Bishop David William Antonio is new Ilagan, Isabela Bishop

Bishop David William Antonio asks for prayers and support from the Catholic faithful during his installation as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan on Tuesday at the St. Michael Archangel Cathedral in Gamu, Isabela. (PHOTO BY VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.)

GAMU, ISABELA — Bishop David William Antonio was formally installed on Tuesday as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan, which covers 34 towns and three cities of Isabela.

Antonio’s installation at the St. Michael Archangel Cathedral here was led by Apostolic Nuncio Gabriele Giordano Caccia.

The 54-year-old Bishop, who was formerly assigned as Apostolic Administrator of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, has asked for prayers and support from the Catholic faithful.

“I am one with you as one of your servants of God. I vow for my commitment,” he told some 6,000 Catholic devotees who attended the installation.

The Apostolic Nuncio has encouraged the new bishop to fulfill his duties by praying to be a “better person.” “Take care of (your duties as bishop) because it is a treasure of God,” the Papal Nuncio said.

Papal Nuncio Gabriele Giordano Caccia (left, front row) and Bishop David William Antonio confer with other priests as they oversee the Catholic parishioners during the installation Antonio as the fifth bishop in the Diocese of Ilagan at the St. Michael Archangel Cathedral in Gamu, Isabela on Tuesday. (PHOTO BY VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.)

Bishop Antonio formally succeeded Bishop Joseph Nacua, 73, who resigned from the post for health reasons in 2017.

Nacua, the first Filipino Capuchin bishop, had served the post for almost eight years.

It was in March 2018 when Antonio was appointed apostolic administrator of San Jose after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Antonio Palang.

Born in Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur, Antonio was ordained priest for Nueva Segovia in 1988. He was appointed to the episcopacy in 2011.

He was also Pope Benedict XVI’s last appointee that was ordained to the episcopate in the Philippines before he resigned in 2013. He is also the chair of the CBCP Commission on Vocations./lzb