Catholic Church ordains new bishop from Leyte

PALO, Leyte -- “It dawned on me that my life depends on the mercy of God. I could have perished during super Typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013 but God spared me,” said Oscar Llaneta Florencio after he was elevated to the Order of Bishops on Friday at the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, Palo, Leyte.

The festive atmosphere during the ordination is in contrast to the death and devastation two years ago.

Palo Archbishop John Du presided over the concelebrated mass. His co-concentrators were Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Socrates B. Villegas, and Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto.

There were 25 bishops, hundreds of priests and devotees gathered at the cathedral to witness the ordination.

Du requested Ric Marpa, archdiocese chancellor, to read the appointment of Pope Francis last July 3, for Florencio as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

During the rites, Du examined and asked the bishop-elect to answer some questions while laying his hand over Florencio’s head, of his fidelity to the church, if he was ready to uphold his faith and discharge his duties faithfully and preach the Gospel of Christ, to which Florencio answered in the affirmative.

Palma, in his message, recalled the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2015. “It was the worst of times. And as I kept coming back. I said if we survived World War II, we have survived Yolanda.”

Palma said that bishops are icon of God. And further said that the motto of Florencio is “Let your Mercy be upon us oh Lord as we place our trust in you.”

“From the worst of times two years ago, today we have the best of times,” Palma added.

The cathedral was renovated for the diamond jubilee. It was beautiful before, but it is more beautiful now and more majestic.

Today, we see once more God’s wonderful blessings, said Palma.

On September 7, people of Cebu will welcome Florencio as Auxiliary Bishop. After that day, Florencio will be a Cebuano (native of Cebu), Palma in his wholesome humor said.

“The good prefect knew, that we need an auxiliary bishop. Cebu is the biggest diocese in the Philippines with 4.1 million faithful…Florencio will be part of the singing priests in Cebu. He will join 360 priests in a concert on November 26, 2015,” Palma said.

The bishop shares the shepherding of people, they are like Christ as true Pastor.

Amadeo Alvero, parish priest of St. Isidore Parish in MacArthur, Leyte, said in an interview that "the Episcopal ordination of Most. Rev. Oscar Jaime L. Florencio, being one of their brother priests here in our Archdiocese, is indeed a great blessing for all of us after super Typhoon Yolanda."

“We, priests, and the whole of faithful really felt blessed by God. We are very grateful to God and to the Holy Father for such grace to the Archdiocese. We are proud of Bishop Oscar. Surely he will inspire the people, especially the victims of Yolanda,” he said.

CBCP president Socrates Villegas and Archbishop of Lingayen welcomed Florencio to CBCP.

Villegas recalled two years ago, when Palo and Leyte smelled of death and destruction had descended.

“Because of our faith in God, and goodness of the people, we feel God’s love for Palo and Leyte. We believe in one humanity,” Villegas said.

He added that on January 17 this year was extra special and the best of times, because despite a typhoon, Pope Francis came to Palo and Tacloban City. “We were tested during the typhoon and we were blessed at the same time with his visit.”

Florencio, 49, was born in Capoocan, Leyte, on February 5, 1966. He spent most of his childhood in Burauen, also a town in Leyte.

His parents and sisters came to the ordination, including his namesake priest uncle Oscar Florencio.

He completed his studies in philosophy at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo and pursued Theology at the University of Santo Tomas.

He was ordained priest in 1990 and was assigned in the parishes of Abuyog and Dagami from 1990 to 1993.

He studied in Rome at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross from 1994 to 1999 where he obtained a licentiate and a doctorate degree in Sacred Theology.

Florencio was appointed professor of a theology school in Palo when he returned from Rome. For two years, he served as parish priest of St. Francis of Assisi Church from 2004 to 2006. He also served as parish priest at Sacred Heart Parish in Tacloban City from 2006 to 2009.

He returned to the theology seminary in 2009 and was also appointed as vice-chancellor of the archdiocese. He became rector in 2013.

The new bishop was the relief operation coordinator of the Archdiocese of Palo in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda. He mobilized seminarians of SHS in the relief operations.

Pinto said that this is the day of hope and renewal. His advice to the new bishop is to remember always that Jesus is always present in the Eucharist. “He should learn to absolve sins and to know how to make rooms for the shortcomings of his brothers and sisters in Christ.”

In his message, Florencio thanked his parents, family, classmates, mentors, supporters, Archbishop Du, his fellow priests, Pope Francis and God the Father. (PNA)

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