The remains of the late retired Talibon bishop Christian Vicente Fernandez Noel will be laid to rest at the Blessed Trinity Cathedral in Talibon town, where he served as bishop for 28 years.
The Church leader who was 80-year-old passed away on Sunday morning due to complications from prostate cancer.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick on Noel, a native of Cebu, shortly before he died at the Perpetual Succor Hospital in Cebu City at 2:44 a.m. on Sunday, the feast day of the solemnity of Christ the King
The bishop’s body lies in state at the Tanchan Hall located inside the Archbishop’s Residence compound on D. Jakosalem St. in Cebu City until today.
Noel’s body will be brought to the Talibon Cathedral tomorrow where he will be buried on Monday, Dec. 4.
The decision on his interment followed after there were requests from the people of Talibon to bury him there. Archbishop
Palma said Bishop Noel belongs to Talibon although he was born in Cebu.
In 1981, Pope John Paul II appointed him as auxiliary bishop of Cagayan de Oro on Oct. 1, 1981.
He was subsequently ordained bishop on Nov. 30, 1981.
Five years later, he was named bishop of the Diocese of Talibon, a position he held for nearly 28 years.
In 2014, he retired as bishop of Talibon after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. He was replaced by Bishop Daniel Patrick Parcon.
Noel, a native of Asturias town, northwest Cebu, was ordained priest on March 19, 1961.
He served as assistant parish priest of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Balamban town, Cebu from 1962 to 1964, and assistant parish priest of San Vicente Ferrer Parish, Bogo City from 1964 to 1966.
In 1966, he was named parish priest of San Vicente Ferrer Parish in Buanoy, Balamban, Cebu. After 10 years, he was reassigned to San Vicente Ferrer Parish in Bogo City where he served as parish priest for six years.
(with reports from PDI).