Retired Bishop Almoneda of Daet dies at 92

By CBCP News

Bishop Emeritus Benjamin Almoneda of the Diocese of Daet in Camarines Norte province died in a Manila hospital on Friday evening, January 6, his diocese said.

Almoneda died on the 33rd anniversary of his ordination to the episcopate. He was 92. “We unite prayers for his soul,” the diocese said in a social media post. Ordained a priest in 1958, he served as spiritual director, rector, and parish priest in various institutions in the Archdiocese of Caceres. In the 1980s, he then served as rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome. In December 1989, Almoneda was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Daet and was ordained to the episcopate by St. John Paul II on Jan. 6, 1990.

More than a year later, he was named bishop of the same diocese, a post he served until Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation and retirement in April 2007.

Bishop Benjamin de Jesus Almoneda, D.D.

Parents: Eutiquio Almoneda and Rosa de Jesus Almoneda

Birthday: April 11, 1930

Place of Birth: Naga City

Studies:

1937- begun elementary schooling

1946- Secondary School at Ateneo de Naga

1950-Entrance to San Jose Seminary

Ordinations:

Presbyteral Ordination: March 22, 1958

Pastoral Assignments:

1958 - Naga City Cathedral [Parochial Vicar] and Tabuco Church [Chaplain]

1960 - Rome - further studies

1963 - 1965-Spiritual Director of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary [Naga City]

1965-1970-Rector of Holy Rosary Minor Seminary

1970-72-Pastor of the Immaculate Conception Parish [Naga City]

1963-1972-Director of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Apostolate, Holy Name Society, and Young Christian Workers

1972-1975 – Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Religious Instruction

1974-Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

1976-Year of Solitude in the Notre Dame de Vie Institute in Venasque, France and

became the first priest from Asia of NDV

1976-1977- Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Religious Instruction

1978-1980- Volunteered and nominated as Rector of San Francisco Shrine in Naga City

1980-1982-Pastor of St. Anthony Parish [Iriga City]

1982-1989- Appointed Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filipino in Rome where he was in charge of Filipino

priests studying there

1990 [January 6] -Episcopal Ordination in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome by St. John Paul II as Auxiliary

Bishop of Daet with special faculties together with 11 other bishops from other parts of the world.

It was during the Solemnity of the Epiphany.

1991 [June 7]- Appointed as Bishop of Daet

2005 – 75 years already but extended

2007 [April 4]-Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation as Bishop of Daet and nominated

by Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales to be Spiritual Director of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Manila

2009- Cornerstone of the new seminary was laid in Parañaque

2013 [March 22]- 50 + 5 celebration of Sacerdotal Ordination in Ina ng Buhay, Angat, Bulacan

2018 [March 22] -60th Sacerdotal Ordination Anniversary He continued his ministry as spiritual director, confessor

and spiritual talks. During the pandemic, he celebrated Online Masses in order to evangelize people.

2023 [January 6]- 33rd Episcopal Ordination Anniversary and Entrance into eternal life