Cebu welcomes Auxiliary Bishop Florencio

CEBU, Philippines- Hundreds of devotees from Cebu and Palo, Leyte gathered at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday morning to welcome newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Florencio to the Cebu Archdiocese.

No less than Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal led the welcome mass.

In his homily, Palma said Florencio’s arrival is a “gift from God” especially for the church’s pastoral work.

“Malipayon kita nga modawat sa regalo. It’s truly God’s Gift,” Palma said.

“No return, no exchange hangtod ang santo papa dili mohatag kaniya ug bag-o nga assignment,” he added.

He promised: “Ang mga sugbuanon andam mohigugma ug moatiman ni Bishop Florencio sa iyang pagpuyo na dinhi sa sugbo ug moawhag ako sa tanang mga sugbuanon nga ilakip sa pag-ampo ang mga bag-ong natudlo nga auxiliary bishop kay dili sayon ang trabaho ug tahas nga ilang atubangon sa higayon nga molihok na sila sa Archdiocese.”

Palma announced that Florencio will fly to Rome for three weeks for a seminar and will assume his new assignment at the Santo Rosario Parish upon his return.

Vidal, meanwhile, said he hopes that Florencio will stay long in Cebu.

For his part, Florencio said he appreciates the welcome given to him.

“Malipayon ako sa pag-welcome sa tanang mga tawo ug mabungahon akong pag-abot sa sugbo,” he said.

“The good and the bad, ako sab makakat-on tanan bulohaton isip obispo… the bad, basin dili mooyon sa akoa pamaagi… natural ra man na kay ako usa ka Waray… pero i will have to try,” Florencio said. (FREEMAN)