ILOILO City – Some 4,000 people showed up for the installation of the new archbishop of Jaro yesterday at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, according to the Jaro police station.
Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo, a native of Antique, vowed to bring the archdiocese closer to the faithful.
“I will walk with my people,” said the 69-year-old prelate who made history as the first Antiqueño to become archbishop in the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Francis announced Lazo’s new assignment on Feb. 17, 2018 after approving the retirement of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, 77.
Lagdameo himself led the liturgical celebration for Lazo’s installation. The ceremony started at around 8:30 a.m. and wrapped up at around 11:30 a.m.
Lazo’s installation was generally peaceful, according to Senior Police Officer 4 Jose Espina of the Jaro police station but one person passed out due to exhaustion.
Some 400 priests and 25 bishops attended the installation, too, plus well-wishers of Lazo from the Diocese of San Jose in Antique where he served as bishop prior to his new assignment.
“We are proud of Archbishop Lazo, the first Antiqueño to become such,” said Mayor Elmer Untaran of San Jose.
Lazo, a native of San Jose, was born o Jan. 23, 1949.
Untaran said some 2,000 Antiqueños attended the installation.
“He is a man of integrity,” stressed Untaran.
On the other hand, San Jose resident Martin Moscoso who also attended the installation described Lazo as kind.
“We’re proud to say that the new Jaro archbishop is from Antique,” said Moscoso.
Another San Jose resident, Condrado Petinglay, said Lazo’s designation as Jaro archbishop was a pleasant surprise.
“Wara kami nag-expect. Garing amo na tawag nga kon imo ron tana swerte, maabot gid na,” said Petinglay.
He described Lazo as dedicated, godly, patient, and accommodating of people.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Lazo as fourth bishop of the Diocese of San Jose on
July 21, 2009. Prior to this, Lazo served as bishop of Kalibo in Aklan beginning Nov. 15, 2003.
Lazo attended the St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro and was ordained a priest on April 1, 1975 at St. Joseph Cathedral in San Jose by then San Jose Bishop Cornelio De Wit./PN
