A large crowd thronged the Most Blessed Trinity Cathedral in Talibon on Monday morning to pay their last respects to Bishop Emeritus Christian Vicente Noel, the Diocese of Talibon’s first bishop.
Father Gerson Justiniane, chancellor of the Diocese of Talibon, estimated the crowd during the funeral at over 1,000.
According to Justiniane, Noel was laid to rest inside the cathedral after a mass led by Talibon Bishop Patrick Daniel Parcon at 9 a.m.
The late bishop’s friends, family and fellow clergymen were joined during the burial by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Surigao Bishop Antonieto Cabahug, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, Cebu Bishop Dennis Villarojo and Tagbilaran Bishop Abet Uy.
Prior to the interment, Bohol government officials including Gov. Edgar Chatto, Cong. Aris Aumentado and Mayor Restituo Auxtero personally extended their condolences to Noel’s family during the necrological service held Sunday evening.
Noel was buried inside the cathedral as agreed upon by his family and members of the Diocese of Talibon.
The bishop who led the Talibon diocese for nearly 28 years died of complications due to diabetes and prostate cancer at the age of 80 on November 26. (RT)