The Diocese of Dumaguete has a new vicar general in the person of Msgr. Glenn Corsiga, whose appointment Bishop Julito Cortes announced Thursday evening at the conclusion of the local clergy’s four day annual retreat.
At a press conference afterwards, Bishop Cortes said Msgr. Corsiga was the choice of majority of the priests as well as his, following a selection process that required deep discernment.
Msgr. Corsiga, formerly the episcopal vicar of the north district of the diocese and the parish priest of Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, replaced Msgr. Gamaliel Tulabing as vicar general.
The vicar general’s primary task, according to Bishop Cortes, is the alter ego of the bishop, and does not necessarily have to be a canon lawyer, like Msgr. Tulabing.
“It would be preferable if a vicar general has a degree in canon law but not necessary”, he stressed.
In the running of the diocese there are three major areas, namely, administration, pastoral ministry and judicial ministry, Cortes pointed out.
In the judicial ministry, there must be somebody with knowledge/expertise on canon law because it is a specialized field and in the diocese, only Msgr. Tulabing is the canon law expert.
So in the scheme of things, when the diocese re-arranged the different positions, the Dumaguete prelate said he asked Msgr. Tulabing if he could focus on that particular work to strike a check and balance, which he graciously said “yes”.
Bishop Cortes said he has personal knowledge of all those who contended for the position of vicar general, with whom he spoke prior to making the appointment.
“I respect the voice of my priests and led them in a solemn ritual, and in the morning a Vatican-like voting for a pope was held, but I also prayed for it and I’m happy that Msgr. Glenn is favored by most of the priests” even as he also had to make his own choice, Cortes said.
For his part, Msgr. Corsiga that he told his fellow priests following the announcement of his appointment that “he really did not think his ministry would come this far”.
“When I got ordained, I only wanted to become a simple priest.
Borrowing the words of Bishop Cortes when he was installed bishop of Dumaguete, Msgr. Corsiga said that “each Church position is always an office that requires utmost humility on the part of the one appointed”.
Corsiga went on to stay that it “also requires deep spirituality, an intimate relationship with God” as he expressed that he would “like to walk with the bishop in that spirit in serving the diocese as his vicar general”.
Asked what would be the biggest challenge, Msgr. Corsiga lightheartedly described it as taller than him.
“Now that the pastoral assembly is done and reaches a conclusion, the work is there, it will always be there no matter who the vicar general or the bishop is”, he noted.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Dumaguete is holding its Diocesan Pastoral Assembly on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10 and 11, to “look into the past with what has happened as far as the programs of the church is concerned; to look into what is happening now and what is the challenge for us in the future”, said Bishop Cortes. (Metro Post/with a report from Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
