Philippine Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen of Infanta died April 27. He was 89.
Born in July 23, 1926 in Talisay, Bishop Labayen was ordained a priest to the Order of Discalced Carmelites on July 4, 1955. On July 26, 1966, he was appointed prelate of the Prelature of Infanta. He retired in June 2003.
He was the first National Director of the National Secretariat for Social Action of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines from 1966 to 1982.
In 1966 he published IMPACT, a magazine that braved the suppressed media during martial law under former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Bishop Labayen is best remembered for His pro-active witness and promotion of the social teachings of the church, the bishops’ conference said in a statement.