Catholic Church welcomes 6 new bishops
Published Dec 23, 2019 12:00 am
By Leslie Ann Aquino
It was a grace-filled year for the Philippine Catholic Church as it welcomed many new bishops this 2019.
Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican. (Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN)
Pope Francis appointed six new bishops for the country from March to October namely: Cosme Almedilla (Bp of Butuan), Leo Dalmao (Bp of Isabela), Roberto Gaa (Bp of Novaliches), Jose Rapadas III (Bp of Iligan), Midyphil Billones (Auxiliary Bp of Cebu), and Jose Alan Dialogo (Bp of Sorsogon).
The pontiff also appointed former Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu Dennis Villarojo as Malolos Bishop as well as Alaminos Bishop Ricardo Baccay as Archbishop of Tuguegarao.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said while the church was "blessed" as it was given new bishops, it was also "orphaned" as one of its three living cardinals was called to a higher form of service.
"Our nuncio and cardinal are taken from us. They are given higher forms of service but we are orphaned," he said in an interview.
Earlier this month, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila was appointed by the Holy Father as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the Vatican.
Tagle's appoinment came a month after the current papal nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia was also appointed as the Holy Father's Permanent Observer to the United Nations.
The year was also very challenging for the Catholic Church as some of the clergy and religious sisters were accused of sedition.
Last July, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation Detection Group filed a complaint against a number of personalities including church leaders accusing them of cyber libel and sedition.
In the complaint were together Kalookan Bishop Pablo David, Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr.
The complaint was in connection with the series of online "Bikoy" videos alleging that President Duterte and his family members were involved in the illegal drugs trade.
At least 50 organizations were also included in the government’s list of alleged “communist front organizations”.
Among those in the list Caritas Australia, Caritas Austria, Caritas Belgium, Caritas Switzerland, and the Diocesan Social Action Action Center of Kalibo.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Save the Children Foundation, Bread for the World, Oxfam International, Swedish Red Cross, Mercy Relief, were also red-tagged.
In spite of the attacks, Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said it was still a grace-filled year for the Philippine Church.
"With 2019 our Church was maliciously attacked, falsely accused. Yet our Church bears everything in humility, carries that cross patiently," he said in a separate interview.
Santos added that the Church will not be discouraged as it will continue to "stand for the least and last of the society, speaks for truth and justice, and acts for promotion and preservation of life."
Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican. (Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN)
Pope Francis appointed six new bishops for the country from March to October namely: Cosme Almedilla (Bp of Butuan), Leo Dalmao (Bp of Isabela), Roberto Gaa (Bp of Novaliches), Jose Rapadas III (Bp of Iligan), Midyphil Billones (Auxiliary Bp of Cebu), and Jose Alan Dialogo (Bp of Sorsogon).
The pontiff also appointed former Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu Dennis Villarojo as Malolos Bishop as well as Alaminos Bishop Ricardo Baccay as Archbishop of Tuguegarao.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said while the church was "blessed" as it was given new bishops, it was also "orphaned" as one of its three living cardinals was called to a higher form of service.
"Our nuncio and cardinal are taken from us. They are given higher forms of service but we are orphaned," he said in an interview.
Earlier this month, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila was appointed by the Holy Father as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the Vatican.
Tagle's appoinment came a month after the current papal nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia was also appointed as the Holy Father's Permanent Observer to the United Nations.
The year was also very challenging for the Catholic Church as some of the clergy and religious sisters were accused of sedition.
Last July, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation Detection Group filed a complaint against a number of personalities including church leaders accusing them of cyber libel and sedition.
In the complaint were together Kalookan Bishop Pablo David, Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr.
The complaint was in connection with the series of online "Bikoy" videos alleging that President Duterte and his family members were involved in the illegal drugs trade.
At least 50 organizations were also included in the government’s list of alleged “communist front organizations”.
Among those in the list Caritas Australia, Caritas Austria, Caritas Belgium, Caritas Switzerland, and the Diocesan Social Action Action Center of Kalibo.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Save the Children Foundation, Bread for the World, Oxfam International, Swedish Red Cross, Mercy Relief, were also red-tagged.
In spite of the attacks, Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said it was still a grace-filled year for the Philippine Church.
"With 2019 our Church was maliciously attacked, falsely accused. Yet our Church bears everything in humility, carries that cross patiently," he said in a separate interview.
Santos added that the Church will not be discouraged as it will continue to "stand for the least and last of the society, speaks for truth and justice, and acts for promotion and preservation of life."