Cebu welcomes next prelate

CEBU, Philippines — The Archdiocese of Cebu formally welcomed Most Rev. Alberto “Abet” S. Uy, DD yesterday (September 28) to begin his mission as the fifth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu, following his formal installation tomorrow (September 30) at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

The prelate, who previously served as Bishop of Tagbilaran, arrived at Cebu Port at around 4 p.m. where he was greeted by government officials and the faithful led by outgoing Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

Then his arrival motorcade passes through Quezon Avenue, Legazpi Street, and D. Jakosalem Street, before proceeding to the Archbishop’s Palace Compound.

At 5:00 p.m., church leaders and hundreds of faithful greeted his arrival at the Archbishop Palace compound, which was marked by a Sugat Kabanhawan presentation.

Inside the shrine, Archbishop-designate Uy led the Solemn Vespers, Profession of Faith, and Oath of Fidelity, a liturgical tradition symbolizing his formal acceptance of the new pastoral mission.

“Am I truly qualified to the very demanding mission? By human standards, perhaps not. God’s choice is not about human qualifications but that His grace,” says Archbishop-Designate Uy in his homily during the Solemn Vespers at the Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of San Pedro Calungsod.

He said that God chose him not because he is the strongest or the most capable but because God has a mission to accomplish through his weakness.

“I take this mission as a challenge to live, love, listen with humility, and listen with the heart of a shepherd. If ever you doubt your worth, remember, it is God who chooses. And when God chooses, He also equips. God’s strength will always be enough,” he added.

Meanwhile, outgoing Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma presided over a Thanksgiving Mass yesterday morning at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on September 28, celebrating his 14 years of service to the Archdiocese of Cebu.

In his homily, Palma expressed gratitude, saying, “Even if you feel like thanking me, I should say, side by side with that is my heart full of gratitude to you. Today, even if I am retired, I am just around.”

Archbishop Palma recalled milestones of his tenure, including the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod in 2012, the International Eucharistic Congress, and the celebration of 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines, highlighting Cebu’s unity and vibrancy of faith.

The Archdiocese of Cebu invites the faithful to join in prayer as Archbishop-designate Uy assumes his role as the new shepherd of the largest Catholic archdiocese in the Philippines.

Archbishop-designate Uy was appointed by Pope Francis on 16 July 2025. Born in Ubay, Bohol in 1966, he was ordained a priest in 1993 and appointed Bishop of Tagbilaran in 2016.

Known for his advocacy for good governance and environmental stewardship, Archbishop Uy has consistently championed accountability, transparency, and ecological initiatives such as One Believer, One Tree and community-driven clean-up programs.

The Archdiocese-designate has outlined a three-day program starting September 28 to 30, 2026 leading to his installation, featuring pastoral, liturgical, and civic engagements, including outreach to the poor, cultural performances, civic receptions, and a symbolic tree-planting activity.

Thousands of faithful, together with bishops, cardinals, clergy, and dignitaries from across the Philippines, are expected to witness his installation Mass. Around 800 priests and 69 bishops, including Papal Nuncio representatives, will attend.

As Archbishop-designate embarks on his new mission, Uy reminded the faithful during his Holy Mass in Tagbilaran before his departure to Cebu: “The greatest sin is not always cruelty, but indifference. When we close our hearts to the poor, we are also closing our hearts to God.”

He further urged the faithful not to imitate the rich man in the Gospel, who only turned to Lazarus in his time of need.

“Whatever you did to the least of your brothers and sisters, you did to me … When you have more than what you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence … padak-an nato atong kasingkasing para sa uban,” Archbishop Uy added.

On the other hand, Bohol Governor Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado, in his Facebook post, thanked the former Tagbilaran Archbishop for his leadership.

“Your leadership and spiritual insights have truly helped shape our Boholano society. We are truly honored to have you at our side. As always, bisan pa man kung ang Sugbo mao na karon ang sentro sa imong pag-alagad, you can count on every Boholano’s support in spreading the Gospel and in prayers,” Aumentado said. (CEBU NEWS)