Mati’s New Bishop (Part 1)

Excerpt from Archbishop Romulo G. Valles’ homily during the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Abel Apigo last April 24, 2018, 2018 at San Pedro Cathedral.

After his ordination today, Bishop Abel will no longer be feeding seminarians but his new flock, the faithful of the Diocese of Mati. If today he can stand before you and before us, no longer just a Priest, no longer just a feeder of seminarians… but as a new Bishop. It is ultimately because the love of God has zeroed in, upon him and chosen him in much the same mysterious passion as that same divine love fell upon Peter and the twelve apostles making them the first Bishops of the Church.

Bishop Apigo is being sent to Mati so that as Bishop, he may and hear… let me quote the words in the second Vatican council… “In an eminent and visible way, undertakes Christ’s role as teacher, shepherd and high priest and act in His person,” that’s in Lumen Gentium.

And the command of our Lord as we heard in the Gospel Reading, the Bishop proceeds to attend his flock, to feed his congregation and the Bishop does this by being Teacher, Shepherd and High Priest to his people.

The Bishop first and foremost is teacher in the place of Christ, he proclaims the goods news again and again, whole and entire and diluted and undiminished… It is the Bishop who must stand up visibly to preach God’s word even when it is not convenient to do so… If the Bishop remains silent, who will speak God’s word in an eminent and visible way?

The Bishop must be a shepherd, no Christian community can long endure without a concrete leader to govern them. But bishops cannot just impose his will and authority at every turn as he governs his diocese. Christian communities need a leader that can inspire them as well as recognize the inspiration of the spirit in the work of others in the community. He should be a leader who governs by serving thus inspiring others to greater service. One who can lead because he is loved not because he is feared. One in whom authority is palpable because he has deep respect for every single member of the flock. One who appreciates the contribution of each, of each to the building up of the whole community life of faith. The bishop’s mandate to govern cannot be superior to that of Jesus Christ who considered himself as a servant. Not only because he serves all others but above all because a servant, he considered himself expendable, ready to be sacrificed himself as indeed he was sacrificed on the cross for the sins of others.