Benjamin de Jesus
| His Excellency, The Most Reverend Benjamin David de Jesus OMI, D.D. | |
|---|---|
| Apostolic Vicar of Jolo | |
| See | Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo |
| Appointed | October 11, 1991 |
| Installed | February 15, 1992 |
| Term ended | February 4, 1997 |
| Predecessor | George Eli Dion |
| Successor | Angelito Lampon |
| Other post | Titular Bishop of Bladia |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 29, 1967 |
| Consecration | January 6, 1992 by Pope John Paul II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benjamin David de Jesus July 25, 1940 Malabon, Rizal, Philippine Commonwealth |
| Died | February 4, 1997 (aged 56) Jolo, Sulu, Philippines |
| Buried | Jolo Cathedral |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Motto | "Amare Est Servire" |
Benjamin David de Jesus OMI (July 25, 1940 – February 4, 1997) was a Philippine prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Apostolic Vicar of Jolo from 1992 until his murder in 1997. He was the first Filipino bishop to be assassinated in the history of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.[1]
Biography
Benjamin David de Jesus was born in the Hulong Duhat district of Malabon, Rizal (now part of Metro Manila) on July 25, 1940. He was ordained a priest as a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate on December 29, 1967.
On October 11, 1991, Pope John Paul II named him titular bishop of Bladia and Apostolic Vicar of Jolo.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on January 6, 1992 from Pope John Paul.[3] He was installed in Jolo on February 15.
He was shot six times and killed outside Jolo Cathedral on February 4, 1997.[4] A female bystander was killed and several others were wounded.[5] Authorities blamed Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim group intent on disrupting interreligious rapprochement.[6] The crime remains unsolved.[7]
De Jesus was entombed in Jolo Cathedral.[8] His assassination is commemorated annually, usually with demonstrations of Christian-Muslim solidarity.[7] The Ben de Jesus College Library at Notre Dame of Midsayap College is named after him.[9]
References
- Back to citation "Oblate Bishop Shot Dead in Jolo, Southern Philippines". UCA News. February 4, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- Back to citation Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXXIV. 1992. pp. 91–2. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- Back to citation "Ordinazione di 11 Nuove Vescovi nella Solennità dell'Epifania" (in Italian). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. January 6, 1992. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- Back to citation "Oblate Bishop Shot Dead in Jolo, Southern Philippines". UCA News. February 4, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2020; "Catholic Bishop Slain on Muslim Isle in Philippines". New York Times. Reuters. February 7, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2020; "Catholic Bishop Shot to Death in Philippines by Man, Young Boy". Los Angeles Times. February 5, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- Back to citation "Suspect in Bishop de Jesus' Killing Arrested". UCA News. January 28, 1999.
- Back to citation Larousse, William (2001). A Local Church Living for Dialogue: Muslim-Christian Relations in Mindanao-Sulu, Philippines: 1965–2000. Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana. pp. 184–5. ISBN 9788876528798. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- Back to citation occurrence 7.0 Back to citation occurrence 7.1 Salvosa II, Felipe F. (February 6, 2018). "Jolo recalls death of Catholic bishop". Manila Times. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- Back to citation "Police investigate grenade attack on cathedral in S. Philippines". Catholic News Agency. January 12, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- Back to citation "Ben de Jesus College Library". Notre Dame of Midsayap College. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.