The Philippine Catholic Church on Wednesday mourned the passing of retired Infanta Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD, D.D., who was known for his promotion of the Church’s social teachings and resistance against the martial rule.
Caceres Archbishop and Caritas Philippines chairman Rolando Tria Tirona said Labayen’s life was a blessing to the country, especially in Infanta, Quezon province where he spent his ministry for more than 40 years.
“The Philippine church in the Philippines in the prelature of Infanta has been blessed with the person and ministry of Bishop Labayen especially his vision of the Church of the Poor. He lived a dedicated life serving and loving the church especially the poor. May he rest in peace,” Tirona said over church-run Radyo Veritas.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) confirmed that Labayen, who would have turned 90 years old this coming June, passed away at 6:52 a.m. on Wednesday.
Infanta Bishop Bernardino Cortez said Labayen’s legacy, especially his love and service for the poor, will continue to live on in the diocese.
“Kami po dito sa Prelatura ng Infanta ay nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga tao na naging bahagi ng buhay ni Bishop Labayen at siyempre ng sambayanan na kanyang pinaglingkuran, sambayanan ng mga dukha ng Infanta,” Cortez said.
(Here in the prelature of Infanta, we are thankful for all the people who have been part of Bishop Labayen’s life as well as the Church he has served, the Church of the Poor of Infanta.)
Labayen was appointed Prelate of the Prelature of Infanta on July 26, 1966. He was ordained as priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites on July 4, 1955.
He was also the first national director of the CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action from 1966 to 1982.
In 1966, Labayen published the magazine IMPACT, a magazine that championed the suppressed media during the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ regime. RAM