PALO, LEYTE – The Clergy of the Archdiocese of Palo once again had their on-going formation. A Presbyterium Meeting started this annual activity on February 19. A series of input from Fr. Augusto Jesus “TOTI” Angeles, III (Episcopal Vicar of the Clergy of Daet and Consultant of the Commission on Seminaries) followed on February 20-21. The culmination of the Clergy on-going formation was also an occasion for the Palo Prebyterium to welcome home its Archbishop Emeritus, Most. Rev. Pedro R. Dean and to celebrate with him his 90th Birthday.

On-going formation for Clergy’s Code of Conduct

This year’s on-going formation was not a first for Fr. Angeles. He was the facilitator of the Annual Retreat for Priests, participated by the Archdiocese of Palo and its suffragan in 2018’s Year of the Clergy held in Cebu. This year’s on-going formation was reminiscent of the goal from that Clergy Retreat of formulating and finalizing the Code of Conduct for Priests in the Archdiocese of Palo. Pope Francis, in his Motu Proprio “Vos estis lux mundi” (You are the light of the world), stressed the importance of establishing procedural norms to guide church leaders in their actions.

This Code of Conduct for Priests in the Archdiocese of Palo will include norms on stewardship, the use of priestly authority, and sexual conduct. The on-going formation also reminded the clergy of the dangers of entitlement, the apparent freedom from moral assessment, and some clerical subcultures, which has an evident influence on priests even in their formative years. By this Code of Conduct, the faithful will be drawn closer to the church through the clergy’s constant submission of Christ’s mandate to be the light of the world.

Archbishop Dean’s 90 years of “Obedientia et Pax”

“Obedientia it Pax” is the moto in the Coat of Arms of Archbishop Dean. Dean is the Bishop Emeritus of Palo, who served the Archdiocese for 21 Years. Archbishop Dean is welcomed home to the Archdiocese, assured by the care of the Archbishop of Palo and its clergy. Today, Dean celebrates his 90th Birthday. Everyone shared the celebration as the On-going Formation of Priests ended.

A Thanksgiving Mass held at the St. John the Evangelist School of Theology – Our Lady of Hope Chapel (also the venue of the on-going formation) highlighted the Archbishop Dean’s birthday celebration. Brother bishops dear to Archbishop Dean also joined the celebration:

  1. Most Rev. Antonio R. Rañola, DD (Auxiliary Bishop-emeritus of Cebu, one of Dean’s Prefect of Discipline during his seminary formation)
  2. Most Rev. Crispin B. Varquez, DD (Bishop of Borongan)
  3. Most Rev. Marvyn A. Maceda, DD (Bishop of San Jose Antique and a priest from Naval Diocese which is a suffragan of Palo)
  4. Most Rev. Oscar Jaime Ll. Florencio, DD (Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines and a priest from the Archdiocese of Palo), 
  5. Most Rev. Rex C. Ramirez, DD (Bishop of Naval and a priest from the Archdiocese of Palo)
  6. Most Rev. Filomeno G. Bactol, DD (Bishop-emeritus of Naval and Archbishop Dean’s collaborator when he was still a Clergy of Palo)
  7. Most Rev. Jose S. Palma, DD (Archbishop of Cebu and the immediate successor of Archbishop Dean as the Archbishop of Palo in 2006), and 
  8. Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, DD (Archbishop of Davao, CBCP President, and Archbishop Dean’s Vicar General while he was still the Bishop of Tagum)

Archbishop Romulo Valles was the homilist of the Mass. With his wit and humor, he led everyone to a deeper reflection of the word of God, centering on the theme of obedience to God’s commands. Valles also made fresh memories on how the honoree – Archbishop Dean lived the call to obedience by being true to his motto “Obedientia et Pax” (Obedience and Peace). Archbishop Dean made a response at the end of the Mass. Dean’s words were an explosion of gratitude to God and the Archdiocese of Palo, clergy, and lay faithful alike. His was also an assurance of prayer for the Church of the Palo.

Archbishop Dean arrive in Palo from Manila by land on Tuesday, February 17, 2020.

-RCAP, InfoCom-