CBCP awards deceased San Beda priest

MANILA, Philippines – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Saturday conferred the Jorge Barlin Golden Cross Award posthumously on the late Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB.

An article posted on the CBCP website cited Chupungco for “his great contribution in the liturgical renewal of our country.”

The award was received by Fr. Rafaelito Alaras, current prior of the Abbey of our Lady of Montserrat, during a Mass at the start of the CBCP’s plenary assembly at the Pius XII Center in Manila.

The Jorge Barlin Golden Cross Award is the highest recognition given by the CBCP to an individual for exemplary service to the nation.

The Benedictine monk is the third recipient of the award, named after the first Filipino bishop. Other awardees were lawyer Sabino Padilla Jr. and the late Fr. James Reuter, SJ.

Padilla is the legal counsel of the CBCP, while Reuter served as the executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media.

Chupungco, a prominent liturgist, influenced the Church in the Philippines with regard to liturgical reforms. He was also executive secretary of the CBCP’s liturgy commission for several years.

During his funeral last Jaanuary 17, the priest was also conferred the papal honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for his service to the Church.