Rome, Italy. On Sunday, June 5, 2022, Solemnity of Pentecost, Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, Superior General of the Claretian Missionaries, ratified the appointment of Fr. Efren Limpo Lo, CMF, of the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province as the new General Secretary of the Congregation. Fr. Efren took his oath of fidelity and secrecy on Monday, June 6, 2022, during the morning community Mass at the General Curia.
Fr. Efren was born on September 14, 1978, in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. He made his First Profession in the then Province of the Philippines on May 6, 2001, in Bunguiao, Zamboanga City (Philippines). He made his Final Vows on April 29, 2006, in Colmenar Viejo Madrid (Spain) during his theological formation and studies. He took his Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid (Spain) from 2002 to 2007. Then he was ordained a priest on December 8, 2007, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Quezon City by Msgr. Francisco F. Claver, Bishop Emeritus of Bontoc Diocese.
Fr. Efren served as Postulant Master from 2008 to 2010. Afterward, he studied Licentiate in Theology Major in Spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (Italy) from 2010 to 2012. When he returned to the Philippines after his further studies, he was appointed Provincial Secretary from 2012 to 2013. Then he was assigned as Local Superior at the Claret Seminary community and took the role of Prefect of Seminarians and Professor at the St. Anthony Mary Claret College in Quezon City. And in 2014, he became the Rector of the said Seminary. In 2016, he was once again appointed as the Provincial Secretary, as well as in 2019. He also served as Director of Claret School of Quezon City from 2016 to 2017. When the Province started preparing the cause for the Beatification of the Claretian Filipino Martyr Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, CMF, he was relieved of his post as a secretary and was appointed as the Vice Postulator of the Province.
The Congregation is very much grateful to Fr. Joseba Kamiruaga Mieza, CMF, the outgoing General Secretary, for the generosity and services he has rendered to the General Government from 2017 to 2022. He will integrate into his new Province- Sanctus Paulus soon.
