Pope names new bishop for diocese in Cubao
THE 21-year-old Cubao diocese in Quezon City has a new bishop. According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website, Pope Francis has appointed 56-year-old Claretian Fr. Elias Ayuban Jr., the first missionary priest to head the diocese, on Friday. He will replace Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, whose resignation was accepted by the Holy Father as he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. Ongtioco, the first Cubao bishop, was installed to head the Diocese of Cubao in August 2003, the same day the diocese was canonically erected. The bishop-elect has been the provincial superior of the Claretian missionaries in the Philippine Province since 2019. The province's current structure includes missions in Australia, Vietnam and Myanmar. Born in Parang, North Cotabato, Ayuban began his religious profession on May 5, 1991, and was ordained priest on March 9, 1996. He previously served as an official at the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. He also holds a doctorate in canon law and has taught at the Claretianum in Rome. Ayuban has been serving as co-chairman of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines since 2022. He will be the second Filipino Claretian to become a bishop after the installation of Bishop Leo Dalmao as shepherd of the Prelature of Isabela de Basilan. The first prelate of Basilan, the late Bishop José María Querejeta, was also a Claretian, but he was of Spanish descent.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE 21-year-old Cubao diocese in Quezon City has a new bishop.
According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website, Pope Francis has appointed 56-year-old Claretian Fr. Elias Ayuban Jr., the first missionary priest to head the diocese, on Friday.
He will replace Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, whose resignation was accepted by the Holy Father as he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Ongtioco, the first Cubao bishop, was installed to head the Diocese of Cubao in August 2003, the same day the diocese was canonically erected.
The bishop-elect has been the provincial superior of the Claretian missionaries in the Philippine Province since 2019.
The province's current structure includes missions in Australia, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Born in Parang, North Cotabato, Ayuban began his religious profession on May 5, 1991, and was ordained priest on March 9, 1996.
He previously served as an official at the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
He also holds a doctorate in canon law and has taught at the Claretianum in Rome.
Ayuban has been serving as co-chairman of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines since 2022.
He will be the second Filipino Claretian to become a bishop after the installation of Bishop Leo Dalmao as shepherd of the Prelature of Isabela de Basilan.
The first prelate of Basilan, the late Bishop José María Querejeta, was also a Claretian, but he was of Spanish descent.
