2 priests promoted as Papal Chaplains
TWO priests in the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese have recently been promoted as Papal Chaplains by Pope Benedict XVI.
The investiture of the two newly promoted Papal Chaplains, Fr. Oliver Mendoza, parish priest of San Fabian, and Fr. Manuel Bravo will be on August 14, 4 p.m. at the Saint John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas asked Pope Benedict XVI to award Frs. Mendoza and Bravo this honor.
FR. MENDOZA
“I am very surprised when Archbishop Soc told me yesterday (Thursday) that he has asked the Pope to grant me and Fr. Bravo this honor, and that the Pope has granted his request. But at the same time, I am really honored and humbled by the trust given by the good Archbishop to us. For in truth, I am just a servant of the Lord, doing only what a servant has to do in the service of God and the Church,” Fr. Mendoza said.
The awards or offices granted by the Pope to priests, usually at the request of the local bishop, are Apostolic Protonotary, Honorary Prelate of His Holiness and Chaplain of His Holiness or the Papal Chaplain.
The two honorees can now be addressed as a Monsignor, meaning “my lord”, in the olden days.
As Papal Chaplains, Frs. Mendoza and Bravo are now privileged to use the cassock with purple trimmings and purple button and purple sash.
Asked when was the last time the Holy Father granted this honor, Fr. Mendoza said, “I think the last honoree granted by the Pope in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan was on Msgr. Rafael Magno, Jr. It was given by Pope John Paul II at the request of Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz.
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