By Myrna S. Bermudo
Addressing the clergy and the faithful in the Archdiocese of Caceres, Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD,DD, now Caceres Archbishop-emeritus said: “With joy and thanksgiving we inform you that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed His Excellency, Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, D.D. currently the Bishop of Daet, as Archbishop of Caceres.”
Alarcon’s appointment was made public on February 22 at 12:00 noon (7:00 PM Philippine time) at the Vatican. He is the Fifth Archbishop of Caceres and succeeds Archbishop Emeritus Tirona who has served Caceres since November 2012.
His installation as Archbishop of Caceres and Canonical Possession will be on May 2 at 9:00 in the morning at St. John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish, Naga City.
The announcement was published through Circular Number 0008, Series of 2024, released by the Chancellor’s Office.
Bishop Alarcon was born on August 6, 1970 in Daet, Camarines Norte. He finished his elementary at Naga Parochial School. He attended High School and College education at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary. He obtained his Bachelor in Sacred Theology, Licentiate and Master in Theology at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila and Licentiate in Church History at the Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained on November 9, 1996 at the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia, Naga City.
Caceres Archbishop-designate Alarcon was ordained bishop on March 19, 2019 at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, Naga City for the Diocese of Daet.
“I express my gratitude for the greetings, prayers, expressions of solidarity both from the Diocese of Daet and the Archdiocese of Caceres,” Alarcon said.
Outgoing archbishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona requests the “Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese to offer thanksgiving to the Lord for this joyful new and offer prayers for the new archbishop that he may be granted the necessary graces in fulfilling his ministry in Caceres.”
On March 3, in a radio interview over Manindogan, Tirona, who has been the Archbishop for almost 12 years, expressed his gratitude to the Caceres clergy, the religious and the lay faithful for their support.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa kabutihang loob ng mga tao dito sa Archdiocese. It was a great blessing from God to be assigned here. Salamat sa pagtabang, sa suporta at dasal para sa akin. The work becomes much lighter because of the love of the people. Kayo ang umakay sa akin para magampanan ko ang paglilingkod na binigay ng Diyos sa akin. Patuloy pa din akong tutulong sa mga kabataan sa abot ng aking makakaya. Umasa kayo ng aking dasal at pagmamahal. Mahal ko kayo lahat.”
Tirona said he will be retiring in Naga City. “Napamahal na sa akin ang lugar na ito.”
Moreover, he requests the faithful to support Alarcon’s episcopacy. “Pag may dumarating na Obispo, ang dumarating ay si Kristo. Kaya suportahan natin siya.”
The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Most Rev. Charles John Brown is set to lead the installation of Alarcon, Tirona said.