Iligan Bishop Galido, 64

Bishop Elenito Galido of the Diocese of Iligan in Lanao del Norte passed away Tuesday, December 5. He was 64 years old.

Galido died at 10:11 p.m., at the Intensive Care Unit of the Mercy Hospital in Iligan City where he was rushed last week and remained in coma up to the time of his passing.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the bishop has been undergoing medication after he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver a few years ago. He was also diabetic. Galido is the seventh prelate to die this year, the CBCP said.

Born on April 18, 1954 in Managok, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, Galido finished his theology studies at the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary in Davao City. He was ordained a priest on April 25, 1979.

In March, 2006, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI appointed him as bishop of Iligan, becoming the fourth prelate to hold the post.

At that time, he was serving as associate priest at the St. Francis de Sales Church in Brooklyn, New York, while completing his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling andSpiritual Care. His episcopal ordination was on September 8, 2006.

Galido was the chairman of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Culture at the time of his death. He was also in the forefront of the Church’s efforts to help rebuild the lives of the families in Marawi City.

Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña expressed his sadness over the passing of Galido.

“He welcomed me into his home like a real brother, not only as an evacuee fleeing from war during the early part of the Marawi siege. Rest in peace, my dear friend and neighbor,” Dela Peña said in a message.