Faithfulness to the Pope, closeness to the Bishop: Bishop Francisco De Leon, D.D.

For us Sons of Divine Providence, the special faithfulness to the Pope gets its concrete expression in the love that we express to the local Church with the Bishop as representative of the Vicar of the Christ. Our Community here in Montalban, Rizal always seizes the opportunities to express this love by closeness and service.

In this connection, we are always where the local Church of Antipolo, with the Bishop as head invites us to be. So last September 10, 2016, we have been invited to witness the Rite of Liturgical Reception and the Eucharistic Celebration of the Canonical Possession of the Most Rev. Francisco Mendoza De Leon, D.D. as the fourth Diocesan Bishop of Antipolo.

As Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Gabriel Villaruz Reyes, D.D., who stepped down on his retirement, after 35 years as Bishop in which thirteen fruitful and blessed years in Antipolo, his Coadjutor Bishop Francisco Mendoza De Leon automatically took charge of the Diocese. In fact, since 2007, the Most Rev. Francisco Mendoza De Leon was Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo, assisting the Most Rev. Gabriel Reyes who was limited by his health. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Bosetano and Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo on June 27, 2007 and was ordained a bishop on September 1, 2007 at Manila Cathedral. He was installed as Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo on September 8, 2007 and appointed Coadjutor of the same Diocese on November 21, 2015. It has been nine good years of cooperation and collaboration with Bishop Gabriel, which have given to Bishop Francisco to know deeply the Diocese that he is now leading as Titular Bishop. Bishop Francisco De Leon, born on June, 11, 1947 in La Huerta, Parañaque, son of Catalino V. De Leon and Maria Mendoza, was ordain priest on June 28, 1975.

The new Bishop of Antipolo, Most Rev. Francisco, in his thanksgiving address expressed the fact that he is not new to Antipolo. As since his childhood his parents bring him there every May in pilgrim. He will be expressing in Filipino that he is not new in Antipolo, and Antipolo is not also new to him. “Hindi ako bago sa Antipolo at hindi rin bago ang Antipolo sa akin. Nasa elementary pa lang ako ay parati na ako nandito dahil ako ay dinadala dito ng aking mga magulang tuwing Mayo para mag-pilgrimage.” But now becoming the Titular Bishop of this nice and vast Diocese, his challenge will be to continue what his predecessor has started in the diocese, giving it its stability and consistency.

At this celebration of Installation, our Community was represented by Fr. Justin Bamouni, FDP, Fr. Stan Achi, FDP and two of our seminarians, the Seminary Beadle, Sem. John-Carl Sario Angelo and the elder of the group, Sem. Rio Gregorio.

To our newly installed Bishop, Most Rev. Francisco Mendoza De Leon, D.D., we wish blessed mission as shepherd of the people of God living here in Antipolo, and to his predecessor, Bishop Gabriel Villaruz Reyes, D.D., a healthful and blessed retirement. Ave Maria and onward with Saint Luigi Orione.