To officially express their farewells and best wishes to Most Rev. Midyphil “Dodong” Billones, DD, who will soon be installed Archbishop of Jaro, the clergy of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu held a despedida party at St. John XXIII Minor Seminary yesterday, March 28.
The event started with a Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Dodong.
In his homily, Bishop Dodong reflected on the image of the crucified, smiling Christ, a meaningful gift he had received during his assignment here in Cebu.
“When Jesus breathed his last, at His point of death, there was a smile that was brought out on His lips because He knew He completed the will of the Father. He loved till the end . . . the point of death for Him is the point of love . . . Even confronted with betrayals, pains, sufferings, and misunderstandings, He loved through and through . . . The image of the crucified smiling Christ, for me, is a source of consolation that in the end, what matters most is that we followed the will of the Lord, and we loved,” Bishop Dodong said.
He further emphasized that the challenge of continuing team ministry will always be present as priests, but true love means giving everything, even when one is hurting.
“Team ministry only becomes a reality when you see your brother priest not only at his best but at his worst, and still continue to build relationships in love. Team ministry happens there by your decision and the grace of God,” he added.
After the Mass, a dinner program followed, during which the clergy offered heartfelt messages and songs for the good bishop.
On Wednesday, April 2, Bishop Dodong will be formally installed as the new Archbishop of Jaro.