At least 40 archbishops and bishops and at least 300 priests from the different dioceses in the country have confirmed their presence on Thursday, Dec.5 during the liturgical reception and canonical installation of Bishop Julito B. Cortes as the fourth ordinary of the Diocese of Dumaguete.
Msgr. Gamaliel Tulabing, Diocesan administrator, made the announcement in a press briefing Thursday afternoon at the Marian Priests’ Center at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral compound in Dumaguete.
The Bishop’s installation will be graced by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto to represent Pope Francis, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop-Emeritus of Cebu and Cebu Metropolitan Archbishop Jose Serafia Palma, who is also the current president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
Also in attendance will be the two former prelates of the Diocese of Dumaguete, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of the Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo and Archbishop John Du of the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte.
Monsignor Tulabing said that aside from at least 80 members of the local clergy, more than 100 priests from neighboring dioceses, majority coming from Cebu, are expected to attend the canonical installation of Bishop Julito Cortes.
Last Sept. 28, Pope Francis appointed then Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Cortes as the new prelate of the Dumaguete diocese, more than a year after then Bishop Du was transferred to Leyte sometime in May 2012.
Cortes is not a newcomer to the Diocese of Dumaguete, where he had served in the early years of his priesthood in various positions prior to his assignment at the Cebu Archdiocese.
Bishop Cortes, 57, was born in Paranaque but whose roots are from Siquijor. He was ordained priest in 1980.
On Dec. 4, Bishop Cortes will arrive at the Sibulan wharf with a send-off party from the Archdiocese of Cebu. He will then proceed to the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, the seat of the diocese, where he will make his first official address as the new Dumaguete bishop at noon time, following the praying of the Angelus and singing of the Salve Regina for the international pilgrim image of the Our Lady of Fatima of Portugal.
A testimonial dinner is scheduled on the same day with Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Siquijor Gov. Zaldy Villa, and Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, leading at least 800 dignitaries and invited guests.
The liturgical reception and canonical installation will be held on Dec. 5 at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral at 9 a.m. with Cardinal Vidal as the homilist.
The Diocese of Dumaguete covers the towns and cities of Negros Oriental from Basay in the south to Jimalalud in the north, and the entire island-province of Siquijor. (PNA/JFP)
