The Diocese of Cubao in the Philippines’ capital region welcomed Fr. Elias Ayuban Jr., a 56-year-old Claretian missionary, as its new bishop.
Ayuban was ordained and installed as the new bishop of Cubao on Dec. 3 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao, coinciding with the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Patron of Missionaries.
Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila ordained Ayuban to the episcopate, with retired Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao and Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran serving as co-consecrators.
Among the 52 bishops who were present were Archbishop Charles Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Cardinal-elect Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, and Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, retired archbishop of Cotabato.
In his address, the new prelate reassured the public of the diocese’s inclusivity, emphasizing that everyone is welcome and no one will be left behind.
“We do not discriminate against anyone, even those who do not share our faith,” he said. “We welcome politicians, we welcome everyone. We welcome the LGBTQ.”
Ayuban also vowed to amplify the voices of the vulnerable, particularly those who are often overlooked or silenced in society.
“Our power is not measured on how long we sit on a chair, but on how often we bend our knees towards the feet of others. So I will use my power to empower others,” he said.
Ayuban stressed that there is no sense of entitlement in the Church.
“The clergy should not feel superior to consecrated persons, and consecrated persons should not feel special relative to laypeople,” he said.
Before his appointment, Ayuban was the superior of the Claretian’s Father Rhoel Gallardo Province, which covers the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.
He also worked for seven years in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
In his homily, Cardinal-elect David expressed gratitude to the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Claretians.
“Today, you lose a provincial, but you are contributing a new bishop to the Philippine Church,” the prelate said, urging other religious congregations to follow this example of service and generosity to the Church.
The prelate reminded the Catholic faithful that Christianity “was never meant only for the holy and the deserving.”
“The Eucharist is not an exclusive meal for the righteous. The Eucharist is rather a body broken for broken people like you and me,” he said.
Archbishop Brown, in his message, thanked Ayuban “for having said yes to the Holy Father.” The Nuncio assured him of prayers and “help you in any way possible” as bishop of Cubao.
Brown also expressed gratitude, “with great affection and great love,” to Bishop Ongtioco, Ayuban’s predecessor, for his 21 years of service as the founding bishop of the diocese.
“All of us have experienced his wonderful pastoral charity, his great love for Christ, his enthusiasm for evangelization, his wonderful leadership in these 21 years. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts. He remains in our hearts as your Bishop Emeritus here in Cubao. So remember also to pray for him,” Brown said.
The Cubao diocese covers more than 45 parishes in the southern part of Quezon City, serving about 1.4 million Catholics.
Often described as the “Vatican” of religious communities, it is also home to about 135 religious orders, congregations, and societies. – with reports from Roy Lagarde, CBCPNews
