A Harvest of Grace: Daet closes Golden Anniversary celebration

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat

“Endings are new beginnings.”

With these words, Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of the ecclesiastical province of Caceres closed the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Diocese of Daet last Monday, September 1, with a eucharistic celebration at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Daet, Camarines Norte.

Alarcon called for new beginnings reflective of the story of Zacchaeus -the Gospel of the day. “As we close the Golden Jubilee, a new chapter begins,” he said, “Yet the words ring once more: I mean to stay at your house today.”

“The Lord wishes to dwell in our hearts and in the Diocese,” he exhorted.

In addition, Alarcon highlighted not only the faithfulness of God to His people but also the role of the Most Holy Trinity in the life of the Diocese.

The Most Holy Trinity, the namesake of the Cathedral, is the “true foundation of the Diocese and the model of communion”, he said. “The Father has begun everything, the Son redeemed us and the Holy Spirit continues to give gifts and charisms.”

New beginnings

Bishop Herman Abcede, RCJ, current prelate of Daet, said the golden jubilee coming to a close “opens a new horizon” for the local Church of Daet, through which “God continues to write with His people”.

“The eucharistic celebration becomes for me, both a remembrance and a mission,” Abcede said, “a remembrance of God’s fidelity for the past 50 years, and a mission to walk forward with renewed zeal for evangelization, service and communion.”

A Harvest of Grace

Alarcon also expressed much gratitude for the gift of vocation to the Diocese. He testified to a steady number of vocations to the priesthood after praying to St. Hannibal, founder of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus. In addition, the Golden Jubilee witnessed the appointment to the episcopacy of Abcede and Pagadian Bishop Ronald Anthony Timoner, both coming from the Diocese of Daet.

Equally emphasized during the feat was the collaborative efforts of the clergy, religious and lay faithful that have made and allowed the Diocese to grow amidst the changing of the times.

“You have been at the forefront of the mission,” Alarcon said of their good pastoral work.

The Diocese of Daet was created from the Archdiocese of Caceres and was canonically established on September 1, 1974.