ROMEO Duetao Convocar assumed his role as bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa on Saturday following an episcopal ordination ceremony at Mount Carmel Cathedral.
Hundreds of residents witnessed the event as Convocar became the third bishop of the diocese, succeeding Ryan Jimenez, who vacated the seat when he was installed as the archbishop of the Diocese of Agana on Guam. The CNMI’s first bishop was Tomas Aguon Camacho, who served from 1985 to 2010. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 84.
“By the virtue of this episcopal ordination … I now belong to you,” Convocar said to the people of the CNMI in his address. “I trust that with the Lord’s sustaining grace and His boundless mercy I will have the strength to humbly walk with you.”
Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony were Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Senate President Dennis C. Mendiola, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero as well as bishops from the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific and the Philippines, including Archbishop of Manila Jose Advincula.
Presiding over the ceremony was Archbishop Gábor Pintér, the apostolic nuncio to New Zealand.
Convocar began his priesthood in the Philippines, spending 14 years at the Sacred Order of Priesthood for the Military Ordinariate. He was then assigned to Guam, where he eventually became the apostolic administrator and vicar-general of the Archdiocese of Agana.
Convocar, who will be 55 in April, became emotional as he thanked the people of Guam for making him feel that he “belonged” to them.
“I now realize that the sacrifices rendered, the many self-denials, the passion and the ministry, and the pastoralism that was shown were not just coming from … what I was supposed to do as a priest, but … as a reciprocation or concrete response to the love and the generosity that the people I have come to know and serve have shown me. This I truly cherish,” he said.
During his Solemn Rite of Ordination, Convecar was presented to the consecrating bishops and the College of Bishops that had gathered at Mount Carmel Cathedral. The mandate from the Holy See was read aloud, and Convocar took his vows.
He later laid prostrate on the floor and knelt before Archbishops Jimenez, Advincula, and Pinter as they recited the Prayer for Ordination. A copy of the Gospel was held over Convocar as he prayed, and he was then anointed with sacred oil.
Convocar was presented with his bishop’s ring, miter, and pastoral staff and took his seat on the cathedra for the first time.
Romeo D. Convocar takes his seat on the cathedra for the first time as the bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa on Saturday at Mount Carmel Cathedral.
The Gospel is held above Bishop Romeo Convocar as part of his ordination.
Bishop Romeo Convocar in prayer during the ceremony.
Bishop Romeo Convocar, kneeling, back to the camera, receives his bishop’s pastoral staff.
