Bacolod bishop warns public against a ‘missionary priest’

INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Bishop Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Bacolod has warned the public about a person introducing himself as a missionary priest.

Buzon, in a statement on Thursday, Jan. 16, said a certain Rev. Fr. Mario D. Divina, who presents himself as a missionary priest of the Chaplaincy of the Holy Trinity in Bago City, Negros Occidental, is not a priest of the Roman Catholic Church, and consequently is not a cleric of the diocese.

The diocese, he said, has not yet established the Chaplaincy of the Holy Trinity.

“While he wears the vestments of a Catholic priest, whatever sacraments he may confer, and the accompanying documents that he issues, may be doubtful in their validity, and are certainly unlawful,” Buzon said.

He reminded the faithful to avail of the sacraments, blessings, and sacramentals from their proper parish churches, chaplaincies, oratories, and recognized religious priests in the diocese.