More than 30 bishops from all over the country are expected to grace the Solemn Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Gilbert A. Garcera, D.D. on June 29, 2007, 4:00pm at the Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Naga City.

        This was confirmed by Fr. Rex Andrew Alarcon, Executive Secretary of the Working Committee.

        Bishop Garcera will be ordained as the new bishop of the Diocese of Daet, the land of gold and pineapple. Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., D.D., of the Archdiocese of Caceres will be the main celebrant while Bishop Benjamin Almoneda, D.D. (Bishop-Emeritus of Daet) and Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, O.M.I.,D.D. (of the Archdiocese of Cotabato) will be the consecrators.

        Bishop Garcera who hails from Magarao, Camarines Sur will be the third bishop of Daet since it was formally established on September 1, 1974 with Most Rev. Celestino Rojo Enverga, D.D., a native of Jose Panganiban as the first bishop.

        The new bishop succeeds the now retired Bishop Benjamin Almoneda, D.D. who served the diocese for 16 years (1991-2007).

        Bishop Garcera is currently the national director of the Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS), Manila; the Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Mission; and a member of the Superior Council, Pont. Missionary Societies, Rome and Asian Representative, Restricted Council Pontifical Missionary Societies, Rome and a member of PMS Supreme Committee Congragation for the Evangelization of People’s, Rome.

        Among his tasks being the national director of PMS is to coordinate the 3 societies by Rome: the Holy Childhood, the Propaganda Fide or Propagation of the Faith.

        After being ordained in 1983 his first assignment was to be an Asst. Parish Priest of the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral (May 29, 1983-1991); Archdiocesan Director, Caceres Catechetical Ministry (Dec. 17, 1987-1995); Vice –Rector, Peñafrancia Basilica Minore (April 2, 1991-1992); Administrative Dir./Personnel Officer, Radio Veritas Asia

        (Jan. 1, 1995-2001); Rector, San Francisco Church, Naga City (Dec. 1,1997-1998); Parish Priest, Parish of San Francisco, Naga City ( Feb. 20, 1998-2001); Asst. Secretary General/ Asst. Treasurer, Catholic Bishops Council Philippines (CBCP)(Sept. 11, 2001-2003)and Managing Editor, CBCP Monitor (Jan. 2002-2003).

        Msgr. Garcera spent his grade school years at the Naga Parochial School and entered Holy Rosary Minor and Major Seminaries to undergo his priestly trainings. He holds a masters degree on Theological Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University and a doctorate on Organization Development in the SAIDI Southeast Asia Interdisiplinary Development Institute.

        The new bishop will formally be installed as shepherd of the local Church of Camarines Norte, with its seat at Daet on June 30 with a 10:00AM canonical possession of the Diocese of Daet held at the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral.

        The 48 year old Bishop Garcera will lead the 72 Diocesan Priests in 30 parishes with St. Joseph the Worker as the patron under the titular of the Most Holy Trinity. Camarines Norte has a total population of 518, 497 of which 90.69% or 470, 225 were Catholic.

        In the Coat of Arms of Most Rev.Gilbert A. Garcera, D.D., his motto is “AD OMNIA MITTAM TE”, inspired by Jeremiah 1:17 which literally means “to wherever I will send, you will be going”. Bishop Garcera intends to respond to the call and exercise the episcopal ministry moved by the same virtue of obedience and sense of mission which is identical and indicative of the Bishop’s vocation story.

        Rev. Msgr. Garcera was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as all bishops as head of diocese is appointed by the pope. His appointment was published in Rome on April 4, 2007. The Bicol Bishops and bishops from the different dioceses of the Philippines, clergymen, religious congregations, as well as sponsors/benefactors and government officials will be present in the ordination of Most Rev. Gilbert A. Garcera, D.D.