Cagayan priest installed as bishop of Batanes

BASCO, Batanes — The Most Rev. Danilo Ulep was installed as the fifth bishop of the Prelature of Batanes on Tuesday, replacing Bishop Emeritus Camilo Gregorio.

Ulep’s installation at Basco Cathedral was led by Nueva Segovia Archbishop Marlo Peralta in ceremonies attended by 14 bishops and 40 priests.

Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, president-elect of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), attended the installation, along with Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco.

The rites coincided with the feast day of St. Dominic de Guzman, patron saint of Basco.

Ulep, according to the CBCP website, was appointed by Pope Francis in May. Before his appointment, the 54-year-old Ulep, a native of Cagayan province, served the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao.

Gregorio, 77, who served Batanes for 14 years, described Ulep as “God’s gift to us.”

According to Peralta, Ulep can “weather all the storms that come his way,” just as Batanes has been overcoming typhoons that hit this northernmost province of Luzon.

Peralta reminded Ulep of issues affecting the church, urging him to reserve “a time for listening and dialogue, and a time to make decisions.”

“Only then can you be a good teacher … If God created us, it is because we have to live a life of holiness. We cannot sanctify others if we, ourselves, are not sanctified,” he said.

Peralta added: “In order to have an effective program for the poor, we should be ready to help. Let us not disconnect … what we say [from] what we do.” —JULIET CATALUÑA