DAVAO CITY, Nov. 10, 2009 – Pope Benedict XVI conferred honorary titles and prestigious pontifical honor to 7 Davao diocesan priests, 13 lay leaders and 1 missionary in recognition of their contribution to the growth, maturity and stability of the local Church of Davao.
The 7 priests conferred with the honorary title of Papal Chaplains and addressed as monsignor are Fr. Leonardo Vicente, vicar general and parish priest of San Pablo Parish; Fr. Nelson Lucas, judicial vicar of the Archdiocesan Matrimonial Tribunal; Fr. Maximo Sarno, vicar forane, diocesan finance committee member, parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish in Peñaplata; Fr. Jaime Gamboa, secretary of the Archbishop and head of the Archdiocesan Secretariat, Fr. Edgar Labagala, staff member of the Clergy Assist Program of the CBCP Commission on Clergy, Fr. Abel Apigo, rector of the Saint Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary (REMASE) and chairman of the Diocesan Commission on Cultural Heritage, and Fr. Julius Rodulfa, rector of the Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary and Archdiocesan Superintendent of Catholic schools.
The 13 lay leaders who were conferred the prestigious pontifical honor Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice are Apolinar Bundalian of the Cursillo Movement; Rodulfo Tagle of the Serra Club International –Davao Chapter; Celestino S. Barreto of Archdiocesan Charismatic Renewal Movement; Jesus V. Quitain, member of the College Seminary Board of Director and Editorial writer of Davao Catholic Herald, Ernesto Evangelista, member of the Archdiocesan Finance Council and Lay Associate of the Davao Priests Fraternity, Michael Manalaysay, chair of the Archdiocesan Coordinating Council for Lay and Integrated Movement (ACCLAIM) and Cipriano Genosas of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Center.
The women lay leaders are Luzminda Llanillo of the Legion of Mary and ACCLAIM; Bernardita Asis of the Pope John XXIII Catechetical Center; Milagros Punzalan of the Archdiocesan Bible Apostolate; Maria Iris Milleza, president of the Holy Cross of Davao College and of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Pastoral Council; Aileen Lourdes Lizada, legal counsel of the Archdiocese and member of the Archdiocesan Finance Council and Holy Cross Press Board of Directors, and Victoria E. Anghag, secretary of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Office.
The veteran missionary priest, canon lawyer, defender of the bond of Matrimonial Tribunal and member of the Archdiocesan Administrative Council is Fr. Patrice Picard, P.M.E (Mark S. Ventura)
