FR. FILEMON dela Cruz Jr., O.P., who has been serving as prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines since 2021, was elected to a second four-year term on Thursday, Jan. 16.

The province announced his reelection in a Facebook post.

“In his first term as Prior Provincial from 2021 to 2025, he guided and journeyed with his brothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Now, he will guide his brothers for four fresh years, filled with hope, providentially beginning in the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025,” the post read.

The vote took place during the 13th Provincial Chapter at UST Santa Rosa, hosted by the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Dominican house in UST Manila.

As prior provincial, dela Cruz is ex officio vice chancellor of UST and chairman of the board of trustees until 2029.

The Master of the Order of Preachers and UST Chancellor, Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P., confirmed dela Cruz’s reelection on the same day.

A former UST vice rector for religious affairs, dela Cruz is the 13th Filipino Dominican superior.

He teaches at the UST Faculty of Sacred Theology.

Prior to becoming prior provincial, dela Cruz served as vicar provincial of the province and UST Center for Campus Ministry director.

He was assigned to San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs Parish in Navotas before his first term as prior provincial in 2021.

Ordained priest in 1992, dela Cruz was vested with the Dominican habit in 1983 and officially professed to the order four years later.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Philippine Dominican Center of Institutional Studies in 1996. Dela Cruz completed theological studies in 1991 and his master’s degree in theology in 2006, both in UST.

Dela Cruz was appointed provincial promoter of the Priestly Fraternities of Saint Dominic from 2012 to 2014, provincial councilor from 2012 to 2016, and socius or assistant of the prior provincial from 2014 to 2016.

From 2017 to 2020, he served as the superior of the Dominican community of Rumah Santo Tomas in Surabaya, Indonesia.

According to the Rule of St. Augustine and the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations, a prior provincial or superior of a province, “must promote regular and apostolic life, provide for the brothers’ needs [and] should be concerned that the brothers fulfill their personal obligations.”

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