Galbines installed as 7th Bacolod bishop
BACOLOD CITY—Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown installed Bishop Louie Galbines as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod during a Mass at San Sebastian Cathedral here on Tuesday morning.
Galbines, the former bishop of the Diocese of Kabankalan, succeeded Bishop Patricio Buzon, who retired as head of the Bacolod diocese.
“May our smiles turn into laughter as we journey and work together as friends, as brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, and above all as a family of God,” Galbines told more than 1,500 faithful inside the cathedral and another 1,000 who watched the ceremony from outside.
The solemn Mass was concelebrated by 40 bishops and 350 priests.
Galbines’ episcopal motto is “Confido,” which he said literally translates to “I trust in the Lord and the people of God.”
Planter, harvester
The new Bacolod prelate expressed gratitude to the people of the Diocese of Kabankalan for allowing him to witness the Lord in their hearts during his tenure there. He also thanked the Bacolod faithful for their warm welcome.
Galbines noted that Aug. 11 also marks the birthdays of the late Bacolod Bishop Antonio Fortich, Columban missionary Fr. Nial O’Brien and Msgr. Victorino Rivas, “whose inspirations are carved deeply in our hearts.”
He also thanked Buzon for paving the way for him in both Bacolod and Kabankalan, having served as bishop of both dioceses before him.
“I always harvest what you have planted not only in Kabankalan but also here in Bacolod. You are the planter and I am the harvester,” Galbines said.
In an interview, he said he was on “cloud nine” over the overwhelming support from the diocese.
