Felix Zafra
Felix Sanchez Zafra was a Filipino prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the fourth Bishop of Tagbilaran. and the 2nd native of Bohol consecrated as a bishop—the first being his principal consecrator, Bishop Manuel Mascariñas y Morgia. In his previous post, Zafra served as the first Bishop of Dipolog. He was later appointed Bishop of Tagbilaran, serving until his retirement on April 21, 1992.
Early life
Felix Sanchez Zafra was born on January 14, 1920, in Barangay Nahawan, Clarin, Bohol, Philippines, into a prestigious family. His father, Tomas Zafra, was the first elected mayor of Clarin, and his mother, Asuncion Sanchez, belonged to one of the town’s most prominent families.From childhood, Zafra exhibited early signs of a priestly vocation. He often play-acted as a priest, mimicking the Mass with his cousins as his "altar servers" and "schola." This youthful devotion bore lasting fruit: two of his playmates, Jovencio Sanchez and Pampilo Somosot, later became priests, while others entered religious life as nuns—rising to become local superiors in their respective orders.
Education
After primary education at Nahawan Primary School and elementary studies at Clarin Elementary School, Zafra completed his formation at Seminario de San Carlos, Cebu City. Following ordination, he earned an M.S.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from St. John’s University, New York.Priesthood
Felix Zafra was ordained a priest by His Excellency, Gabriel Martelino Reyes, on March 4, 1944, at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. His early assignments included serving as:- Assistant parish priest of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in El Pardo, Cebu City
- Assistant parish priest of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Carcar, Cebu.
- Renovated the old rectory into an educational institution dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Established the Sacred Heart Academy by 1948, serving as its founding director.
From 1960 to 1963, he served as:
- Spiritual director of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran.
- Later, its vice-rector.
Addressed the priest shortage in Bohol by promoting vocations.
Raised funds to support seminarians who could not afford the expenses.
Episcopacy
Diocese of Dipolog
Pope Paul VI appointed Zafra as the first bishop of the newly-erected Diocese of Dipolog on July 31, 1967. The new diocese, carved out from the Archdiocese of Zamboanga at the request of Archbishop Lino Gonzaga y Rasdesales, encompassed the entire civil province of Zamboanga del Norte.Zafra was consecrated on October 22, 1967, at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex, with Bishop Manuel Mascariñas y Morgia as his principal consecrator. He took canonical possession of the diocese on October 24, 1967, establishing his episcopal seat at the newly-elevated Dipolog Cathedral. His installation marked a significant moment in the region's ecclesiastical history, as he became the first shepherd of the Diocese of Dipolog.
In January 1970, during the annual meeting of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, he was elected chairman of the Commission for Unbelievers.
Diocese of Tagbilaran
On October 20, 1986, Pope John Paul II appointed Felix Zafra as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. This followed the appointment of Most Reverend Onesimo Cadiz Gordoncillo as Archbishop of Capiz on June 18 that same year.Installed as Bishop of Tagbilaran on December 2, 1986, he retired on April 21, 1992, at the age of 72, and served as the diocese's bishop emeritus until his death on August 4, 2002.