MONSIGNOR Esteban Binghay, who is known as a colorful character in the Archdiocese of Cebu, has passed away on Monday noon, November 4, 2019. He was 84.
Cebu Archdiocesan chancellor Monsignor Renato Beltran confirmed the news of Binghay's passing at the Perpetual Succour Hospital due to pneumonia.
Binghay was well-loved by the faithful for his unconventional way of delivering mass, often injecting humor to his homilies as well as playing fine-tuned music.
The vicar studied Canon Law in Vatican City, Rome and said that it had been a great contribution to his personal pilgrimage.
He earlier recalled that he wanted to take up Medicine but is "scared of blood" so he decided to try the seminary.
For Binghay, service is the path to greatness.
Binghay was known for initiating the hourly mass schedule in Sto. Rosario Parish Church in Cebu City.
He later served as a parish priest at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish where he helped develop the church's infrastructure, including the creation of its lady's devotional cave.
For 10 years, Binghay also served at the Imaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Minglanilla.
Binghay was also a former matrimonial judge of the Archdiocesan Matrimonial Tribunal, where he was appointed to decide cases of void marriages. He described the experience as a hard responsibility, having to consider couples who wants to have their marriages annulled.
Binghay gave his full heart of service to the church for 57 years.
He made sure that everyone who heard mass understood the message of God and that he, a mere instrument that bridge the faithful closer to God.