Like Moses at the Red Sea: A Bishop's Take on University Leadership
AdministrationPresiding over The Eucharist on July 21, 2025, His Excellency Most Rev. Luisito A. Occiano, DD, Bishop of Virac, gave a homily that reframed the ancient journey of Moses and the Israelites as a roadmap for modern leadership—especially for someone tasked with running a university. The Mass, offered in thanksgiving by newly sworn-in CatSU President Dr. Gemma G. Acedo, was part of her first official week at the Office of the SUC President III. The bishop’s message gently pivoted from Scripture to present-day CatSU: “Like Moses, a university president must walk with people—sometimes hesitant, often weary—toward a promised future,” he said. "There will be Red Seas.” With a warmth that peeled back the usual weight of homilies, Bishop Occiano mused about the modern ‘red seas’ that might block progress—tight budgets or strained relationships. The bishop emphasized that leadership is an act of trust—trust not only in one’s own abilities, but also in the people one walks with, and in the unseen grace that carries a leader forward, especially when the path remains uncertain and the challenges don't ease right away. For Dr. Acedo, the Mass served as a meaningful and grounding moment as she begins the journey of guiding CatSU toward its next chapter. The bishop left the community with a reminder that challenges—like the Red Sea—are not dead ends, but pathways. With faith and courage, every crossing becomes possible.
