29 January 2015 - The Most Rev. Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, D.D., visited Brunei Darussalam from January 21 to 22 to grace the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam.
The occasion also marked the 25th anniversary of the priesthood of Rt. Rev. Cornelius Sim, D.D., bishop and parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (COLA).
Cardinal Tagle and Bishop Sim held a mass in COLA on January 21 which was attended by bishops and priests from dioceses in the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. During the mass, the Cardinal congratulated Bishop Sim for his successful stewardship of the Vicariate in Brunei and bringing renewed enthusiasm, endurance and hope for the Catholic faithful in the country.
In his homily, Cardinal Tagle also echoed the message of Pope Francis, who recently visited the Philippines, on “the importance of the family’s role in passing on Christian values and renewing society, and the call to reject every form of corruption which diverts resources from the poor.”
During this visit, Cardinal Tagle was accompanied by Most Rev. Emilio Z. Marquez, D.D., Bishop of Lucena, including the following Filipino priests: Fr. Jaime Marquez; Fr. Moises Eduardo Ciego; Fr. Hector Canon; Fr. Mark Munda; Fr. Oliver Lacorte; Fr. Romeo Padillo; Fr. Gerald Garcia; Fr. Pedro Obon; Fr. Romel Ansay; Fr. Florencio Nombrefia; Fr. Franz Clarence Ilagan; and Fr. Lorenzo Ruggiero.
Cardinal Tagle also visited the Philippine Embassy and met with Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Nestor Z. Ochoa and his spouse Madame Mayie E. Ochoa, and other Embassy officials. The Cardinal was also toured around the Chancery premises and was able to bless some Embassy personnel and clients present during the visit.
It was in 2004 that the Prefecture Apostolic of Brunei Darussalam was elevated to Apostolic Vicariate by Pope John Paul II. Then Msgr. Cornelius Sim was appointed as Titular Bishop of Putia in Numidia and Vicar Apostolic of Brunei Darussalam. END