New diocese gets first bishop

Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin yesterday installed Bishop Teodoro Bacani as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Novaliches during rites held at the Good Shepherd Cathedral in Fairview, Quezon City.

In his message, Sin urged Bacani, also the spiritual adviser of the El Shaddai, to move on and "start the journey now" as a bishop of the diocese.

Sin expressed gladness that Bacani is "now ready to conquer new horizons and pursue new dreams."

On the other hand, Sin likewise dared priests of Novaliches to become saints.

"Priests of Novaliches, dare to be saints. You behold the body of Christ day by day. You bless people. You are instruments of grace for the people. Your first calling is to be saints," said Sin.

He also urged Bacani to be the "first saint in the Diocese of Novaliches."

Sin told the priests that their calling "is not to be media celebrities, financial wizards or astute administrators. The Church needs you to be His gifts to the world. Be holy priests," said the Cardinal.

Among those who attended the installation were President Arroyo, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Franco, Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., El Shaddai servant leader Brother Mike Velarde, Ambassador Henrietta de Villa, and former Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

The Mass was officiated by retired priest Fr. Catalino Arevalo.

Bacani, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, was born on Jan. 16, 1940 in Manila.

He was ordained priest on Dec. 21, 1965 at the Manila Cathedral by Rufino Cardinal Santos, then Archbishop of Manila.

Bacani was ordained Bishop on April 12, 1984 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Manila by Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani.

Bacani was appointed First Bishop of the new diocese of Novaliches on Dec. 7, 2002.

He was Auxiliary Bishop of Manila from 1984 to January 2003.

He was District Bishop of Caloocan and Novaliches Ecclesiastical Districts from 1996 to January 2003.

Bacani was also Bishop-in-charge of the Ecclesiastical District of Manila from 1984 to 1996.

Novaliches, Sin said, has now a population of around 1.6 million, 1.4 million of whom are Catholic. There are around 50 new parishes in the area.