THE Archdiocese of Cebu has reshuffled about 100 diocesan priests who have served parishes beyond the maximum allowed period of time.
Those included in the reshuffle will assume their new assignments within the month.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma earlier explained that the change is not meant to demote or promote them but to continue the mission of the Church.
Parish priests were given up to six years to serve in a parish while parochial vicars or assistant priests have until two years.
In the recent reshuffle prepared by the Archdiocesan Personnel Board, some assistant priests were promoted to parish priests while others were tasked to handle office or seminary works.
Palma encouraged priests affected by the rehuffle to embrace their new assignments.
“When we assign a priest in a particular parish, we are considering the good of the community. That is the number one reason. Second, we also take into consideration the good of the priest,” Palma said.
Cebu has the most number of clergy in the Philippines with 414 diocesan priests and about 300 from various religious congregations.
Churches with a large number of parishioners will have a “team ministry” composed of three priests with one acting as a team moderator instead of designating a parish priest.
“If a priest stays in a parish for 20 years, sometimes when he has just started his homily, the people already know the ending because they have been hearing it for 20 years already,” the archbishop said.
“But when you’re in a new place, there is really that new enthusiasm.”
Among the priests given a new assignment was Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, who from being Palma’s personal secretary, was named parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Roque in Mambaling, Cebu City.
Msgr. Ildebrando Leyson, who served as rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Pedro Calungsod for several years, is now the parish priest of the Our Lady of Remedios Parish in Odlot, Bogo City.
Msgr. Vicente Tupas, the rector of the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel in SM Seaside, was transferred to San Fernando Rey Parish in Liloan. He was replaced by Fr. Glenn Therese Guanzon, the chairman of the Commission on Worship.
Fr. Japhet Geonzon was named archdiocesan liturgical master of ceremonies. He replaced Fr. Expedito Torrevillas II who was transferred from the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City to Bulak in Dumanjug.
Fr. Eligio Suico was also appointed the new rector of the Pope John XXIII Seminary while Fr. Mark Barneso is the new chairman of the Commission on Youth.
Fr. Carmelo Diola was named chaplain of the Abtanan sa Kalooy while Fr. Allan Delima was appointed director of the Spiritual Pastoral Formation Year (SPFY).
The complete list of the priests’ new assignments are published in the August 21 issue of “Ang Bag-ong Lungsoranon,” the official newsletter of the archdiocese.