Homily of Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales, Archbishop of Manila during the Installation of Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles as Lipa’s New Archbishop

The Local Church in Batangas or the Archdiocese of Lipa after its separation from the Archdiocese of Manila is now 94 years old. Today it receives its 8th Bishop or its 5th Archbishop.

The Archdiocese has shrunk in size from mostly the entire southern Tagalog area to the province of Batangas alone. But the population has grown continuously together with impending visible signs of development which, we hope and pray, will redound towards the good of the people, particularly the poor among us. The Church has also grown with the people and believers.

The Archdiocese of Lipa has been gifted by so much grace by an ever loving God and today enjoys a Presbyterium or college of priests who have again tried not only to revisit its priestly roots, but to reframe its ministry according to the rich tradition of faithfulness and holiness among its clergy ingrained in fidelity, prayer, .fraternity and discipline. Archbishop Ramon, you will be rejoining a family of priests that has been honoured by the presence of such Christ like priests as Bishop Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar, Bishop Leoncio L. Lat, Msgr. Domingo L Librea, Msgr. Clemente Yatco, Fr. Jose Catapang, Msgrs. Emilio Mendoza, Valente Daigdigan and Atnador Litong.

The Archdiocese of Lipa has a Presbyterium, Religious Communities and Laity that appreciate and pursue a Pastoral Vision that has been refined several times to capture people's authentic present and ultimate needs as confirmed by experience and affirmed by the Word of God in Jesus, His Son. Nearly to a man the Local Church , as inspired and led by their priests, is willing to make sacrifices to attain the ends of its pastoral plans, programs and objectives. You will find out, Archbishop Ramon, that the Apostolic Vision has already been translated into pastoral programs like PONDONG BATANGAN and its many acculturated catechesis and programs for the affluent and the needy, the newly established theolgate to train future priests of Batangas and to strengthen the spirituality that serves better priestly life and the evangelization needs of people of this peculiar sub-culture known as Batangueno.

You are not a stranger to the people you are going to accompany as shepherd. You will not find it difficult to live and work with them, because you are one of them. Youu were born and you grew up in this Archdiocese.

But this time and starting today you return to Batangas as its: S'' Local Ordinary and 5 Archbishop of Lipa. The new Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops used at least ten images --­Shepherd, Fisherman, Father, Brother, Friend, Comforter, Servant, Teacher, Leader, and Sacramentumn Bonitatis --- in order to describe the office and responsibility of Bishop. But the icon that more faithfully describes the Bishop as he helps, teaches, corrects, encourages and accompanies his flock (Archdiocese) is the one of the Good Shepherd.

Allow me to quote from the New Directory of Bishops (2004). "In contemplating the Gospel icon of the Good Shepherd, the Bishop discovers the meaning of constant self giving, remembering that the Good Shepherd offered his life for his flock (Jn 10: 11) and came not to be served but to serve (Mt. 20:28). Moreover, he discovers the inspiration for his pastoral ministry and for the proper exercise of his triple munera (office) of teaching, sanctifying and governing according to the model of the Good Shepherd. So if his Episcopal ministry is to bear fruit, the Bishop is called to conform himself closely to Christ both in his personal life and in the exercise of his apostolate in such a way that the "mind of Christ "thoroughly informs his thoughts, words and deeds, and the light streaming from the race of Christ illumines his "care of souls, which is the art of arts". (Directory, No. 2).

You are the Shepherd. "Feed my flock. Feed my sheep". But above all, the shepherd loves Jesus more than these others. After all have been said, Priestly and Episcopal shepherding presupposes love of God first and above all. Without love for God there is really no shepherding.

Installation of Archbishop Ramon Arguelles
Cathedral of San Sebastian
Lipa City
16 Jul y 2004