Arrival of new archbishop to begin with entrustment to Ina

By Myrna S. Bermudo

Archbishop – designate Rex Andrew C. Alarcon will entrust himself to Our Lady of Penafancia at the Basilica Minore upon arrival on May 1, the day prior to his installation.

This was revealed in a Circular released by the Archdiocese of Caceres on Schedule of Activities of Receptions and Installation of Archbishop – Designate Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, D.D., the 5th Archbishop of Caceres.

Pope Francis has appointed Alarcon as the new archbishop of Caceres on February 22.

The entrustment will happen at ten o’clock in the morning at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Penafrancia, Balatas, Pilgrim City of Naga. It is an act of entrusting his episcopacy to the protection, guidance and intercession of Our Lady.  In the Gospel, Jesus entrusted His beloved disciple, John, to Mary while he was on the cross (Jn. 19:26-27)

Alarcon has a great devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia.

At seven in the morning on May 1, a motorcade will depart from Daet, Camarines Norte where Alarcon has served as bishop since his appointment by Pope Francis in January 2, 2019.  The convoy will proceed to Gainza for the liturgical reception.  

A Liturgical Reception is a para- liturgical ceremony composed of hymns and prayers to formally welcome Archbishop-designate Alarcon  in his ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the Archdiocese of Caceres. He will be received by Fr. Joseph Wilfred V. Almoneda, Vicar General, together with Fr. Fernando Catolico, Parish Priest of the St. Dominic de Guzman Parish, in Gainza, Camarines Sur and the parish priests of the nearby parishes in Naga City. This is the first parish church where the convoy will pass as Archbishop Alarcon enters the territory of the Archdiocese of Caceres.

It is noteworthy to mention that the 53-year-old Alarcon who holds a licentiate in Church history, which he obtained from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2001, has for his thesis: “The Status of the Diocese of Caceres during the incumbency of Bishop Francisco Gainza, OP (1862-1879)”.  

Gainza town is named after Bishop Francisco Gainza, OP. It has a monument in honor of Bishop Gainza in the town plaza named after the Dominican bishop.

After the liturgical reception, the convoy will proceed to the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia for the entrustment to Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia .

Immediately after the entrustment rite, a civic reception will commence at the Archbishop Legaspi Hall at the Basilica Complex .

Provincial and City officials and groups headed by the Governor, and the Naga and Iriga City Mayors, are expected to attend the Civic Reception. The civic reception of Archbishop –designate Alarcon will be a joint collaboration by the local governments of Camarines Sur and Naga City.

At three in the afternoon, Archbishop - designate Alarcon will meet the media representatives  at the Pastoral Center of St. John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral for a Press  Conference. Expected to attend are local and national media representatives.  

He will be installed as 35th Bishop and 5th Archbishop of Caceres in liturgical rites at 9:00AM on May 2 at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Papal Nuncio Charles Brown shall lead the installation.