The Archdiocese of Cebu has formally installed Archbishop Alberto ‘Abet’ Uy as its new shepherd during a Solemn Canonical Possession and Installation Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Tuesday, September 30.
Led into the cathedral by Msgr. Vicente Rey Penagunda, Vicar General and Cathedral Rector, Archbishop Uy took his place at the ‘cathedra’, the bishop’s throne symbolizing his authority as the 25th Bishop and fifth Metropolitan Archbishop of Cebu. He succeeds Archbishop Jose Palma, who retired after nearly 15 years as the province’s chief pastor.
In his Words of Thanks, Archbishop Uy declared: ‘My good people in Cebu, I am here, reporting for duty. The Archdiocese of Cebu is so big and my capacity is so little. Please be good to me. I promise to give you my best, so we can walk closer to Christ, our true shepherd.’
The new prelate expressed gratitude to his family, clergy, religious, lay faithful, and those who joined the celebration both onsite and online. He described his family as his ‘first home, first teachers, first good friends, and constant source of support.’
‘I come to you as your unworthy servant, fully aware that I cannot complete this mission alone. I will always need God’s unfailing help and yours as well,’ he said, vowing to work with priests, consecrated men and women, lay faithful, government officials, and other faith leaders in building ‘bridges, not walls, for the good of every Cebuano.’
Archbishop Uy also acknowledged the people’s yearning for authentic leadership.
‘In our country today, people long for leaders who are transparent, accountable, and faithful to their mission. I want to embrace that call as your shepherd, and I ask my brother priests to walk with me in this same spirit of integrity,’ he said.
Reflecting on his new responsibility, he quoted an Irish sailor’s prayer: ‘Lord, the ocean is so big, and my boat is so small. Have mercy on me.’
He ended with a humble promise: ‘I do not dream of being a great Archbishop. I may not be the best Archbishop. But I promise you this, I will give you my very best, so that together we may walk closer to Christ, our true Shepherd.’
Messages of support
Palma, Archbishop-Emeritus, urged the faithful to welcome Uy with openness and unity.
‘With the installation of our new Archbishop of Cebu, His Excellency, Most Rev. Alberto Uy, I invite all of you to embrace this moment of synodality, this wonderful opportunity for unity and growth within our community,’ Palma said.
He assured his successor of continued support: ‘To Archbishop Abet, I assure you, in my own little way, I am just a text away. Expect our love and support in any way possible.’
Papal Nuncio Most Rev. Charles John Brown also called on Cebuanos to ‘love, pray, respect, and help’ the new shepherd, while Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle reminded the faithful that ministry must be rooted in service, not worldly recognition.
‘Jesus was not seeking celebrity status, nor marching bands, nor millions of likes and views. He was seeking to do God’s will no matter what the cost,’ Tagle stressed.
CIVIC Welcome
A day prior to his formal installation, a civic reception was held at the Cebu Capitol in honor of the new archbishop. Among those present were Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Vice Governor Glenn Soco, Cebu mayors, church leaders, and civic figures including former Chief Justice Hilario Davide III.
Baricuatro hailed Cebu as ‘the cradle of faith and birthplace of Christianity in the Philippines,’ noting that Uy’s appointment by Pope Francis last July marked ‘another chapter in the faith journey of the Cebuanos.’
‘We are deeply grateful for Archbishop Palma’s years of faithful service and spiritual guidance,’ she said.
‘We are filled with hope as we welcome Archbishop Uy, who has been known for his simplicity, compassion, and genuine love for the poor,’ the governor added.
Uy, in his Capitol address, highlighted that Cebu now has ‘four new leaders’ – a new archbishop, a new governor, a new vice governor, and a new Cebu City mayor.
‘Four new leaders mean four new beginnings, four fresh opportunities to dream together, to build together, and to hope together,’ he said, emphasizing that true leadership is about service, not power.
The Cebu Provincial Board also passed a resolution formally welcoming Uy and extending the felicitations of the August Body and the people of the province.