TACLOBAN CITY— Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown arrived in Borongan City on Thursday, June 4, for a pastoral visit marked by a civic welcome, cultural presentation, and the blessing and inauguration of key diocesan facilities of the Diocese of Borongan.
Upon arrival, Archbishop Brown was formally welcomed by Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, and Bishop Crispin Varquez, along with local officials, clergy, and residents. The reception included a cultural presentation showcasing the city’s Padul-ong Festival.
Following the welcome ceremonies, the papal envoy proceeded to the Borongan Cathedral for a Holy Mass before leading the blessing and inauguration of the Diocese of Borongan’s Multi-Purpose Building, Priests’ Retirement Home, and Emergency Evacuation Shelter in Barangay Balud 2.
The two-story facility located at Oikos Village is designed to serve multiple functions, including as a residence for retired and sick priests, a diocesan formation and administrative center, and a temporary evacuation shelter for families affected by disasters and emergencies.
In his homily, Archbishop Brown highlighted the spiritual meaning of the structure, stressing that its value goes beyond physical construction.
“A home is something more than a house. It’s love that makes a house a home,” he said, adding that the facility is intended to be a place of care, fraternity, and compassion for elderly clergy.
Joining the Apostolic Nuncio during the activities were Archbishop John Du of Palo, Bishop Nolly Buco of Catarman, and Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan, together with members of the clergy, local officials, and lay faithful.
The facility sits on a 2,173-square-meter property, with construction that began in March 2023 through donations from benefactors, parishes, families, and church organizations both within and outside the diocese.
Bishop Varquez said the project was conceived as a multi-purpose diocesan center that would also serve as a museum, formation hub, and evacuation facility for vulnerable communities during calamities.
He noted that the new structure replaces the former Priests’ Home in Barangay Campesao, which was prone to flooding due to its riverside location, prompting its relocation to a safer and elevated site.
Although inaugurated, Varquez said additional funding is still needed, estimating around P7 million to complete remaining works, including access roads and finishing construction.
He appealed for continued support from donors and the faithful, saying the project reflects the shared mission of the Church.
“This undertaking is an expression of our love for the Church, our love for the clergy, the religious, and our lay people as one local Church,” Varquez said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
