Outgoing Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran called on Catholics to take a firm stand against corruption as he celebrated his farewell Mass with the diocese ahead of his new role as archbishop of Cebu.
In his homily at the Holy Name University gymnasium in Tagbilaran City on Sept. 16, Uy urged the clergy, consecrated persons, and laypeople to live their faith through concrete action.
“Stand against corruption and dishonesty; remember, to steal from the poor is to steal from Christ Himself,” Uy told the clergy, consecrated person,s and laypeople.
His appeal came as government officials face widespread allegations of corruption tied to multibillion-peso flood control projects.
Uy, 58, was appointed in July by Pope Leo XIV to succeed retired Archbishop Jose Palma as head of the Archdiocese of Cebu. He will be formally installed during a Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Sept. 30.
The bishop expressed both gratitude and sadness as he looked back on more than eight years of serving as shepherd of the diocese.
“This is not an easy moment for me. My heart is filled with gratitude, but also with sadness,” Uy said.
He recalled walking with the faithful through both joys and struggles, including the devastation of Super Typhoon Odette and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also admitted his own shortcomings, asking forgiveness for times he may have failed to meet expectations.
Uy thanked the clergy, religious communities, and lay leaders who served alongside him, especially the faithful of Bohol, whom he praised for their resilience and generosity.
“This is not a goodbye—it is a padayon, a ‘let us continue,’” he said. “Please pray for me as I begin my mission in Cebu. And I promise, I will always carry you in my heart and in my prayers.”
