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Birth: May 18, 1969 (Manila, Philippines)
Presbyteral Ordination: March 13, 1995
Episcopal Ordination: March 13, 2015
Canonical Installation: November 21, 2024
Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit, Jr., D.D., fondly called Bishop Junie, was born on May 18, 1969, in Manila. After attaining his primary education in Canossa Academy (1976-1979) and De La Salle Lipa (1979-1981), he entered Saint Francis de Sales Minor Seminary in the Archdiocese of Lipa from 1981 to 1985. He earned his degree in philosophy at St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary in the same archdiocese (1985-1989). In 1989, he took his theological studies at Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, from 1989 to 1994. He further studied Licentiate in Church History at the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross) in Rome, Italy from 1999 to 2003.
Bishop Junie received presbyteral ordination on March 13,1995, in the Archdiocese of Lipa. As a priest of the Archdiocese of Lipa, He served in the following Ministries:
On December 31, 2014, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed him as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Boac in Marinduque. He received his episcopal ordination on March 13, 2015, at the San Sebastian Cathedral, Lipa City, with H. E., Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales as the Principal Consecrator, and H. E., Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle (then Archbishop of Manila), Archbishop Ramon Cabrera Argüelles, (then Archbishop of Lipa), and Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto (Apostolic Nuncio to Philippines from 2011-2017) as Co-Consecrators.His installation as the new Bishop of Boac was held on March 17, 2015.
As a Bishop, he took several ministries in the CatholicBishops’ Conference of the Philippines:
He was also known as an “Obispong Siklista” (Cyclist Bishop). He goes to different parts of Marinduque using his mountain bike. During these bike rides, he visits towns, parishes, communities, mountains, rivers, and seashores. Thus, he was able to know the situations of the community entrusted to him with these “Pastoral Visits on Bike”. Sometimes, he eats in local restaurants and eateries, and conducts short talks with the people, thus supporting the local economy and his relationship with his flock.
After a year of Bishop Emeritus Buenaventura M. Famadico’s resignation, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Junie as the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo on September 21, 2024, Feast of Saint Matthew. He was installed as the new Bishop of San Pablo at the Cathedral Parish of St. Paul the First Hermit on November 21, 2024. In his message to the clergy of the Diocese, Bishop Maralit hopes for a community of love and hope: “My brother priests in the diocese, it is my hope that together we will begin to create better relationships… a community that brings hope, a community that brings love.”
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THE COAT OF ARMS of the Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit, Jr., D.D. is divided into two parts per pale following the traditional marshalling by impalement. At the dexter field is the coat of arms of the Diocese of San Pablo; and at the sinister field is the personal coat of arms of the fifth Bishop of San Pablo. The shield hangs on a simple processional cross in or (gold) framed by a galero with six tassels at both sides in vert (green).
The coat of arms of the Diocese is an iteration of the original one instituted by the First Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Pedro N. Bantigue, D.D.
At the sinister field, the personal coat of arms of the fifth Bishop of San Pablo is impaled with the arms of the Diocese.
Similarly divided per fess, the chief sinister illustrates Taal Volcano (in murrey), Taal Lake (depicted barry wavy in argent and azure) and Mount Makulot (in vert) above an or, prominent figures of the province of Batangas. The new Bishop of San Pablo was first honed as a shepherd of souls in the Archdiocese of Lipa and considers himself a gift of the province to Laguna.
Notice that major elements in the coat of arms are bodies of water (the fountains, the figure of Laguna de Bay, Taal lake). Water is “overshadowed by the Spirit of God” (Catechismus Catholicæ Ecclesiæ, 1218) and is symbolic of Baptism, our communion with Christ’s death on the Cross (cf. Catechismus Catholicæ Ecclesiæ, 1220). These water symbolisms call to mind this sacrament. “Baptism allows Christ to live in us” – bishops, clergy, and laity – “and allows us to live united with him, to cooperate in theChurch, each according to his or her condition, for the transformation of the world” (Pope Francis, General Audience, 11 April 2018).
The colors vert and or are conspicuous at both dexter and sinister fields reminiscent of Saint Joseph, the custos or protector, not only of Mary and Jesus, but also of the Church. Every bishop “must be inspired by the lowly, concrete and faithful service which marked Saint Joseph and, like him, he must open his arms to protect all God’s people and embrace with tender affection the whole humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important…” (Pope Francis, Homily at the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry, 19 March 2013).
The base sinister is in azure dominated by the cypher of the Blessed Virgin Mary in argent. This has a twofold meaning. The first is the new Bishop of San Pablo’s love for the Mother of God and his wish to unite and live Mary’s spirituality in his life and ministry. Ever since he felt the call to the priesthood, he has entrusted himself to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin. And as he assumes his ministry as Shepherd of the See of San Pablo, he likewise entrusts to the solicitude of Mary, Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba.
The second meaning can be gleaned on the rendering of the lower half of the cypher, which depicts a distinctive group of people. This cluster calls to mind the children with cancer, who is close to the heart of the new Bishop of San Pablo. To him – borrowing the words of Pope Francis – these little ones are “apostles of God’s love in the Church and in the world” to whom “Mary is always there… with her maternal tenderness.”(Greeting a Group of Paediatric Cancer Patients of the Wrocklaw Oncological Clinic, 29 May 2023).
The episcopal motto “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum” conveysMary’s words from Luke 11:38: “May it be done to me according to your word.” Her Fiat too, becomes the Bishop’shumble prayer as he chooses to accept God’s will and serve Him at every waking hour of his life.
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