Iligan bishop Galido dies

FILE: Iligan Bishop Elenito Galido (Photo by Ruel Tenerife via CBCP News)

MANILA — Iligan City Bishop Elenito Galido passed away on Tuesday. He was 64.

According to an article posted in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website, the head of the Iligan diocese in Lanao del Norte died at 10:11 p.m. Tuesday.

He was rushed to the Mercy Hospital last week and had been in coma at the intensive care unit until his death.

Galido had been undergoing medication after he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver few years ago. He was also diabetic.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as bishop of Iligan in March 2006, making him the fourth prelate to lead the diocese.

He was born April 18, 1954 in Managok, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

After finishing his theology study at the St. Fracis Xavier Regional Major Seminary in Davao City, he was ordained a priest on April 25, 1979.

His episcopal ordination was on September 8, 2006.

Upon his death, he was serving as chairman of the Commission on Culture of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

Galido was also among those in the forefront of the Church’s efforts to help the thousands of families displaced by the war in Marawi City.

On the other hand, Marawi City Bishop Edwin dela Pena expressed sadness over the passing of his colleague.

“Iligan Diocese’s loss is ours as well in the Prelature of Marawi. The late Bishop Galido died with his boots on, almost literally. He, together with the hundreds of volunteers, was our indefatigable and gracious host to the thousands of evacuees during the siege of Marawi,” he said.

The Catholic prelate added, “He took good care of us when we were fearful of our lives, when we were hungry and had no place to lay our tired bodies. Enter into the House of the Father, Bishop Nitz, and share the joy of the Master.

The thousands of Marawi evacuees are forever grateful to you and commend your beautiful soul to the mercy of God, our Father!”

For his part, Ozamis Archbishop Martin Jumoad urged the people to pray for the soul of the late Iligan prelate.

“We ask you to pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Bishop Galido,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.

Galido is the seventh prelate in the country who passed away this year.

Last January 30, Bangued Bishop Emeritus Cesar Raval, SVD died at the age of 91.

Two active bishops, LeopoldoTumulak of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines and Rodolfo Beltran of San Fernando in La Union, both died on June 17 due to cancer.

On October 18, Archbishop Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, the oldest among the four Filipino cardinals, passed away. He was 86.

Three days later, 74-year-old Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, who served the Diocese of Butuan for more than 21 years, also passed away a year before his retirement.

A day before the 40-day memorial period for Cardinal Vidal, Talibon Bishop Emeritus Christian Vicente Noel died on the feast of Christ the King. He was 80.