BALANGA CITY – Archbishop Socrates “Soc” Villegas on Friday held his last Mass in Bataan preparatory to his transfer as new prelate of the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan starting November 4.
Well-loved in his more than five-year stint as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga, people from all walks of life trooped to and filled the St. Joseph Cathedral in a Mass that started at 9:00 in the morning.
More than a dozen priests from 11 towns and one city joined the processional with the 49-year old new archbishop.
Fr. Soc as he is fondly called asked no material gift but expressed the wish for three things from his parishioners – love for all the priests, caring for the youth and embracing the poor.
“Kung gusto ninyong magpasalamat sa akin, huwag regalong material ang ibigay ninyo sa akin kundi mahalin ninyo ang lahat ng pari sa Bataan kahit sinong pari at anong pari, basta pari at ganoon din ang mga kabataan,” he emphasized.
Villegas described the priests as “biyaya para sa sambayanan” and the youth as “kayamanan ng simbahan.”
On his third wish, he said that the poor are not after relief goods but with the desire to be embraced and be felt. “Presence ng mga taong nagmamahal ang kailangan ng mga dukha,” Archbishop Soc said, adding, “kapag nagawa ninyo ang tatlo kong kahilingan, tatanawin kong utang na loob sa inyo habang-buhay.”
Asked on what he found as memorable in Bataan, he answered “everyday.”
He received standing ovations and heavy applause from the parishioners with many present and former government officials in attendance.
A church youth leader recalled how he met the new bishop of Balanga on July 2, 2004. “Mag-pari ka Jeff,” the young man quoted the new arrived priest as telling him.”Babaha sa pag-alis ni Fr. Soc hindi dahil sa bagyong Santy kundi sa luha,” the youth leader said.
Gov. Enrique Garcia said he and the others were hoping an impossible dream and that of Fr. Soc. staying in Bataan forever. The Bataan governor said that Villegas became the youngest bishop and then the youngest archbishop in the country. “Hindi magtatagal, Cardinal Soc na ang tawag namin sa inyo,” Garcia said.
Fr. Perry Medina, parish priest of the St. Joseph Cathedral, said the archbishop is very meticulous attending to even the lights and the “agiw” in the church. “Isa siyang misyonerong obispo na napuntahan pati na mga kasuluksulukang lugar sa Bataan na kahit kaming paring taga-Bataan ay hindi pa napupuntahan,” Medina said.
Archbishop Soc in his parting statement invited the parishioners to be with him in Lingayen-Dagupan on November 4. “Kapag hindi kayo nakarating, konsensiya niyo na ‘yon,” he said in jest.
At the end of the Mass, Villegas was mobbed by children and even the elderly.
Well-loved in his more than five-year stint as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga, people from all walks of life trooped to and filled the St. Joseph Cathedral in a Mass that started at 9:00 in the morning.
More than a dozen priests from 11 towns and one city joined the processional with the 49-year old new archbishop.
Fr. Soc as he is fondly called asked no material gift but expressed the wish for three things from his parishioners – love for all the priests, caring for the youth and embracing the poor.
“Kung gusto ninyong magpasalamat sa akin, huwag regalong material ang ibigay ninyo sa akin kundi mahalin ninyo ang lahat ng pari sa Bataan kahit sinong pari at anong pari, basta pari at ganoon din ang mga kabataan,” he emphasized.
Villegas described the priests as “biyaya para sa sambayanan” and the youth as “kayamanan ng simbahan.”
On his third wish, he said that the poor are not after relief goods but with the desire to be embraced and be felt. “Presence ng mga taong nagmamahal ang kailangan ng mga dukha,” Archbishop Soc said, adding, “kapag nagawa ninyo ang tatlo kong kahilingan, tatanawin kong utang na loob sa inyo habang-buhay.”
Asked on what he found as memorable in Bataan, he answered “everyday.”
He received standing ovations and heavy applause from the parishioners with many present and former government officials in attendance.
A church youth leader recalled how he met the new bishop of Balanga on July 2, 2004. “Mag-pari ka Jeff,” the young man quoted the new arrived priest as telling him.”Babaha sa pag-alis ni Fr. Soc hindi dahil sa bagyong Santy kundi sa luha,” the youth leader said.
Gov. Enrique Garcia said he and the others were hoping an impossible dream and that of Fr. Soc. staying in Bataan forever. The Bataan governor said that Villegas became the youngest bishop and then the youngest archbishop in the country. “Hindi magtatagal, Cardinal Soc na ang tawag namin sa inyo,” Garcia said.
Fr. Perry Medina, parish priest of the St. Joseph Cathedral, said the archbishop is very meticulous attending to even the lights and the “agiw” in the church. “Isa siyang misyonerong obispo na napuntahan pati na mga kasuluksulukang lugar sa Bataan na kahit kaming paring taga-Bataan ay hindi pa napupuntahan,” Medina said.
Archbishop Soc in his parting statement invited the parishioners to be with him in Lingayen-Dagupan on November 4. “Kapag hindi kayo nakarating, konsensiya niyo na ‘yon,” he said in jest.
At the end of the Mass, Villegas was mobbed by children and even the elderly.
