Fr. Soc marks 10th as Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop
FATHER Socrates Villegas marked his 10th year as archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on Nov. 4, describing it as “memorable, awesome and monumental.”
“Ten years of blessings have passed so quickly since I was installed as Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan on the fourth of November 2009. Every day of those ten years have been memorable; every day of the decade awesome; every minute of those ten years monumental,” Villegas said.
He said he has reached this part of his journey “because God has willed it and blessed us”.
Villegas said 23 new parishes and pastoral stations created with the apostolic presence of 15 congregations of women and 14 religious congregations of men while twenty-five were ordained and three incardinated priests.
Among the significant events under his watch were the opening of the Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary in Barangay Palapad, San Fabian, the conferment of Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manaoag and the canonical coronation of Mary Help of Christians by Pope Francis.
Villegas called these as flowers of love that “we offered to Our Lady of whom nothing can ever be enough”.
He said the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Dagupan City has since been carrying a bond of spiritual affinity with the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
Villegas also pointed out the arancel system had been discontinued and the archdiocese now lives out “the spirituality of stewardship”.
He recalled the Second Synod of Lingayen Dagupan “when we dreamt together, prayed together, discerned and discussed together how to be a Church of communion?”
But the decade was “not all fragrance and sweetness,” Villegas said ten priests died while two deacons and three priests have left the the clerical state of life.
He also mentioned the case filed against him, saying,” In our witnessing to truth, we have been charged like seditious criminals. The Lord has given; the Lord has taken away. Blessed be His name.”
As Villegas looks back at the past 10 years, he said he “bows down with gratitude, convinced that Lingayen-Dagupan is destiny for me, even in Nanay’s womb. Lingayen Dagupan is mission and home for me.” (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)
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