Bishop of Caloocan Diocese installed; Sin calls for spiritual formation

Without making specific mention of the scandals that have rocked the Church, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, called yesterday for the prioritization of religious formation in the clergy and in the faithful.

Sin made the call in a homily during solemn rites creating the new Diocese of Caloocan and the installation of its first bishop at the former San Roque Parish Church, now declared a Cathedral, in Caloocan City.

"Prioritize the religious formation of the clergy and the faithful. We would like to see Caloocan to be one community anchored on spiritual renewal," Sin admonished the Most. Rev. Deogracias Iniguez Jr., 63, a native of Cotabato, first bishop of the Diocese of Caloocan.

The new diocese is composed of five vicariates in the cities of Caloocan and Malabon and the town of Navotas.

Sin also called for unity in the face of challenges facing the Church. The cardinal reminded the more privileged in society, particularly the public officials, that they are the servants of the people. He included the local businessmen urging them to serve the poor, who is "number one in God’s eyes."

"(We see) the urban poor in Dagat-Dagatan, the fisher folk of Navotas, the workers and vendors of Malabon. Of course, there are the subdivisions and the villages of the middle and upper classes. There is a great challenge to unite our energies so justice is served to the disadvantaged," he said.

The aging Sin, who remained seated for the most part of the over two-hour ceremony incorporated within the Mass, labored through a prepared homily, which he read haltingly, characterized by lengthy pauses. He left shortly after the consecration rites, assisted by two cleric assistants at around 12:15 p.m. The rites began at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday after a motorcate.

Iniguez, for his part, echoed Sin’s call and made the same urgent call among the clergy and the faithful for a communion, bonding, a working together for a "renewal through spiritual formation."

Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Franco and Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, led the clergy. Some 50 monsignori, easily identifiable by their scarlet skullcaps, were led by likely successors of Sin when he retires, among them Most. Rev. Leonardo Legaspi, OP Bishop of Nueva Caseres followed by some priests, religious and seminarians. The crowd was estimated at around 3,000 at the height of the ceremonies.

The rites was also honored by the presence of members of the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP) and members of other ecumenical groups including protestant churches Iglesia Independiente Filipina, the local Anglican Church and the Apostolic Catholic Church.

President Arroyo, who was supposed to lead public officials in the rites, was in Baguio for the PMA rites and was represented by Secretary of Tourism Richard Gordon. Also seen at the ceremonies were Sen. Robert Barbers, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) head Danding Cojuangco and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Felicito Payumo, with their respective wives and other public officials from the national government.

Among the locals spotted were Mayors Reynaldo Malonzo (Caloocan), Amado Vicencio (Malabon) and Tobias Reynald Tiangco (Navotas); Representatives Enrico Echiverri (District 1 Caloocan) Edgar Erice (District 2 Caloocan) and Ricky Sandoval (Malabon-Navotas) with his wife Jeannie.

The solemnity of the rites was marred in part by politicians, who were a distracted lot, putting on their charms, shaking hands now and then with each other, with rivals and with potential voters among the faithful present.