Many gathered at the Diocese of Gumaca’s San Diego de Alcala Cathedral on Monday to honor a man who lived a life of service.
Bishop Victor Ocampo was laid to rest on Monday, following a funeral Mass presided over by papal nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown.
The service drew hundreds of faithful, including the clergy and friends, many of whom had known the bishop as “simple and humble” servant.
“Our good memories with him will remain in the hearts of people he encountered, from all walks of life,” said Bishop Buenaventura Famadico of San Pablo.
Bishop Ocampo — who served the diocese since September 2015 — succumbed to heart attack on March 16. He was 71.
Before the last rite, Pope Francis’ message was read at the funeral, saying he was “deeply saddened” over the “untimely death” of the bishop.
The pope also sent his “heartfelt condolences” and his “spiritual closeness” to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the diocese.
The nuncio, for his part, asked the faithful to pray for the bishop “and thank God for the gift of his service here in the Diocese of Gumaca”.
“We need to pray for him and also for his diocese, which now awaits, of course, a new bishop,” Archbishop Brown said.
Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa also announced his appointment of Fr. Ramon Uriarte as the diocesan administrator of Gumaca.
Fr. Uriarte has been serving as the vicar general of the diocese.
After the funeral, Bishop Ocampo’s remains were interred in a mausoleum inside the cathedral.
