Bound for sainthood: Pope declares first Lucena bishop ‘venerable’

MANILA, Philippines — Lucena’s first bishop Alfredo Obviar is now a step closer to sainthood after Pope Francis declared him “venerable.”

According to a post on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines website, Pope Francis issued a decree on Thursday recognizing the heroic virtues of Obviar.

The Vatican’s announcement makes Obviar two steps away from being declared a saint.

The cause for sainthood of Obviar was introduced by the diocese of Lucena. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints granted “Nihil Obstat” (nothing hinders) to the diocesan inquiry of his life in 2001.

The pope would have to recognize a miracle attributed to the bishop’s intercession in order for him to be beatified. A second miracle is needed before the pope lists a person as a saint in a ritual called canonization.

The Philippines has two saints: Lorenzo Ruiz, who was canonized in 1987, and Pedro Calungsod, canonized in 2012.

Obviar was the first bishop of Lucena and founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Catechists of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus.

He was born in Lipa City, Batangas on Aug. 29, 1889 and was ordained priest in 1919. He died in Lucena, Quezon on Oct. 1, 1978 at the age of 89.