Bishop Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar
The story of the local Church of Lipa will not be complete without the mention of the name of the Servant of God, Bishop Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar, a true-blooded Lipeño. He was Lipa’s first auxiliary bishop and he, together with Bishop Alfredo Verzosa, personally believed in the authenticity of the apparation of Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace in the Carmelite Convent of Lipa to Teresing Castillo, a Carmelite postulant.
After an unfavorable pronouncement on the apparitions by the Episcopal Heirarchy of that time, Monsignor Verzosa and Monsignor Obviar were relieved of their posts. Monsignor Verzosa was retired to Vigan, his birthplace while Monsignor Obviar was made Apostolic Administrator of the newly created Diocese of Lucena. They humbly submitted to the orders of the Church and kept the seal of perpetual silence about the apparitions. Bishop Obviar died on October 1, 1978, the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, patroness of the congregation he founded – the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese (MCST).
Bishop Alfredo Obviar is the first Filipino cleric and bishop candidate for beatification. Any favor / blessing granted through the intercession of the Servant of God should be reported to the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese Generalate in Tayabas, Quezon.
