BALANGA CITY – The Most Reverend Rufino C. Sescon, Jr. was officially installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Balanga that comprises 11 towns and one city of Bataan and held his first Mass at the Cathedral Shrine Parish of St. Joseph here on Saturday, March 1.
Sescon, the former rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo was ordained bishop in rites at the Manila Cathedral last Feb. 25, the 39th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
Rev. Fr. Percival Medina read the letter of Pope Francis appointing Sescon as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga.
The new prelate called on the religious and provincial and local officials to unite for the good of the province. “Para sa ikabubuti ng ating probinsiya gaya noong sinabi ko noong Martes (Feb. 25) na ang tunay na maka-Diyos ay makabayan din kaya para sa kabutihan, katarungan at ganap na kaunlaran, ako po ay inyong magiging katuwang.”
“Magkaisa tayo sa tunay na kaunlaran, katarungan at kapayapaan na bahagi ng plano ng Diyos. Bayan ng Diyos dito sa Bataan, magkaisa tayo kay Kristo,” the 52-year old bishop urged every one.
In attendance at the Holy Mass were Representatives Jett Nisay of Partylist Pusong Pinoy, Geraldine Roman of the 1st District, Albert Garcia of the 2nd District and Gila Garcia of the 3rd District.
Also in attendance were Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia 3rd, Vice Gov. Cris Garcia, provincial board members and other municipal officials.
Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown accompanied Sescon to the cathedra, Latin word for chair or bishop’s throne at the altar of the cathedral where Sescon’s coat of arms was installed with another Latin word “Gratia” (grace), reportedly the motto of the new prelate and also the motto of his batch at San Carlos Seminary.
A big number of priests joined Sescon, Brown, Lingayen Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Jose Cardinal Advincula of Manila, Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David of Kalookan, Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos and other bishops at the processional at the start of the Holy Mass.
Villegas and Sescon were both under the staff of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin during the EDSA People Power bloodless revolt.
Villegas was the third bishop of Balanga while Santos as the fourth bishop, followed by Sescon as the fifth bishop. Photos: Ernie Esconde
