Pope names Filipino priest as auxiliary bishop of California diocese

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Filipino priest Andres “Andy” C. Ligot as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of San José, which covers Santa Clara County in California and is home to more than 500,000 Catholics.

Ligot, 59, who currently serves as vicar general and chancellor of the diocese and pastor of St. Elizabeth of Portugal parish in Milpitas, will assist Bishop Oscar Cantu in serving the diocese,

“Today we rejoice with gratitude for Bishop-elect Ligot’s ‘yes’ to the Lord and to the Church in Silicon Valley,” Bishop Cantu said in a statement.

“I am humbled by the Holy Father’s trust and by Bishop Cantú’s support,” said Ligot. “I renew my promise to serve Christ and His people with joy – especially those most in need. Please pray for me, that I may be a faithful servant and a good shepherd in our beautifully diverse Church.”

Born in Laoag City, Ligot studied at San Pablo College Seminary in Baguio City, graduating in 1986 with a degree in philosophy. He attended seminary at Colegio Eclesiástico Internacional Bidasoa in Pamplona, Spain. He received a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Santo Tomas in 1988.

He also studied at the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, receiving a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology, a master’s degree in theology, a licentiate canon law and a doctorate in canon law.

Fr. Ligot was ordained to the priesthood on June 14, 1992, for the Diocese of Laoag.

He served as parochial vicar at St. Andrew parish in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, and national coordinator for evangelization and director of the national office for Catholic School of Evangelization for Asia in Manila.

Ligot also held the positions of parochial vicar at St. William Cathedral in Laoag City, director for the Diocese of Laoag’s Commission on Christian Education, director of the Casa Sacerdotal Padre Baraee and chaplain of the University Medical Center at Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.

In 1999, he was given permission by his bishop in Laoag to minister in California and served as a chaplain at the Veterans Medical Center in San Francisco and as a visiting priest at Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park.

He speaks Tagalog, Ilocano, Spanish and English.

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