Bishop-elect Luisito A. Occiano will be ordained as Bishop on June 21, at Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basilica Minore and National Shrine, in Naga City. Vatican announced his election as Bishop on February 29. On June 26, he will be installed as 3rd Bishop of the Diocese of Virac.
Caceres Archbishop Emeritus Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD is the principal ordaining Bishop. Joining him are Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Charles John Brown; Apostolic Nuncio Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus Adolfo Tito Yllana and Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew C. Alarcon. After Communion, Archbishop Brown will address the congregation before the new Bishop’s Words of Gratitude.
As of press time, 18 Bishops from all the Philippines have confirmed their attendance. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines will be represented by its Secretary General.
Parishioners of St. Bartholomew Parish, Baao and St. Joseph Parish, San Jose are expected to witness the ordination. Occiano served as parish priest of St. Bartholomew Parish from 2016 to 2021. Since 2021, he was the parish priest of St. Joseph Parish. Parishioners from Nabua, Camarines Sur, Occiano’s hometown, will also join the celebration. The Diocese of Virac will be represented by their clergy and lay parishioners.
Occiano was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Caceres on November 10, 1996. Since 2004, concurrent with his other pastoral assignments, he served as Director of the Caceres Commission on Communication. His episcopal ordination coincides with his 53rd birthday.
On June 25, he will celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass at 6:30 in the morning at the Good Shepherd Chapel, Archbishop’s Residence before proceeding to Tabaco Port for his trip to Virac.
Caceres Archbishop Alarcon will install him as 3rd Bishop of Virac at the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Virac on June 26.
(Source: Press Release KBP Camarines Sur)