Ayuban ordained as bishop of Cubao diocese

Reverend Father Elias Ayuban Jr., CMF, JCD was ordained Wednesday as the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao during a solemn eucharistic celebration at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao in Quezon City.

The Episcopal Ordination and Rite of Canonical Possession of Ayuban coincided with the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Catholic missions.

Ayuban is now the second bishop of the Diocese of Cubao. His predecessor, Cubao Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ongtioco, served the diocese from 2003 to 2024. Ongtioco's resignation was accepted by Pope Francis in October after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.

According to a social media post by the Cubao diocese, Ayuban has taken "the first place among concelebrating bishops and the kiss of peace" from the principal consecrator, Archbishop of Manila Fuerte Cardinal Advincula, Ongtingco, and other bishops in attendance.

With this, Ayuban's admittance into the College of Bishops and Clergy has been sealed.

Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown led the presentation of the elect and the reading of the Apostolic Letter from Pope Francis.

The Vatican announced Ayuban's appointment on October 10 this year.

"When Archbishop Charles confided to me that I would be the successor of bishop Honesto, I was greatly troubled," Ayuban said.

"The shoes I wear are too big for me, but I am comforted by the thought of the mercy of God, who plants what is lacking in me. I will not compete with the Lord," he added.

During his homily, Cardinal-elect Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), urged the clergy to strengthen their faith, especially when facing challenges like St. Peter the Apostle.

"Sometimes, like Peter, we are also tempted to despair about ourselves when we’re confronted by our own weaknesses," David said.

"He just wants to make sure that if we go on with our mission to feed the lambs, it should be for no other reason than for the love of the shepherd to whom they belong," he added.

He also noted the passage from the Book of Corinthians, "For in weakness, power reaches perfection, for it is when I am weak that I am strong."

"This passage is consoling for all of us because it assures us that with Jesus, even if our human commitments are breakable, it is also renewable if we unite with Christ," David said.

The CBCP president also expressed gratitude to Ongtioco for his service in the Cubao diocese.

Ayuban was born in Parang, Maguindanao. He studied philosophy at Saint Anthony Mary Claret College of Philosophy and theology at Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

Father Elias or "Father Eli" gave his vows as a Claretian missionary on July 16, 1995 and was ordained a priest on March 9, 1996 in Quezon City.

The Press Office of the Holy See said Ayuban first held the role of parish priest of Risen Christ in Sibugay from 1996 to 2000.

"He was awarded a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University (2002-2003), and went on to serve as rector of the Claret Theology House in Quezon City (2004-2008), professor of canon law at the University of Santo Tomas and the Institute for Consecrated Life Asia in Quezon City (2004-2011 and 2008-2010), chair of the Commission for the Consecrated Life of the Canon Law Society of the Philippines (2005-2011)," the press office said.

Ayuban also held various positions within the Claretian community including vicar superior of the Community of Iuridicum in Rome and has been provincial superior of the Filipino Claretian Province since 2019.

Acording to an article on the Diocese of Cubao website, missions in Australia, Vietnam, and Myanmar are included in the province's current structure.

"The Diocese of Cubao, established in 2003, covers a significant portion of Quezon City it has numerous parishes and a home to hundreds of religious congregations that serve the spiritual and social needs of the community," the article read. — VDV, GMA Integrated News