MANILA (UCAN): Father Jose Alan Dialogo, was ordained a bishop by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of Manila, at an ordination Mass in Manila Cathedral on December 12. He is scheduled to be installed as bishop of Sorsogon on December 14.
The cardinal noted in his homily that the new bishop rows and even takes part in competitions. “I have a vision that you will blend very well being a pastor and being a fisher of men,” he told the new bishop.
“Remember St. Peter who was called to be a shepherd and who was earlier called to be a fisher of men,” Cardinal Tagle said.
He advised the newly-minted Bishop Dialogo to “walk on firm earth” because as a fisher one will be tossed by the waves. “It is uncertain. Sometimes you don’t know how to reach the other side. But that’s our times, less land more fluid ocean, so we entrust you to the Blessed Mother,” the cardinal said.
“Be a good shepherd and row with all your might,” he exhorted, adding that Bishop Dialogo need only to “simply turn to Jesus to learn how to shepherd.”
Cardinal Tagle assured him, “You are graced and the Lord will help you. Don’t be ashamed to show God that you are terrified, that you tremble. Admit before God your limitations and he will assure you nothing will be impossible.”
“I am so grateful to God, our Lord, for this tremendous grace of ordination. Holy Father, please continue to pray for me and the bishops of the Philippines,” Bishop Dialogo said.
“I am not worthy of this gift of episcopacy, and I can never be worthy, but God has made me trustworthy to be ordained bishop in his Church,” he said.
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the outgoing papal nuncio to the Philippines who has been credited by Cardinal Tagle with helping in the appointment of several bishops in the last few years, called on Catholics to help Bishop Dialogo carry out his new ministry.
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“We will support him with our prayers and especially with our good example,” he said.
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Dialogo as Sorsogon’s new bishop to succeed Bishop Arturo Bastes, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in April (Sunday Examiner, October 27).
Prior to his appointment, Bishop Dialogo was director of the Jaime Cardinal Sin Welcome Home, a facility for retired priests in Manila.
