Philippine Bishop to return to Diocese in August; International Food Festival planned

GREENSBURG – Bishop Larry J. Kulick remembers the day the announcement came in April 2018. Father Medil Sacay Aseo, a priest from the Philippines who was serving in the International Priests Program in the Diocese of Greensburg, came to the pastoral center with a letter from the Papal Nuncio. The letter stated that Father Medil was appointed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, as Bishop of the Diocese of Tagum in the Philippines.

“At the time, then-Father Medil was serving as a Parochial Vicar at St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadelupe Parish in Kittanning and St. Mary, Mother of God Parish in Yatesboro,” said Bishop Kulick, who at the time was Vicar General for the Diocese of Greensburg.

Bishop Kulick remembered that Bishop Edward C. Malesic, the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, wanted to make sure that the newly announced Bishop-elect immediately had a zucchetto and a pectoral cross.

“Bishop Malesic gave him a zucchetto and I went to the archives and retrieved a pectoral cross that was given to the late Bishop Bosco by Pope Saint John Paul II,” Bishop Kulick remembered.

Bishop Aseo used those until he returned to the Philippines to prepare for his episcopal ordination.

After his episcopal ordination, Bishop Aseo was invited to return to the Diocese of Greensburg, but the pandemic stalled the timing of a visit. Bishop Kulick said plans for a visit resumed last year and will culminate with a visit in August. Bishop Aseo will celebrate Mass in his former parishes in the Diocese and will combine his message with a missionary trip for his own diocese.

“The Diocese of Tagum has been so generous to us, and the international missionary priests from that diocese have served us so well,” Bishop Kulick said. “Tagum is the largest represented diocese in our International Priests Program, so I can support Bishop Medil and the formation of priests in his diocese.”

SAVE THE DATE –  August 26, 2023
International Food Festival
Christ Our Shepherd Center
Greensburg, PA

As part of Bishop Aseo’s visit to the Diocese of Greensburg, an international food festival is being held to raise funds to support the priestly formation program in the Diocese of Tagum in the Philippines. Watch for more details about how you can attend to support these vocations.