“A synodal leadership means walking with the people as Jesus did,” said Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, in his homily during the episcopal ordination and installation of Ronald Anthony Timoner as the new bishop of the Diocese of Pagadian on August 13.
Archbishop Brown urged the new bishop to listen to his flock and not allow them to be scattered. He also reminded Bishop Timoner to be a man of reconciliation, something crucial in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, where hostilities between religions have persisted for a long time.
“We pray that our new bishop will be a source of reconciliation always,” said Archbishop Brown.
The nuncio concluded his exhortation by asking Bishop Timoner to remain faithful to his mission of feeding his flock from two tables: the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist.
“The bishop is the one who feeds us with the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus from the altar. That force, that energy of God, that supernatural life. We eat normal food to stay alive biologically. We eat the bread of life to stay alive supernaturally,” he said.
In his thanksgiving message, Bishop Timoner welcomed the call to lead with a synodal heart.
“As I begin my episcopal ministry at the heels of the Synod on Synodality that calls for a greater communion, participation, and mission, I say to you: Arise and walk,” he said.
Archbishop Martin Jumoad of Ozamiz, who had served as apostolic administrator of the diocese during the sede vacante, was the principal consecrator. Co-consecrators were Bishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres and Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa—both former bishops of Daet in Camarines Norte, Bishop Timoner’s home diocese.
Bishop Timoner was appointed by the late Pope Francis on April 2, succeeding Bishop Ronald Lunas, who died in January 2024.
More than 50 bishops attended the installation and consecration, led by Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Also present was Father Gerard Francisco Timoner III, the first Asian to serve as Master of the Dominican Order and Bishop Timoner’s older brother.
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