When brothers and sisters are together with love…

L-R: Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Bishop of Pagadian Ronald I. Lunas and Archbishop of Davao and CBCP President Romulo G. Valles during the installation of Bp. Lunas as fifth bishop of Pagadian, March 25. (Nemric Kiel Umali)

“How beautiful when brothers and sisters are together with love. There, there is God. All the Church is present; we are the people of God who is everywhere in the world.”

These are the words of no less than Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, D.D., who came over to the Diocese of Pagadian on the occasion of the installation of the 5th Bishop, the Most Rev. Ronald I. Lunas, D.D.

Archbishop Caccia said that in big gatherings like this, the Church is present. The presence of the metropolitan Bishop, the President of the CBCP and of the Pope represented by himself in the midst of the faithful, all speak for this presence.

After the welcome rites at the entrance of the Cathedral, the Most Rev. Emmanuel Cabajar, D.D., Bishop-Emeritus, welcomed the new Bishop recalling the words of Julius Caesar, “Veni, vidi, vici, I came, I saw, I conquered.”

To the new Bishop, Cabajar said, “You may say, ‘I am conquered by the warm welcome.’ You come, you see, you will be conquered by their hospitality, their kindness and their love for you. Warm welcome to the Diocese of Pagadian.”

The Most Rev. Martin Jumoad, D.D., archbishop of Ozamis and Metropolitan Bishop of the region, installed Bishop Lunas, in Sto. Niño Cathedral, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, on March 25, 2019, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.

The Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao and CBCP President filled the spirits of those present with his very pastoral, joke-laden and substantial homily. He shared three thoughts. First: “that the bishop would lead us and help us hear the announcements, many announcements coming from the Lord of the good news.”

Second: “In announcing the good news, the good news at first hearing would be impossible. How can this be? You will be the first in this vineyard to say with this prayer, nothing is impossible with God.”

And third, “The bishop is your servant. Help him to become your servant. Pangadyean nato nga he will become your servant. For a servant to be effective he must know the mind of his boss and he would know those whom he would serve. So a bishop must be always a man of constant communication with the master.”

The new Bishop, Ronald Lunas, capsulized the event with his thanksgiving to all the present, Bishops, Archbishops, clergy and religious, lay people both believers and those in other religions and faiths.

Greeting those present with Emmanuel and peace, he said that he will do what he can in this journey of faith. He said, “Usa sa akong naobserbahan pagsugod sa misa extra large man ang mga gamit dinhi. Ang senser dako kaayo naglisud kog bitbit. Ang chalice habog kaayo ning tupong na hapit sa akoa. Ang microphone labina, bisan unsa nako og adjust tua ra gihapon ibabaw sa akong ulo. Para gyud to kay Bishop Manny. Dili ko makapasalig nga masuot nako ang sapatos ni Bishop Manny kay dako kaayo. Maningkamot lang jud kog unsay naa sa akoa aron ikatampo sa inyong panaw sa pagtoo sa atong pakig-uban. Sa kataposan, God is with us.”