo.”
Finally, as we celebrate Christmas Season in less than 100 days from now, let us reflect on this portion of Bishop Junie’s homily in 2020. He said, “Sa panahong ito malinaw pa ba ang dahilan natin kung bakit natin ipinagdiriwang ang Pasko? Tandaan ninyo ito, kung tayo'y sanay na ang dahilan ng Pasko ay kasama natin ang Diyos, anuman ang sitwasyon magsasaya ka at magiging maligaya ang Pasko sapagkat kasama mo parin ang Diyos. Magandang pagbalikan natin ito sapagkat ngayong taong ito, sinubukan talaga tayo. Inilagay tayo sa isang sitwasyon para muling hanapin kung ano ang tunay na saya ng buhay mo. Kung ang panghahawakan natin palagi ay ang Diyos, ang katotohanang hindi magbabago: Laging kasama natin Siya, at ang dulot lagi niya sa gitna ng kahit anong karanasan ay kapayapaan at tunay na kaligayahan.”
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