RETIRED bishops Nereo Odchimar of Tandag in Surigao del Sur and Honesto Pacana of Malaybalay, Bukidnon passed away yesterday due to illness.
Odchimar was 83 and Pacana, 91.
The dioceses of Tandag and Malaybalay announced the passing of their former bishops.
“The Diocese of Tandag mourns the death of His Excellency Most Rev. Nereo P. Odchimar, D.D, Bishop-Emeritus of Tandag. He was called Home by Our Father in Heaven at 10:27 AM today, February 1, 2024, at San Pedro Hospital in Davao City,” said the Tandag diocese.
“It is with heavy heart that we announce the passing of our bishop emeritus, Most Rev. Honesto Pacana, SJ, DD today – February 1, 2024. He was admitted for days to the ICU in Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital, CDO and, after bravely fighting for a couple of days, was declared dead at 12:33 PM today,” said the Malaybalay diocese.
Odchimar, born in October 1940, was ordained priest in December 1964. He was appointed bishop of Tandag in October 2001 and served until his retirement in February 2018.
Odchimar was 18th president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, from 2009 to 2011. He also served as chairman of the CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Canon Law.
Pacana was born in January 1933 and was ordained priest on June 1965. He was appointed bishop of Malaybalay in January 1994 and served the diocese until he retired in February 2010.
With the CBCP, Pacana served as first chairman of the organization’s Episcopal Commission on Culture.
Details for the memorial services and interment schedules will be announced soon.
