The Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. AlarKon, D.D., Archbishop of Caceres will lead the six bishops from the six Bicol dioceses and another 15 bishops from other dioceses in the country during the Solemn Installation and Canonical Possession of Most Rev. Luisito Audal Occiano, D.D. at the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Virac this June 26, 2024.
According to the Diocese of Virac, the activities for the assumption of the third Bishop of Virac actually begins on June 20 when the bishop-elect recites the Profession of Faith and takes the Oath of Fidelity at St. Joseph’s Chapel, Altersheim Basilica Complex in Naga City.
On Friday, June 21 at 9 AM, his 54th birthday, will be the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration and Episcopal Celebration of Rev. Fr. Occiano at the Our Lady of Penafrancia Minor Basilica and National Shrine.
The Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, Archbishop-Emeritus of Caceres, will be the Principal Consecrator, to be assisted by Archbishop Alarkon as Co-Consecrator and Preacher and Most Rev. Adolfo Tito C. Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, as Co-Consecrator.
The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Most Rev. Charles John Brown, will be present.
After a Thanksgiving Mass at the Good Shepherd Chapel at the Archbishop’s Residence in the morning of June 25, the newly ordained Bishop will depart Naga City to board the 1 PM ferry at Tabaco Port.
He will arrive at the port of Virac at 5 PM for the motorcade that will take him along Quezon Avenue and around the Virac fountain before going to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral where a Liturgical Reception will be held at 6 PM.
After a Civic Reception at Plaza Rizal, a by-invitation only Testimonial Dinner will be held at 7 PM at E-Crown Hotel and Resort.
The following morning, June 26, 8:30 AM, Archbishop Alarkon, as installing prelate, will preside over the Solemn Installation and Canonical Possession of the new Bishop of the Diocese of Virac.
He will be joined by Apostolic Administrator Most Rev. Manolo delos Santos, D.D., of the Diocese of Virac; Bishop Jose Rojas Jr. of the Diocese of Libmanan; Bishop Jose Alan Dialogo of the Diocese of Sorsogon; Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi; and Bishop Jose Bantolo of the Diocese of Masbate.
Most of the seats at the main hall of the cathedral have been reserved for the Vicar General, Chancellors and Priests of the Diocese of Virac as well as those from other Bicol dioceses, the family and relatives of Bishop-elect Occiano, guest priests and the faithful from the Archdiocese of Caceres. Members of the local diocese’s Basic Faith Communities and other faithful will be seated at both winds of the second floor.
A Testimonial Luncheon will be held at Plaza Rizal after the Mass.
The son of Nabua, Camarines Sur becomes the third Bishop of Virac after Manolo Alarkon de los Santos, whose tenure spanned three decades from 1994 to 2024, and Virac’s own, Jose Crisologo Sorra, who became the diocese’s first bishop from 1974 to 1993.
Rev. Fr. Occiano’s elevation to the highest Catholic position on the island incidentally comes on the Golden Year of the Diocese of Virac, which came into existence on August 27, 1974.
The diocese, which covers the entire province of Catanduanes, has 50 parishes and 13 mission churches served by 76 priests ministering to 97 percent of the total population of 271,879 people based on the 2020 Census. It also had 16 religious institutes of consecrated men and women helping the local church.