Cebu’s new bishop ordained in Yolanda-struck Palo, Leyte

IN  contrast to scenes of death and devastation  after  supertyphoon Yolanda, the town of Palo in Leyte yesterday turned festive as one of their own was elevated to the Order of Bishop.

Most Rev. Oscar Florencio was ordained to the episcopate during a three-hour liturgy participated in by over 200 bishops and priests at the jampacked Palo Metropolitan Cathedral.

A message from Pope Francis, who appointed Florencio as bishop, was read during the Mass.

Palo Archbishop John Du presided over the rites, while Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto were the co-consecrators.

Florencio, 49, will be  installed as auxiliary bishop of Cebu on Monday.

He and Bishop Dennis Villarojo will assist Archbishop Palma in guiding the biggest diocese in the Philippines with over four million Catholics.

Clad in red and gold vestments, Florencio took his vow to “discharge until death the office entrusted by the apostles, to guard the deposit of faith, and to guide the people of God in the way of salvation.”

He lay  face down before the altar as the congregation chanted the litany of saints.

Florencio was given a bishop’s ring, a miter or headdress, a crosier or pastoral staff, and the Book of the Gospels.

Florencio, who was also given the title as titular bishop of Listrona, chose as his  motto “Fiat Miserecordia Tua” (Let Your mercy be upon us).”

“It dawned on me that my life and priestly ministry revolve around the mercy of God. I could have perished during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda,” he said during the liturgy that was broadcast live over radio DYRF in Cebu City.

“The gift of the priesthood, the persons accompanying me, and most of all the gift of the episcopacy– all of these comes from the Almighty,” he added.

In his homily, Archbishop Palma recalled how typhoon Yolanda devastated Leyte region on Nov. 8, 2013, leaving more than 6,000 dead.

“That was the worst of times. We could see death and destruction descended in Palo.  We know we were tested. But now we see the best of times,” he told the congregation.

“The Palo Cathedral rose majestic. We survive because we have faith and we believe in the goodness of the Lord,” he added.

Palma said he requested the Holy See for two auxiliary bishops because Cebu is a big archdiocese.

“Bishop Florencio will be part of the country’s biggest diocese. After September 7, he will be a Cebuano. May the Lord accomplish in him what He has begun,” he said.

Florencio was born in Capoocan, Leyte, and was ordained priest on April 3, 1990.

He completed his studies in philosophy at Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, and theology at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

From 1994 to 1999, Florencio studied in Rome at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross where he obtained a licentiate and a doctorate in Sacred Theology.

When he returned to the Philippines, he was appointed professor at the St.John Evangelist School of Theology, the archdiocesan seminary of Palo.

He later became the parish priest of St. Francis of Assisi Church from 2004 to 2006, then of Sacred Heart Parish from 2006 to 2009.

In 2009, Florencio returned to the theology seminary where he became a rector in 2013.

Since 2009, he served as the Vice Chancellor of the archdiocese.