Fr. Jun ng Quiapo, Now the Bishop-Elect of Balanga

by Joel V. Ocampo

photos courtesy of Fr. Jun ng Nazareno-Quiapo and Quiapo Church

On December 03, 2024, the Holy Father appointed Rev. Fr.  Rufino C. Sescon, Jr., a clergy of the Archdiocese of Manila, the Rector and Parish Priest of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo, as new Bishop of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga, Province of Bataan, Philippines. The appointment was officially announced in Vatican City, at 12:00 noon (7:00 pm Phil. time).

Rev. Fr.  Rufino C. Sescon, Jr., with Bishop Ruperto C. Santos (Sep. 21, 2022). Photo courtesy of Fr. Jun Sescon.

Bishop-Elect Rufino C. Sescon, Jr., also known as “Fr. Jun” was born in Manila on April 20, 1972. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the San Carlos Seminary, the Archdiocesan Seminary of Manila. He pursued his graduate studies at the same seminary and obtained master’s degree in both disciplines.

He was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on March 21, 1998. He was then assigned parish deacon at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish - Santa Mesa Church, and finance officer of the Sta. Mesa Parochial School, Manila (1998).

Rev. Fr.  Rufino C. Sescon, Jr., with St. John Paul II, Archbishop Socrates "Soc" B. Villegas, and Jaime Cardinal Sin. Photos courtesy of Fr. Jun Sescon.

Then, he received his Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters on September 19, 1998, on the Feast of Saint Januarius. As a priest, he served in the following ministries:

• Assistant Secretary to the Archbishop (1998-2001),

• Secretary to Archbishop Jaime L. Cardinal Sin (2001-2005),

• Member, Youth Pastoral Office (2002-2008),

• Member, Presbyteral Council (2003-2005),

• Member, College of Consultors,

• Director, Permanent Formation of Junior and Young Clergy,

• Director, Internship Program of Newly-Ordained Priests (2004-2008),

• Chancellor, Archdiocese of Manila (2008-2015),

• Priest-in-charge, Mary Mother of Hope Chapel, Makati City (2014-2022),

• Chaplain, Santo Niño de Paz Chapel, Makati City (2015-2022),

• Administrator, Villa San Miguel (Archbishop’s House, during post-war years)

• Commissioner, Commission for the Formation of Laypeople and Christian Communities (2015-2021),

• Member, Presbyteral Council (since 2018),

• Spiritual Director, San Lorenzo Ruiz Lay Formation Center (since 2015),

• Vice Chairman, Manila Archdiocesan Seminary System Foundation, Inc.,

• Member, Council on Formation, Priestly, and Lay Formation, 

• Executive Director, Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA),

• Rector and Parish Priest, Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno (Quiapo Church),

• Episcopal Vicar for Manila.

Fr. Jun and St. John

One August 29, 2022, the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, Fr. Jun was introduced as the new Rector and Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Parish, the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, also known to many as Quiapo Church. In his speech, Fr. Jun said, “Tayong lahat ay binibigyan ng pagkakataon ng ating mahal na Poong Jesus Nazareno. Ipagdasal natin ang bawat isa, na ang bawat pagkakataon na ibinibigay ng Diyos sa atin ay maging pagkakataon ng biyaya. Bigyan n’yo rin po kami ng pagkakataong mahalin at paglungkuran kayo. Bigyan n’yo po kami ng pagkakataong umabot sa inyo at maging kalakbay po ninyo.”

August 29, 2022 – Fr. Jun Sescon, delivering his speech during the Welcome Mass at Quiapo Church

On November 21, 2022, Fr. Jun was installed as the new Parish Priest and Rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. The installation rite was presided by Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula. He said during his installation, “Bayan ng Diyos, ipagdasal po ninyo ako. Ako po si Fr. Jun, ang inyong bagong deboto, bagong alagad, bagong Hijos del Nazareno, ang bago ninyong kamanlalakbay sa Traslacion ng totoong buhay.”

In most of his homilies at Quiapo Church, Fr. Jun spoke of like St. John the Baptist who “prepares the way of the Lord, like a refiner’s fire” (cf. Malachi 3:1-2). The tone of his homilies has similarities to the preaching of St. John the Baptist who said, “Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance” (Lk. 3:8a). In one of his homilies, Fr. Jun said, “Hindi sapat na sigaw tayo nang sigaw ng ‘Viva Jesus Nazareno!’ pero paglabas natin ng simbahan ay minumura natin ang ating kapwa. Dapat makita ang ating debosyon sa ating pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit sa kapwa.”

Some of the notable parts of his homilies, delivered in Filipino are the following:

• Ang panlabas nating debosyon ay sumalamin nawa sa ating dalisay at taimtim na pananampalataya at pagsunod sa Poong Hesus Nazareno.

• Gumagawa tayo ng mabuti hindi para magpasikat; kundi para magliwanag, para ituro sa lahat hindi ang sarili natin (cf. Lk. 3:8). Si Hesus Nazareno ang ituro natin upang Siya ang lalong makilala at mapasalamatan (cf. Jn. 1:29).

• Huwag po tayong matakot mabawasan ang ating sarili upang madagdagan ang Diyos sa ating buhay (cf. Jn. 3:30). Sapagkat kapag tayo ay puno ng Diyos, tayo ay nasa kalooban ng Diyos, tayo ay magiging handa sa tunay na pagpapala ni Hesus Nazareno.

• Ang tunay na deboto ay nagpapatotoo kay Hesus Nazareno sa salita at gawa upang mas madami pa ang manalig at sumunod sa Kanya (cf. Jn. 1:34-37).

• Ang tunay na deboto ni Hesus Nazareno ay batid niya kung ano ang panandalian lamang dito sa lupa. Mas pinapahalagahan niya ang pang magpakailanman at ang aabot sa kaharian ng Diyos (cf. Lk. 3:8-14).

• Ang ating debosyon hindi lamang nasusukat sa dasal kundi sa tamang asal.

• Ang debosyon hinahatid tayo sa misyon, upang sa gayon makarating tayo sa ating destinasyon.

• Kung mahal natin si Hesus Nazareno, nakahanda tayong maglingkod sa ating kapwa.

• Ang tunay na alagad at apostol ni Hesus Nazareno, ay nakikibahagi sa Kaniyang krus at misyon.

• Ang tunay na nakikinig kay Hesus Nazareno hindi lumalayo sa Diyos sa panahon ng pagsubok, at namumunga ng mabuti sa buhay.

• Ang tunay na sumusunod kay Hesus Nazareno tumutulong at nagmamahal katulad Niya.

• Ang tunay na deboto, nakikiisa, nagkakaisa, sapagkat iyon ang ipinakita ni Hesus Nazareno. Ang tunay na pagpapalain ay iyong marunong makiisa. Iyon ang landas Nazareno.

• Ang tunay na debosyon ay ang paglapit kay Hesus Nazareno ng may malalim na pagkilala. Hindi lang tayo humahawak sa Kanya. Naniniwala at sumusunod tayo sa Kanya.

• Ang tunay na deboto ay isang alagad ni Hesus Nazareno: pinili, pinagkatiwalaan, at pinagpala upang maging kasangkapan ng Kaniyang kabutihan at awa sa mundo.

• Walang mayabang sa langit. Katulad ni Hesus Nazareno, ang pagpapakumbaba ay hindi pag-iisip ng sarili lamang, kundi ang kalooban ng Diyos at kabutihan ng kapwa.

• Kapakumbabaan ang tanging landas patungo sa kaharian ni Hesus Nazareno. Kapakumbabaan ang maghahanda sa ating tanggapin ang awa at biyaya ng Diyos.

• Ang ating pagmamahal kay Hesus Nazareno ang siyang dapat maghubog at magbago sa ating buhay, sapagkat kung ano ang ating minamahal, ganoon din tayo magiging sa ating buhay.

• Ang ating debosyon at pagsunod kay Hesus Nazareno ay hindi pana-panahon lamang. Buong buhay at habang buhay tayo’y tinatawag na maging mabunga at mabuting deboto at alagad Niya.