Last July 22, 2023, during the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the awaited day for the whole diocese took place as the Most Rev. Ruperto Cruz Santos, D.D. was canonically installed as the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo where he succeeded Most Rev. Francisco De Leon, D.D., Fourth Bishop of the Diocese. The event was attended by Bishops, Priests, Government officials, and the lay faithful.
ANTIPOLO CITY- Bishop Ruperto Santos was officially installed as the Fifth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo. The event started with a civic ceremony where Bishop Santos was welcomed by the government officials of the province of Rizal led by Governor Nina Ynares and officials from the city of Marikina. The symbolic handling of the key, where it represents all the cities of Rizal province and the city of Marikina, took place as it was presented and given to Bishop Santos by Governor Ynares.
After the civic ceremony, the Bishop was welcomed inside the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage where he gave his respect to the past Bishops of Antipolo and to the Patroness of the international shrine. This was followed by canonical installation rites through a holy mass presided by Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines with Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila; Bishop Francisco De Leon, he 4th Bishop of Antipolo and Bishop Nolly Buco, Auxiliary Bishop as concelebrants.
Hinding-hindi Ko Sasayangin ang Inyong Pinagpaguran
During Bishop Santos’ homily, he introduced himself to the people present as a “Kasama”, “Katuwang”, and “Katulong”. The Bishop also promised to make all the efforts of the people of the diocese worth it:
“Pangako ko sa aking sarili at panalangin ko sa Mahal na Ina, ang Birhen ng Antipolo, hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang inyong pinagpaguran,”
Bishop Santos said.
“Para sa Kanya at para sa inyo, heto po ako. Inyong kasama, isang katuwang, isang katulong,” he added.
The Bishop also shared his dream of making the Diocese of Antipolo as a Spiritual Capital Pilgrimage of the country during his homily.
“Hindi ba’t magandang tingnan, pangarapin, at gawin na tayo, and Diyosesis ng Antipolo, ay maging Spiritual Capital Pilgrimage of the Philippines,” The Bishop said.
Before the holy mass ended, Archbishop Charles Brown gave a message thanking Bishop Santos on behalf of the Holy Father, Pope Francis for accepting his call to become Bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo
“It gives me so much joy and happiness to be with you this morning for this extraordinarily beautiful liturgy of installation of your new Bishop,” the Apostolic Nuncio said.
Prior to being ordained as Bishop, he was ordained priest on September 10, 1983 by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin in the Manila Cathedral. On April 1, 2010, he was appointed Bishop of Balanga and was ordained as a Bishop on June 24, 2010. Currently, he is serving as the Chairperson of the Episcopal Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Mark Andrei de Leon | OLA Social Communications
