By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Pope Francis has named six priests of the Diocese of Malolos as monsignors.
In a social media post Monday, the diocese announced that Bulacan province priests Fr. Narciso Sampana, Fr. Domingo Salonga, Fr. Leocadio de Jesus, Fr. Florentino Concepcion, Fr. Javer Joaquin, and Fr. Dario Cabral have been named “Chaplain to His Holiness” and given the title of monsignor.
“It is an honor given to the presbyterium,” Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo said.
“It is part of how the Church recognizes its ministers and at the same time, it is a call to greater service to facilitate the various ministerial activities in our diocese,” he added.
A monsignor is an honorary title granted by the pope, usually upon the recommendation of the bishop. It does not affect the priest’s duties or ministerial assignment.
The title is typically given to priests who have rendered significant service to the Church or played a special role in church governance.
Sampana is the rector and parish priest of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Augustine in Baliwag City while Salonga serves as the parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish (Barasoain Church) in the City of Malolos.
De Jesus is parish priest of Sto. Niño Parish, while Concepcion is currently the director of Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porres, both in Bustos.
Joaquin, meanwhile, is rector and parish priest of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion in Bulakan, while Cabral serves as rector and parish priest of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Isidro Labrador in Pulilan.
The Malolos diocese was established in 1961 and is one of the largest in the country. Aside from Bulacan, it also covers Valenzuela City in the National Capital Region. (PNA)
