DIOCESE of Kabankalan Bishop Most Reverend Louie Galbines was installed by his predecessor, Diocese of Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, yesterday, May 29, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Kabankalan City.
This came a day after he was ordained at San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City Monday, May 28.
The canonical installation was witnessed by Monsignor Gabriel Viola, representative of the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines His Excellency Gabrielle Giordano Caccia, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, the Catholic faithful and some local government officials led by Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco.
Buzon said they pulled him out of Kabankalan and brought him to Bacolod and that they chose somebody from Bacolod to be the next Bishop.
"But it is good that you have a new Bishop who is young and handsome," he teased the parishioners.
He asked Galbines to be a good shepherd and be willing to offer his life to his sheep.
"Immerse yourself in God’s love. It is just normal that all beginnings are difficult. Life is also difficult. But life is also beautiful. In moments of difficulty, seek for God's presence. Your installation came in God's perfect time," Buzon said.
Monsignor Rolando "Rolex" Nueva said the interchange of the two Bishops is like an exchange gift.
"Gin agaw nyo amon Bishop. Gin agaw man namon inyo manog Bishop (You stole our own Bishop and we also took yours). It is is like we sent you our father and you sent us your brother-in-law."
He added that in the Diocese, they are not only lambs but sometimes they are goats, too.
Galbines, who also rode on the jokes, said it does not matter to him if there are lambs and goats.
He was grateful for the warm reception of the people of Kabankalan City and other Negrenses who came to his installation.
"The Cathedral is not that big but the greatness of your heart is what matters to me," Galbines added.
“When the Papal Nuncio called me up about the appointment, I asked him to give me four days to decide. It also took me four days to pray the rosary which is more than the number of rosaries I prayed for 10 years in the seminary. Before, I was really afraid. But now I am no longer afraid because the sheep loves me,” he said.
“Thank you all for sharing your heart with me from God. This welcome is like a paradise. I am not even worthy of it. But this is not about me. But it is all about God. With this, we can work together,” he said.
For his part, Viola invited the new Bishop to grow with the Church.
"Pray as if everything comes from God. Ask God on what you cannot do and do what you can. The divine plan will surely be brought to completion."