“What matters most is that we follow the will of the Lord and we love” – Billones

April 2,- 2025 – Most. Rev. Midyphil Billones was installed as the 14th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Jaro. The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, together with many bishops and priests were present during the Holy Mass ­for the installation.

                Bishop Billones felt emotional as he bade farewell to the clergy and seminarians of the Archdiocese of Cebu on March 28, prior to his departure from Cebu to respond to his new appointment in Jaro, Iloilo.

                A thanksgiving Mass presided over by Bishop Billones was celebrated at the Pope John XXIII Seminary. Among the concelebrants were the Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu; Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Rañola, a number of priest formators, episcopal vicars, and priests from all over the archdiocese.

                In his homily, Billiones shared enthusiastically his insights during a retreat which he officiated weeks ago at the San Jose Seminary: the image of the cross with Jesus in repose on it. If we are to contemplate the image of the cross, there is no respite on our part since all that we would recall is his pain, wounds, and sufferings.  But this is precisely the expression of God’s true love. “This is important, dinhi sa atong mission (here in our mission), the consummation of love for God and mankind.”

                According to him, Jesus Christ experienced respite hanging on the cross since he knew that he had accomplished triumphantly the will of the Father, in spite of the trials and temptations he experienced in the world. “What matters most is that we follow the will of the Lord and we love.”

                He remarked on the essence of the Team Ministry because it is a systematic process, and this can only be realized through creating and fostering a relationship among the priests in love, their decisions and the grace of God. “As we end our term, can we just say ‘I did my best to love with the grace of God,’ and then again, even though I suffer, I can still have that smile in my face.”

                Billiones also shared the message of the rising sun and its beauty. “We can be very impatient to the work of the Kingdom of God, but it takes time.” He expressed his love and admiration to the Cebuano Church for their faith and the efforts, sacrifices, and dedication of every priest, be it diocesan or religious.

                Lastly, he was emotionally grateful to Archbishop Palma, to his fellow bishops and priests for his integral development since his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Cebu. “I have become a better person, a better priest, because I have first been assigned by the Lord for the local church of Cebu.

                After the Holy Mass, a despedida was held for Bishop Billones during which gifts, presentations, messages, and songs by priests were presented for him.                                                          

                Archbishop Billones was ordained a priest on October 2, 1995, and a bishop on August 27, 2019. He became the secretary of the late Archbishop Jover Piamonte and the late Archbishop Emeritus Angel Lagdameo in Jaro. He became the rector of the San Jose Major Seminary and was appointed by Pope Francis on July 2019 as the Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu. Last Febuary 2, 2025, Pope Francis announced the appointment of Bishop Billiones as the 14th Archbishop of Jaro through Archbishop Emeritus Jose Romeo Lazo at the Jaro Cathedral. Bishop Billiones was installed as the 14th archbishop of Jaro in April 2, 2025, on the feast day of San Pedro Calungsod.

NOTE: This article was first published in Cebuano in print on April 6, 2025, translated into English by Lawrence Earl Mayol.