OBKSFINALLY, after more than one year of being sede vacante, the Archdiocese of Manila rejoices in thanksgiving to God for the gift of a new shepherd to its local Church, His Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, who will be the 33rd Archbishop of Manila. He comes to Manila with his episcopal motto, Audiam, I will listen, which is derived from the response of the young Samuel to the call of God, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:10). As a listening shepherd, Cardinal Advincula invites the Catholic Faithful of Manila to be a listening Church, a community of faith that is always ready to heed and obey the will of God revealed to us in the Scriptures, in the teachings of the Church, in the liturgy and prayer, in the community, in the least of our brothers and sisters, in creation, and in our daily experiences.

Cardinal José F. Advincula, Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, was born in Dumalag, in the Archdiocese of Capiz, on March 30, 1952. After finishing his primary school education in Dumalag, he entered the high school seminary of Saint Pius X in Roxas City, where he also remained for his philosophical studies. He then attended theology courses at Santo Tomas University in Manila.

He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Capiz on April 14, 1976. He was later appointed spiritual director of Saint Pius X Seminary, also acting as professor and dean of studies. He then began further studies, first in psychology at De la Salle University in Manila and then in canon law at both the Santo Tomas University in Manila and the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, obtaining a licentiate in canon law. Upon returning home, he served in the seminary of Vigan, Nueva Segovia and then in the regional Seminary of Jaro. In 1995 he was appointed Rector of Saint Pius X Seminary in Capiz, becoming also Defender of the Bond, Promoter of Justice and then Judicial Vicar in Capiz. In 1999 he became pastor of Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish in Dao.

He was appointed Bishop of San Carlos on July 25, 2001, and received episcopal consecration the following September 8. On November 9, 2011 he was transferred to the metropolitan See of Capiz, in Panay Island in the Visayas Archipelago (Central Philippines). Within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, he has served as member of the Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Commission for Indigenous Peoples.

On March 25, 2021 the Holy Father has appointed Cardinal José F. Advincula as Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila, Philippines. Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of November 28, 2020, of the Title of San Vigilio. Cardinal Advincula is likewise a Member of Congregation for the Clergy.

The solemn installation of the new Archbishop was last June 24, 2021, the solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist, around 9:00 in the morning, at the Manila Cathedral. On this day, we also celebrated the 450th anniversary of the founding of the City of Manila and of the first parish in Manila that will later become the Manila Cathedral.

The following day, June 25, at 9:00 in the morning, Cardinal Advincula presided at a Mass with the representatives of the laity and young people in the Archdiocese of Manila. Today, June 26, at 5:00 in the afternoon, he will pray the Solemn Vespers (Evening Prayer) with the religious men and women. And tomorrow — Sunday, June 27 morning, he will visit the community of Maricaban in Pasay City and celebrate Sunday Mass at the Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted Parish.

Because there are pandemic-related limitations on the capacity of churches these days, we invite you to join the live broadcast of these celebrations on the cable channels of TV Maria, on all Archdiocesan and parish social media pages; and Radio Veritas846 (the flagship Catholic Radio Station in the Philippines).

Before Cardinal Advincula’s formal installation, Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo (Apostolic Administrator during the vacancy of the Archbishop of Manila) instructed the Catholic faithful to engage in: (1) Prayer: To spend 14 days listening to God in prayer. In Masses during the novena, the use of a special Mass formulary in line with the theme for the day was used. A Prayer of Thanksgiving for a New Archbishop after the Post-Communion Prayer of the Mass was likewise recited. And on the evening of June 23, all parishes and communities were encouraged to spend an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and pray together for Cardinal Advincula.

(2) Catechesis: 14 days were likewise devoted in listening to the teachings of the Church. A study and reflection on the mystery of the Church, the role of the bishop, and the realities of the Archdiocese of Manila were initiated. The Commission on Catechesis and Education prepared a short catechetical video presentation on these topics which was shown before Masses; and

(3) Charity: 14 days were likewise devoted in listening and responding to the cries of the poor. All parishes were requested to dedicate some days during the novena to organize activities that would promote charity and generosity, like feeding programs, distributing of food bags or gift certificates. Caritas Manila distributed gift certificates for 50,000 families (worth P50 million) to the parishes. This was a gift from Cardinal Advincula to our needy brethren in the Archdiocese of Manila.

Welcome, His Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, DD to the Archdiocese of Manila; and I wish you all the very best in your new pastoral assignment for the Church.

————————oOo——————————

For any personal comments or suggestions, you may call 0917-4805585 or email me at [email protected].