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Missionary to be 1st Pinoy bishop ordained by Pope Francis
On December 11, Romblon Bishop Narciso Abellana, MSC, will be the first Filipino priest to be ordained a bishop by Pope Francis.
Pope Francis had appointed Abellana, a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, as Romblon bishop last Oct. 15.
He will be installed in Romblon on January 9, 2014, succeeding Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc, who was transferred to Aklan diocese in July 2011.
Abellana, who will turn 60 on Nov. 9, is from Talisay City in Cebu.
He earned his AB Philosophy degree at Ateneo de Manila University in 1973, and continued his studies at the Loyola School of Theology then worked on his Licentiate in Church History at the Gregorian University in Rome.
He served as chaplain of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija when he was appointed by Pope Francis.
Abellana also served as parish priest in Camotes Island in Cebu.
In 1999, his colleagues elected him Philippine provincial. He served at this post until 2005 while acting as consultant to the society’s Communication Foundation for Asia’s Catechetical Center.
Abellana was then elected First Assistant to the MSC Superior General in Rome, then returned to the Philippines after his term in the General Council in 2011. He then took up his assignment at CLSU.
'Shocking'
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines cited an earlier interview where Abellana said his appointment as Romblon bishop was “shocking.”
“The secretary of the nuncio called up CLSU and was told I was here, so they called up the MSC provincialate to ask me to go to the nunciature. I went, and was told that Pope Francis has appointed me bishop,” he said.
“Why me?” he asked, adding he had just attended a “seminar on aging gracefully.”
He then said the nuncio’s secretary then told him, "Father, 60 is young in the Church."
Simple, humble man
CFA president Father Filemon Pelignon described Abellana as a "very simple and humble man, very unassuming even when he held high positions in the MSC."
"He never had a car, and would ride a ‘jeepney’ and other public transportation. He lived a simple life even as Provincial, and never showed off that he was in authority. He was always a pleasant person to work with,” he said.
Also, he said Abellana is a “bright person,” teaching history in the seminary and Maryhill School of Theology of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
He added Abellana was “involved in the justice and peace work of the Society” in the MSC General Council. — LBG, GMA News
Pope Francis had appointed Abellana, a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, as Romblon bishop last Oct. 15.
He will be installed in Romblon on January 9, 2014, succeeding Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc, who was transferred to Aklan diocese in July 2011.
Abellana, who will turn 60 on Nov. 9, is from Talisay City in Cebu.
He earned his AB Philosophy degree at Ateneo de Manila University in 1973, and continued his studies at the Loyola School of Theology then worked on his Licentiate in Church History at the Gregorian University in Rome.
He served as chaplain of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija when he was appointed by Pope Francis.
Abellana also served as parish priest in Camotes Island in Cebu.
In 1999, his colleagues elected him Philippine provincial. He served at this post until 2005 while acting as consultant to the society’s Communication Foundation for Asia’s Catechetical Center.
Abellana was then elected First Assistant to the MSC Superior General in Rome, then returned to the Philippines after his term in the General Council in 2011. He then took up his assignment at CLSU.
'Shocking'
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines cited an earlier interview where Abellana said his appointment as Romblon bishop was “shocking.”
“The secretary of the nuncio called up CLSU and was told I was here, so they called up the MSC provincialate to ask me to go to the nunciature. I went, and was told that Pope Francis has appointed me bishop,” he said.
“Why me?” he asked, adding he had just attended a “seminar on aging gracefully.”
He then said the nuncio’s secretary then told him, "Father, 60 is young in the Church."
Simple, humble man
CFA president Father Filemon Pelignon described Abellana as a "very simple and humble man, very unassuming even when he held high positions in the MSC."
"He never had a car, and would ride a ‘jeepney’ and other public transportation. He lived a simple life even as Provincial, and never showed off that he was in authority. He was always a pleasant person to work with,” he said.
Also, he said Abellana is a “bright person,” teaching history in the seminary and Maryhill School of Theology of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
He added Abellana was “involved in the justice and peace work of the Society” in the MSC General Council. — LBG, GMA News
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