LEADER OF THE FLOCK In this January photo, Rev. Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr. gives his blessings to police who will maintain order during the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila. Sescon has been named the new bishop of Balanga in Bataan. 鈥擭i帽o Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Pope Francis has appointed a new head of the Diocese of Balanga more than a year after it was left vacant.
The Pope named on Tuesday Fr. Rufino 鈥淛un鈥� Sescon Jr. of the Archdiocese of Manila as bishop of the diocese covering Bataan province, according to the Catholic Bishops鈥� Conference of the Philippines.
READ:
Latest figures from the Vatican show that the diocese is home to almost 700,000 Catholics, around 80 percent of the entire province鈥檚 population, who are shepherded by 59 priests.
Sescon, 52, will succeed Bishop Ruperto Santos, who was installed to lead the Diocese of Antipolo in Rizal province in July last year.
Prior to his new post, Sescon served as rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, more known as Quiapo Church in Manila, for two years.
After he was ordained as a priest in 1998, he served as personal secretary to then-Manila archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin.
He also held various positions within the archdiocese, including chancellor and administrator of Villa San Miguel (Archbishop鈥檚 Palace).
Before moving to Quiapo Church, Sescon spent many years in Makati City as chaplain of Greenbelt Chapel and priest in charge of Mary, Mother of Hope Chapel at Landmark.
He also served as the Archdiocese of Manila鈥檚 commissioner for the Formation of the Laity and Christian Communities, director of San Lorenzo Ruiz Lay Formation Center, and member of the Presbyteral Council.
Sescon is the executive director of the Catholic Mass Media Awards.