Another Catholic bishop dies

MANILA — Another Catholic bishop passed away, becoming the seventh prelate to die this year.Bishop Elenito Galido of Iligan diocese in Lanao del Norte died on Tuesday at 10:11 p.m. He was 64.The bishop has been undergoing medication after he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver few years ago. He was also diabetic.Galido had been at the Intensive Care Unit after being in a coma at the Mercy Hospital in Iligan City where he was rushed last week.The prelate was born April 18, 1954 in Managok, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.After finishing his theology study at the St. Fracis Xavier Regional Major Semnary in Davao City, he was ordained a priest on April 25, 1979.In March 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as bishop of Iligan, becoming the fourth prelate to hold the post.At that time, he was serving as associate priest at the St. Francis de Sales Church in Brooklyn, New York, while completing his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Care.His episcopal ordination was on September 8, 2006.Upon his death, he was serving as the chairman of the Commission on Culture of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.Galido was also among those in the forefront of the Church’s efforts to help the thousands of families displaced by the war in Marawi City.Bishop Edwin dela Peña of Marawi said Galido died with his boots on, almost literally! He welcomed me into his home like a real brother, not only as an evacuee fleeing from war early part of Marawi siege, he said. Rest in peace, my dear friend and neighbor, Dela Peña added.Other bishops who died this year include Bangued Bishop Emeritus Cesar Raval, SVD. He passed away last January 30 at the age of 91.Five months later, two active bishops died on the same day after losing battle with cancer.Bishops Leopoldo Tumulak of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines and Rodolfo Beltran of San Fernando in La Union died on Saturday in separate hospitals in Manila on June 17.Last October 18, Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, the retied archbishop of Cebu and the oldest among the four Filipino cardinals, has died at the age of 86.Three days later, Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, who served the Diocese of Butuan for more than 21 years, also passed away a year before his retirement. He was 74.A day before the 40-day memorial period for Cardinal Vidal, Talibon Bishop Emeritus Christian Vicente Noel died on the feast of Christ the King. He just turned 80 last November 17.CBCPNews