BALANGA City, Bataan: Newly-ordained Bishop Rufino C. Sescon, Jr. paid short visits to Catholic parish churches in the towns of Hermosa, Orani, Samal and Abucay on his way to Balanga City where he will hold office after his installation as fifth bishop of the Diocese of Balanga on Saturday, March 1.
Riding an open vehicle, the 52-year old prelate waved and blessed the faithful who lined the MacArthur Highway while waving small flags, braving the hot sun.
Big welcome posters for the bishop are very noticeable along the MacArthur Highway and churches.
Sescon’s official coat of arms displayed above the cathedra, Latin word for chair or throne of bishop, showed another Latin word “Gratia” or grace as the new bishop’s motto.
In Balanga City at the Cathedral Shrine Parish of St. Joseph, Pampanga Bishop Florentino Lavarias, who acted as caretaker of the Diocese of Balanga with the transfer of then Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos to the Diocese of Antipolo, officiated in a noon Mass.
The new bishop, former rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo, recited a pledge.
Appointed by Pope Francis as Bataan bishop, Sescon, late Cardinal Sin’s former secretary, was ordained bishop at the Manila Cathedral during the 39th anniversary of People Power last February 25. (30)
