“The Lord is my strength”: Bishop Apigo signifies fidelity to Church as new prelate of Mati

“The Lord is my strength. He is my strength in this particular role to be a shepherd to God’s people.”

These are the words of Bishop Abel Apigo on the night when he made his profession of faith and Oath of Fidelity to the Church and hours before he was consecrated to the Episcopacy, April 23.

The bishop-elect must profess his faith and make the Oath of Fidelity before he assumes office as the Bishop of Mati which he has to exercise in the name of the Church.

Bishop Apigo, a priest for 24 years before he was appointed as new bishop of Mati last February 10, said he was used to handling more than a hundred seminarians as he is the rector of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary. But now, things are different as he is going to lead an entire Diocese as their prelate.

“All of us are called to holiness. The bishop is given the role to lead the people to holiness and this is the task given to me,” Bp. Apigo quipped after taking the oath of fidelity at the seminary.

“It is not an easy responsibility,” he added.

He said that this responsibility is important as being a bishop is to handle an office that is handed on to him from the apostles down to the present pope.

“Our connection to the time of the apostles makes this responsibility very, very important to me,” he said.

He added that never in his mind that this humble priest from Davao who was schooled in the same seminary where he became a rector will soon become the second bishop of the Diocese of Mati.

“With all humility I accept this. I am counting on your prayers as I am accepting this responsibility,” he said.

He also implored the help of St. Francis Xavier as he brings the faith to the Diocese of Mati and the help of the Blessed Mother.