Newly-appointed Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo asked the faithful for prayers as he assumes his new position.
The bishop-elect described his new mission as a “gift” that “is meant to be shared”.
“Please pray for me. Include me in your daily prayers. It is only in Him that I can survive. Give me all your support and prayers,” he said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday.
Labajo added that he was overwhelmed and humbled to be appointed to the episcopate by Pope Francis.
He added that it is “challenging” to be a bishop.
On the other hand, Archbishop Jose Palma described Labajo's appointment as a "moment of grace".
The Cebu archbishop will now have two auxiliary bishops -- Labajo and Bishop Midyphil Billones -- who will help him in the episcopal shepherding of the archdiocese.
On Thursday, the Pope named Labajo as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu.
Labajo has been serving as Vicar General of the archdiocese since 2020.
Source: Philippines News Agency
