Pope's 1st Filipino bishop appointee to be installed Wednesday in Imus

The first Filipino bishop to be appointed by Pope Francis will be installed in Imus, Cavite this Wednesday, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said. The CBCP said Bishop Rey Evangelista will be installed as the new Imus bishop at the Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral at 9 a.m. by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto. Evangelista served as bishop of Boac before being appointed by Pope Francis last April to head the Diocese of Imus . “Aside from the three cardinals, more than 50 bishops from all over the country also confirmed their attendance in this momentous event,” parish priest Fr. Allan Valero said. A highlight of the event will be the performance of a "Caracol," a traditional dance of Cavite natives, during the offertory. During the traditional dance, the lay faithful will offer the gifts to the bishop. “Those faithful are coming from communities that we call ‘mananayaw’ or from the old towns in Cavite. But I’m not sure if Bishop Rey will dance,” Valero said. Expected to attend the event are retired Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, and Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. Tagle had joined the dancing when he was installed as Imus bishop, Valero noted. After the Holy Communion during the Mass, the Papal Nuncio and the three Filipino cardinals will give their messages. The Our Lady of the Pillar, the Patroness of the diocese will be presented and blessed by Evangelista after the messages are given. — DVM, GMA News