Malaking hamon kay Baguio Bishop elect Victor Bendico ang lenggwahe at kultura ng pamumunuang Diocese.
Itinalaga ni Pope Francis noong ika-1 ng Oktubre si Msgr. Bendico mula sa Archdiocese ng Capiza bilang bagong Obispo ng Diocese of Baguio matapos magresign si Bishop Carlito Cenzon.
Sa panayam ng Radio Veritas, inamin ni Bishop elect Bendico na kanyang pinaghahandaaan ang pag-aaral ng lenggwahe ng mga taga-Baguio, kultura at kasanayan ng mga katutubo sa Benguet.
Sa kabila ng hamon, malaki ang tiwala ni Bishop Bendico sa awa at habag ng Diyos na patuloy siyang gagabayan at pagpapalain sa kanyang bagong pagmimisyunan na local church.
“Well the challenge will be first of all being Bishop of metropolis and of province of Benguet, yung isang nakikita ko na challenge yung language. I do not know actually Ilocano, English yes, I can speak tagalog but I have to learn the language and I have learned that there are a lot of indigenous people there so I have to learned the culture of the people. And I think it is a big challenge for me and also the people of the place because I am not familiar with the place. But I do trust God that he will continue to bless me and I know the church is universal,” pahayag ni Bishop Bendico sa Radio Veritas.
Nagpasalamat din ang pari sa Santo Papa sa tiwala na ibinigay na sa kanya na gawin siyang Obispo at pamunuan ang diyosesis ng Baguio.
“Yes of course I would like to thank our Pope the Holy Father Pope Francis for his trust and confidence in me by appointing me the bishop in the diocese of Baguio. I know that the Holy Spirit will guide the church particularly of Baguio. I would be with them and serve them in the best that I can and that may we work together for the good of the local church. I am preparing myself as of now for my Episcopal ordination and eventually the installation. I still have to coordinate with the Bishop of Baguio. I rely on God and on his graces, my trust on his providence, my trust for his mercy for me and I wish that people could continue praying for me as it would be another assignment for me to shepherd God’s people in a different way,”pahayag ni Bishop Bendico.
Si Monsignor Victor Bendico ay kasalukuyang parish priest ng Immaculate Conception Cathedral sa Roxas City Capiz.
Natapos ni Bishop elect Bendico ang kanyang Philosophical at Theological studies sa University of Santo Tomas Central seminary sa Maynila.
Nakamit ni Bishop Bendico ang kanyang Doctorate on Sacred Theology sa Pontifical Institute of St. Anselm, Rome.
Nabatid na ang Diocese of Baguio ay binubuo ng 26 na parokya na kabuuang 509,242 na mananampalatayang Katoliko o 72.6-percent ng populasyon ng lugar.
