THE Diocese of Bacolod is preparing for the grand welcome and canonical possession of the 6th Bishop of Bacolod – Most. Rev. Patricio Buzon.
There will be a two-day canonical celebration on August 8 and 9, to cover from the time the new bishop leaves his former assignment in the Diocese of Kabankalan down to his official canonical possession of the Diocese of Bacolod.
The Chancery Office of the Diocese of Bacolod has issued Circular Letter No. 2016-010 addressed to all parish priests, parochial vicars, chaplains and rectors of churches, superiors of seminaries, institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, heads of schools and lay associations, and the Christian faithful relative to the installation of Buzon.
On August 8, there will be a liturgical and civic reception for the new bishop to include: the crossing of ecclesiastical boundaries of the Dioceses of Bacolod and Kabankalan at Tanolo Bridge located at the boundary of Hinigaran and Binalbagan. The symbolic foot marking takes place.
There will be an ecclesiastical welcome and symbolic turn-over of the Diocesan Seal at Sta. Maria Magdalena Parish in Hinigaran at 2 p.m.
A caravan from Hinigaran to San Sebastian Cathedral will start at 2:30 p.m. Along the caravan route, parishioners and students from various catholic schools will greet the new bishop.
The caravan is expected to arrive at the San Sebastian Cathedral by 4 p.m. There will be a presentation of the treasures of the Church – beggars and young poor people – as the poor is always at the center of the gospel.
There will be a so-called “Te Deum” (Thanksgiving or Praise). Waiting at the Cathedral doorsteps is the rector who will present a crucifix to the new bishop for veneration.
There will be a civic reception and welcome dinner at the Provincial Capitol at 7 p.m.
On August 9, the rites will start with a procession around the Bacolod public plaza which will be attended by bishops and the clergy along with pre-selected faithful from the parishes.
After the procession, there will be a mass and the official installation wherein the new bishop will canonically possess the Diocese of Bacolod.
The event will be attended by two papal nuncios, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, 28 bishops, and two vicar-generals.