Manila welcomes new auxiliary bishop

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales leads the clergy, religious and lay people of the Archdiocese of Manila in welcoming its new auxiliary bishop Most Rev. Bernardino C. Cortez during a mass at the Manila Cathedral on August 28 at 9 a.m.

Bishop Cortez, 55, was ordained to the episcopacy on August 20 at the St. Paul I Hermit Cathedral in San Pablo City. Bishop Cortez was administrator of the Diocese of San Pablo when he was appointed bishop by Pope John Paul II on May 31. Bishop Cortez takes the place of Bishop Socrates B. Villegas who is now the head of the Diocese of Balanga, Bataan.

A native of Parañaque City, Bishop Cortez was ordained to the priesthood on June 23, 1974 after completing his studies and formation at the San Carlos Seminary of the Archdiocese of Manila. He underwent formation in Carmelite Spirituality at the Notre Dame de Vie, Venasque, France in 1983-1984 and obtained his licentiate in Sacred Theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland in 1993. He held various assignments in the Diocese of San Pablo right after his ordination and was parish priest of St. Therese Parish in Los Baños.

Bishop Cortez will assist Archbishop Rosales in the pastoral care of the flock of the Archdiocese of Manila. It is expected that he will be assigned to the ministry for priestly formation and take on other administrative functions.

In his homily at Bishop Cortez’s ordination, Archbishop Rosales said Bishop Cortez need not be afraid, “although fear is the salutary initial response to any invitation or mission in the bible. But do not be afraid to start shepherding for the Lord’s flock….Like priests who only share and co-operate in the shepherding of Bishops, so also the Bishops are only collaborating in the pasturing of Jesus.”

Bishop Cortez’s episcopal logo is “In Omnibus Caritas” (In All Things Christ.) ##

• Welcome Remarks of Archbishop gaudencio B. Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, click here

• Homily of Bishop Bernardino C. Cortez , Auxiliary Bishop
  of Manila, click here