Bicolano archbishop receives pallium from Pope Francis: a reminder to serve

By Myrna S. Bermudo

“Today, the Metropolitan Archbishops appointed in the last year receive the pallium. In communion with Peter and following the example of Christ, the gate for the sheep (cf. Jn 10:7), they are called to be zealous shepherds,” Pope Francis exhorted during the Eucharistic celebration on the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul at St. Peter’s Basilica on June 29.

Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, DD, the fifth Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres, together with forty-one archbishops from around the world, received a pallium from His Holiness Pope Francis. He was the only Filipino to receive it this year.

“I had the privilege of receiving the pallium from the Holy Father because I was recently appointed as the new archbishop of Caceres,” Archbishop Alarcon told a group of Bicolanos in a thanksgiving mass which he officiated, June 30, at the main chapel of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino (PCF) in Rome, Italy.

Citing the imagery of how the pallium is prepared, he said: “And as you know the pallium, ‘yon ay kinuha sa wool ng sheep at ginagawa iyong pallium. The archbishop receives it and puts on his shoulders the fabric that comes from the sheep. Galing sa mga tupa. That is why your presence today is a reminder for me that the ministry, the task that is given to me, which is at the same time a privilege, comes from you. Galing sa mga tupa, ibinibigay sa Arsobispo upang ang Arsobispo ay maglingkod.”

Alarcon’s message that the ministry comes with a privilege to serve echoes the homily of Pope Francis to those who received the pallium: “They are called to be zealous shepherds who open the doors of the Gospel and, through their ministry, help to build a Church and a society of open doors.”

Worn by metropolitan archbishops over their chasuble when celebrating mass in their jurisdiction, the pallium, a woven band of wool, is a sign of their communion with the Pope and their responsibility as shepherds.

Alarcon was installed as the 5th Archbishop of Caceres on May 2 after being appointed by Pope Francis on February 22.

Devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and some Filipino migrants in Rome were invited during the thanksgiving mass including Bicolano groups namely: The Miracle of Salvation Missionaries, Devotees of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, Centro Filippino Chaplaincy, Peñafrancia Community of Via de la Fornace and Iriguenos of Rome in Italy. Priests who joined were Fr. Andrew Reception (Caceres), Fr. James Raymond Cortez (Caceres), Fr. Ace Baracena (Caceres), Fr. Austin John Ortinero (Caceres), Fr. Ruben Torres (Amsterdam), Fr. Kali Llamado (Manila), Fr. Bonifacio Lopez (Rome) Fr. Jesus Dajac (Superior General of Missionaries of Faith, a Bicolano), Fr. Greg Gaston (Rector of Pontificio Collegio Filippino), Fr. Alvin Paras, OFM (a Bicolano Franciscan) and Fr. Marvin Tabion.

Archbishop Alarcon met with the Bicolanos and devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia after the mass for lunch. He reminded them that “We all share the same love for Ina. Kaya hindi man tayo magkakadugo tayo ay magkakapatid kay Kristo. Tayo ay magkakapatid kay Ina. Saan man tayo nanggaling. Bicolano man o hindi. Saan man sa Bicol, we are brothers and sisters. We are a community of faith .”

“Preparation for the 100 years celebration of the Canonical Coronation of Ina was also announced,” shared Marie Gumabon-Lami, one of the Bicolanas living in Rome. “Organizational meeting has been set among the different groups to celebrate this event. Action plan for the Bicolanos is to unite together, ‘Insieme’ as the Archbishop told us.”

“Insieme. That is a beautiful word for synodality . Insieme. We all pray together. We all walk together. We help each other. Insieme. Together. Let us beg the Lord so that we may be able to walk with each other. To carry one another and to embrace one another, in good times and in bad. Because that that is what it means to be a devotee of Ina, and to be a disciple of our Lord,” Alarcon encouraged.

Some Filipino migrants who are members of the Centro Filippino at the Basilica di Sta. Pudenziana in Rome were also invited to join in the thanksgiving mass of the new archbishop of Caceres held at the main chapel of PCF. The Basilica di Santa Pudenziana is the center of the Filipino community in Rome. There are 38, 703 Filipinos in Rome based on the statistics published online by tuttitalia.it

“Filipino priests selected by their bishops and sent to Rome for on-going formation stay at the Collegio during their additional training and further studies. These priests minister to the spiritual needs of OFWs working in Rome,” said Fr. Gaston, PCF rector, on PCF’s website.

Alarcon further said that “my prayer and wish for you, for me and for my brother priests are: that we be given a healthy body. Health of mind, body and spirit. I pray also that our senses be more sensitive. Let us pray for that our senses make us sensitive to God’s grace. Such sensitivity that allows us to show empathy and compassion to others. The second is as I undertake this new ministry and for us priests, I pray for courage. We pray that the Lord sustain that courage to seek that which is good. To stand up for the truth and to stay in the truth is something that requires courage. And the third is, I pray for perseverance. Perseverance. To persevere in standing for the truth, in doing what is true and what is good. So I pray for good health, sensitivity of the body, to sharpen our senses. I pray that we may persevere. I pray that we may be given the graces we need so that we may continue to bring the good news. The joy of the gospel.”

In conclusion, he appealed for prayer “For me as a bishop, it is not only to ask courage for myself but also for the people that I lead that they may walk with me. That they may trust me. We pray for courage not only for us but for those entrusted to our care.”

Archbishop Alarcon stayed at the PCF when he was studying for his Licentiate in Church History at the Pontificia Universita Gregoriana in 2001.

The investiture of the pallium will take place in the Archdiocese of Caceres. Details have not been announced.

Pope Francis gives a pallium to Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon during a Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on June 29, 2024. (Screenshot Vatican News)