New Bishop installed in Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY (September 17, 2024) --Faithful and the clergy of the Diocese of Baguio City witnessed the installation of their Third Bishop on Tuesday.

Most Rev. Rafael T. Cruz, D. D. was formally confirmed as the new Bishop of the Baguio Diocese during his Solemn Canonical Installation at the Baguio Cathedral of Our Lady of the Atonement.

The rites attended by Catholic Church goers together with the, clergy officials and staff of the different churches of the Diocese of Baguio and other Dioceses and government officials

started at 8:00 AM of the date attended by the

Bishop Cruz, 64, succeeded Bishop Victor Barnueva Bendico, who was appointed Archbishop of Capiz.

The First Bishop of the Diocese was the late Bishop Carlito Cenzon when it was elevated as a Diocese in 2004 from being an Apostolic Vicariate.

Diocese of Baguio comprises Baguio City and Benguet province.

According to Bishop Cruz, one of his priorities is the welfare of the priests and lay people in the Diocese.  He said that their spiritual journey, psychological wellness , and physical well-being should be strengthened or well-cared of so that they will be effective in their mission to their parishioners.

Cruz also said that the priests should bear in their hearts and minds three factors in serving the faithful.  The first is collegiality where they should be in unity with each other, the second is to avoid being delusional or they should realize that not everybody in the congregations, parishes or communities will always agree with their thoughts or deeds, and third is that they should have sense of humor.

He added that priests should also open their minds to criticisms or accept failures.