Bishop of Imus
MOST REV. REYNALDO G. EVANGELISTA, D.D. O.F.S.
FIFTH BISHOP OF IMUS
The Most Rev. Reynaldo G. Evangelista, D.D. is the current bishop of the Diocese of Imus,
appointed by Pope Francis on April 8, 2013, his first appointment in the Philippines. He
replaced Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle after he was installed as the Archbishop of Manila in
December 2011.
Most Rev. Evangelista was installed as the fifth Bishop of Imus on June 5, 2013. He
previously served as the third Bishop of Boac in Marinduque province from his appointment on
December 11, 2004 until his appointment.
Bishop Rey was born on May 8, 1960 in Brgy. San Jose in Mabini, Batangas province.
His father, Benjamin C. Evangelista of Brgy. San Jose and his mother, Rufina G.
Gonda of Brgy. Talaga, both originated from Mabini, Batangas.
Reynaldo was
the fifth from a family of nine children. His only brother is Antonio, and his seven
sisters are Teresita (Roga), Melba (del Espiritu Santo), Evelyn (Llanes), Gloria
(Sanchez), Rosita (Atienza), Cecilia (Ferrer) and Lea (Aspi).
The young Reynaldo attended primary school in 1967 at the Anilao Elementary School
in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas. He attended intermediate school in 1970 at the Mabini
Central Elementary School continuing his high school education at the St. Francis de
Sales Minor Seminary in Lipa City in 1973.
After high school, Reynaldo continued his priestly formation at the St. Francis de
Sales Regional College Seminary in Brgy. Marawoy, Lipa City majoring in Philosophy.
He studied Theology in 1981 at St. Alphonsus School of Theology in Lucena City in
Quezon province. After his ordination in 1986, he took Pastoral Counseling in 1987
at the Summer Institute of the Ateneo de Manila University. He traveled in 1998 to
Rome, Italy to attend the Course on Seminary Formation at the Pontifical Athenaeum
Regina Apostolorum.
Reynaldo Evangelista was ordained a deacon on February 26, 1986 at the Carmel of St.
Joseph Monastery in Lucena City by Most Rev. Ruben T. Profugo, D.D., Bishop of
Lucena. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1986 at the San Sebastian Cathedral in
Lipa City by Most Rev. Mariano G. Gaviola, D.D., Archbishop of Lipa.
Father Evangelista was appointed Bishop of Boac on December 11, 2004. On January 26,
2005 at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Lipa City, he was ordained as Bishop by Most
Rev. Antonio Franco, D.D., the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines. He was installed
as Bishop of Boac on February 22, 2005.
Evangelista was installed as the 5th Bishop of Imus on June 5, 2013. The
installation mass was led by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop
Giuseppe Pinto at the Imus Cathedral.
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle,
Evangelista's predecessor, along with Manila Archbishop-Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal
Rosales and Cebu Archbishop-Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal witnessed the
installation.
1986–1995 – Seminary Formator and Professor at St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary in Lipa City
1986–1987 – Assistant Prefect of Discipline, St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary, Lipa City
1987–1990 – Assistant Spiritual Director, St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary, Lipa City
1987–1993 – Moderator, Association of Lipa Archdiocesan Seminarians
1988–1990 – Assistant Director, Archdiocesan Youth Commission
1990–1991 – Vice Rector, St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary, Lipa City
1991–1995 – Rector, St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary, Lipa City
1991–1995 – Ex-Officio Member, Archdiocesan Council of Priests (Presbyteral Council)
1992–1997 – Member, Archdiocesan College of Consultors
1994–2000 – Ordinary Confessor, Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (MCSH), Lipa City
1995–2000 – Rector of St. Francis de Sales Regional College Seminary, Marawoy, Lipa City
1995–2000 – Ex-Officio Member – Archdiocesan Council of Priests (Presbyteral Council)
1997 – Member, Commission on Clergy, Archdiocese of Lipa
1998 – Board Member – Kapisanan ni San Francisco de Sales
1999 – Director – Kapisanan ni San Francisco de Sales
2000–2004 – Parish Priest, San Guillermo Parish, Talisay, Batangas
2000–2004 – Director and Chaplain, San Guillermo Academy, Talisay, Batangas
2001–2003 – Elected Member of the Archdiocesan Council of Priests (Presbyteral Council)
2004 – Rector of St. Francis de Sales Regional College Seminary, Marawoy, Lipa City
2004 – Chairman of the Commission on Clergy
2004 – Elected Member of the Archdiocesan Council of Priests (Presbyteral Council)
2005–2013 – Member of the Board of Trustees of St. Alphonsus Regional Seminary, Lucena City
2005–2013 – Honorary Chairman of the Marinduque Council For Environmental Concerns (MACEC)
2005–2009 – Member of the Office on Women, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2005–2011 – Member of the Episcopal Commission on Seminaries, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2009–2011 – Member of the Episcopal Commission on Clergy, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2009–2015 – Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Vocations, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2011–2013 – Member of the Permanent Council, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2012–2013 – Member, Board of Trustees, Pondo ng Pinoy Community Foundation, Inc.
2015–2017 – Member, Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI)
2015–2017 – Member, Episcopal Commission on Seminaries, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2015–2017 – Member of the Permanent Council, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2017–2021 – Chairman of the Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2017–2019 – Member of the Permanent Council, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2018–present – National Spiritual Director, Mother Butler Guild (MBG)
2018–2020 – Vice Chairman, Pondo ng Pinoy Community Foundation, Inc.
2019–2021 – Member, Episcopal Commission on Vocations, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
2019–present – Bukas-Loob sa Diyos (BLD) Community Spiritual Director
2021–2023 – Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs (ECPA)
2023–2025 – Member, Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace (ECSA–JP)
2023–2025 – Board Member – CARITAS PHILIPPINES
2023–2025 – Member, Episcopal Commission on Basic Ecclesiastical Communities
2023–present – Vice Chairman, Pondo ng Pinoy Community Foundation, Inc.
COAT OF ARMS
BISHOP OF IMUS
Seal of the Diocese of Imus.
It represents the four Evangelists of the Gospel. The middle figure represents the Tau Cross worn by St. Francis of Assisi
The middle part is the bishop's personal devotion and the secondary patrons of Lipa archdiocese, Immaculate Conception and Saint Joseph
The lower part is the insignia of the Diocese of Boac, Marinduque where he was assigned as the third bishop.
The Personal Motto of Bishop Rey: "Meek and Humble of Heart" (MITIS ET HUMILIS CORDE); according to Matthew 11:29
