Top church dignitaries in Medroso installation

IN a rare solemn gathering of church leaders witnessing a highly symbolic rite, Vatican Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines , Archbishop Fernando Filoni led 24 bishops, more than two hundred priests, religious and laity to celebrate the canonical possession of the Diocese of Tagbilaran by Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso, December 13. Archbishop Filoni personally carried the papal bull from Pope Benedict XVI to the newly appointed bishop of the Diocese who was from the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte. The Vatican liaison also handed to Bishop Medroso the pastoral staff symbolic of his take-over in shepherding the Christian community here while accompanying him to his new cathedra, effecting the canonical possession.

This as the entire St. Joseph Cathedral filled with the faithful elated over the take-over of the 6th Bishop of Tagbilaran after being technically bishop-less for almost a year. Hymns from Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish Choir and the Te Deum Laudamus by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary Choir also wafted in the highlighting the scent of burning incense and candles to the solemn atmosphere. Of the 24 bishops in the procession, Boholano bishops Antonieto Cabajug (Surigao), Arturo Bastes (Sorsogon) and Juan de Dios Pueblos (Butuan) also took the pride in taking the same church aisles again. Farthest northern diocese represented during the rites was Cabanatuan with Most Rev. Sofronio Bancud while from the south was Kidapawan with Most Rev. Romulo Valles DD.

From Luzon, present were Masbate bishop Most Rev. Joel Baylon DD, Most Rev. Gabriel Reyes DD of Antipolo, Manila Auxilliary Bishop Most Rev. Bernardino Cortez DD, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes SVD, DD., and Taytay Vicar Apostolic Most Rev. Angel Hobayan DD. From the Visayas, present were Dumaguete bishop John Du DD, Maasin bishop Romulo Valles, DD, Palo Archbishop Jose Palma DD, Palo Auxilliary bishop Isabelo Abarquez DD, Talibon bishop Christian Vincent Noel and Maasin bishop Precioso Cantillas SDB, DD. Naval bishop Filomeno Bactol, Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance DD, Cebu Auxilliary Bishop Emilio Bataclan, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Vidal DD, Catarman Bishop Emeritus Angel Hobayan DD, San Carlos bishop Jose Advincula Jr. DD and Capiz Bishop Onesimo Gordoncillo DD.

From Mindanao , represented were Kidapawan Romulo Valles, Surigao with Bishop Antonieto Cabajog DD, Butuan with Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos and Tandag with Bishop Ireneo Amantillo CSsR, DD. Outgoing Tagbilaran bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, who was appointed to the Military Ordinariate of the Philippine Army started his address tough but wen on to state quite a teary encouragement for the incoming bishop. In keeping his job here, the new bishop adopts a rather personal task of walking with awe and fear of the Lord, thus his motto which says Ambula Coram Me. Medroso, who turned 68 last November 6 was born in Ormoc, took his secondary and tertiary education at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Tanauan from 1945 to 1959. Then he went to UST Central Seminary for his Licentiate in sacred Theology and Doctorate in Canon Law from 1959 to 1974. When he takes over Tagbilaran, Bishop Medroso aslo sits as the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines ' Commission of Canon Law Chairman.

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