The site of the event is the
equally historic Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral, the official seat
of the Cabanatuan Bishop.
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Inside, government officials,
lay leaders, and the faithful await the start of the rites.
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The procession enters the cathedral,
joined by priests and monsignori from the various parishes comprising the
diocese...
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... members of the Catholic
Bishops' Conference of the Philippines...
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... and at the end, Cebu Archbishop
Ricardo Cardinal Vidal , the bishop-elect and Papal Nuncio Antonio M. Franco.
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The Papal Nuncio starts the
ceremonies by offering incense at the altar.
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He then calls for the apostolic
letter designating the Most Rev. Bancud as Cabanatuan bishop.
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Rev. Msgr. Michael Alexander
E. Balaria shows the apostolic letter to the congregation...
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... then reads the document
in its Latin original...
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... while the bishop-elect intently
listens...
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... together with Cardinal Vidal...
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... other bishops...
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... the diocesan clergy and
the faithful...
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... and local government officials...
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... led by Cabanatuan City Mayor
Julius Cesar V. Vergara and Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas N. Joson III.
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The Papal Nuncio approaches
and embraces the new bishop...
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... and guides him towards the
cathedra
where he sits and receives his crozier.
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Bishop Bancud is greeted by
his bishop-peers led by Cardinal Vidal...
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... and receives homage from
the monsignori of the Diocese...
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... followed by the rest of
the clergy...
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... representatives of religious
congregations for women...
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... seminarians...
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... and leaders of lay organizations.
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Finally, the new bishop presides
over the Holy Mass.
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.
