Du installed as Leyte archbishop today

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — After a year or so, Catholic flocks in this side of the Visayas will finally have their new shepherd in Archbishop John Forrosuelo Du.

Archbishop Du will be installed today in a rite noted by other covering journalists as one of the grandest in the recent years in the history of Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte, in Eastern Visayas.

Apostolic nuncio to the Philippines His Excellency, the Most Reverend Guiseppe Pinto, will be the installing prelate.

Around 1,059 dignitaries will also attend in the installation, including Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

Also signifying their attendance are 60 bishops, 339 priests, seminarians, religious sisters and lay ministers plus other head of government offices, and local leaders.

Archbishop John Forrosuelo Du, 58, was appointed on Feb. 25 to replace the post vacated by Palma.

In a report, Palo Archdiocese media coordinator Fr. Amadeo Alvero requested those who will attend to observe “restraint” during the ceremony, especially those who cannot enter the Cathedral hall, to maintain “sanctity.”

He however asked the people to understand if there is a limit to the people who are allowed to enter the Cathedral.

Archbishop Du was ordained June 1, 1979 (Sacerdotal) and January 6, 1998 (Episcopal) both in Cebu City. Originally from Bantayan, Cebu, his parents are Silvino Ybañez Du (deceased) and Paciencia Esscala Forrosuelo.

He obtained A.B. Philosophy at San Carlos Seminary in Cebu City (1975) and Bachelor in Sacred Theology at Tagaytay City’s Divine Word Seminary, which is affiliated to Pontifici Universitas Urbania, Rome.

Archbishop Du’s ministry began when he was assigned as assistant parish priest in Talisay, Cebu until being appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu in January 6, 1998 and Bishop of Dumaguete City in April 21, 2001 until his new appointment in Leyte.   -/LPM

According to  Msgr. Ramon B. Aguilos, the Archdiocese of Palo comprises the civil province of Leyte (excluding four towns in the north which belongs to the diocese of Naval and other six towns in southwest which  is under the Diocese of Maasin), covering an area of 4,620 square kilometers.

Its population is 1.5 million of which 80 percent are Catholics.

The new archbishop will be then overseeing about 150 diocesan priests.

In an earlier interview with the Daughters of St. Paul, Archbishop Du said he is happy to be assigned in Palo, adding he is excited to lead the archdiocese and its people into a harmonious relationship with Jesus Christ at the center in their lives. -/LPM (FREEMAN)