Cheyenne Suarez

Members of the clergy, friends and relatives gather to witness the solemn ordination and installation of Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr., CMF at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cubao, Quezon City, on December 3, 2024.


This historic event marked Bishop Ayuban’s official appointment as the second bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, succeeding his predecessor. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Members of the clergy, friends and relatives gather to witness the solemn ordination and installation of Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr., CMF at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cubao, Quezon City, on December 3, 2024.

This historic event marked Bishop Ayuban’s official appointment as the second bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, succeeding his predecessor. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Bishop elias ayuban- ordination- cubao cathedral

Erik Tenedero

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1733218723566THUMB-LEDE PHOTO BISHOP ELI.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. delivers his message after his episcopal consecration and installation as the new bishop of the diocese. 📷 Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. delivers his message after his episcopal consecration and installation as the new bishop of the diocese.<em> 📷 Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA - Claretian missionary Elias Ayuban Jr. has officially taken the helm of the Diocese of Cubao, making him the lead pastor of nearly 1.5 million Catholics.</p><p>On the Feast Day of Saint Francis Xavier, patron of missionaries, Ayuban was ordained and installed as bishop at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Quezon City.</p><p>Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula led the consecration along with dozens of other Filipino bishops.</p><p>Also present at the occasion was Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown, who read the apostolic letter from Pope Francis detailing the appointment of Ayuban.</p><p>Meanwhile, Ayuban&#x27;s predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ongtioco, led the new bishop to the &quot;cathedra&quot; — the official seat of the diocese&#x27;s lead pastor and the symbol of his authority to teach.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/2/who-is-elias-ayuban-cubao-s-second-bishop-the-clue-lies-in-his-name-2223" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Who is Elias Ayuban, Cubao&#x27;s second bishop? The clue lies in his name</a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/2/who-is-elias-ayuban-cubao-s-second-bishop-the-clue-lies-in-his-name-2223"></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/4/pope-francis-chooses-claretian-priest-as-new-bishop-of-cubao-1842" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pope Francis chooses Claretian priest as new bishop of Cubao</a></div><p>Ongtioco led the Diocese of Cubao for 21 years since its establishment in 2003 by the late Saint John Paul II.</p><p>In his homily, Cardinal-designate Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Kalookan and president of the Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), reflected on the chosen Gospel reading of Ayuban.</p><p>It was part of the Gospel of John where Jesus asked the apostle Peter three times if he loved Him.</p><p>David explained that Peter was saddened by Jesus&#x27;s question because he was doubting himself again, unsure if he was worthy.</p><p>&quot;We are all broken people, wounded people. Christianity was never meant only for the holy and the deserving. That is why Pope Francis keeps saying &#x27;todos, todos, todos,&#x27;&quot; David said.</p><p>Todos in Spanish means &quot;all&quot; or &quot;everybody.&quot;</p><p>The gospel is usually the chosen reading in episcopal ordinations and installations as if a reminder to prelates of how they are being called to service.</p><p>&quot;The Eucharist is not an exclusive meal for the righteous. The Eucharist is rather a body broken for broken people like you and me. And the more broken you are, the more in need you are of the Eucharist,&quot; David said.</p><p>&quot;The good news is there is no brokenness that cannot be restored and healed by the Precious Blood of the Lamb.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W9odB76AhII?&amp;t=193s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>A LITTLE TROUBLED</p><p>In his message after his ordination, Ayuban admitted that he was a little troubled when he was informed of his appointment.</p><p>He said all the more that he was troubled when he found out that he would succeed Ongtioco in Cubao.</p><p>&quot;Maybe that is the usual feeling before a calling so sublime and when you realize your own share of imperfections, lowliness, and unworthiness,&quot; Ayuban said.</p><p>&quot;I would like to assure you and to avail of this opportunity to tell you as Christian faithful of Cubao, do not worry.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1733218676387EMBED PHOTO 2 BISHOP ELI.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Newly-installed Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. seats at his cathedra as his fellow prelates give him a round of applause, including (from left) Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, and Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ongtioco. 📷 Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Newly-installed Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. seats at his cathedra as his fellow prelates give him a round of applause, including (from left) Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, and Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ongtioco.<em> 📷 Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, the papal nuncio thanked Ayuban for accepting his appointment.</p><p>&quot;Thank you for having said yes to the Holy Father,&quot; Brown said.</p><p>&quot;The Holy Father, in a certain sense, personified Jesus in the gospel that we heard this morning and asked you, dear Bishop Elias, &#x27;will you tend my sheep, will you feed my lamb in the Diocese of Cubao.&#x27; And you, with great generosity, trust in God as a good missionary, as a good Claretian father, said yes.&quot;</p><p>The pope&#x27;s representative in the Philippines also thanked Ongtioco for his two decades of service in the diocese.</p><p>&quot;In the name of the Holy Father, I want to say a massive thank you to Bishop Ness for his 21 years of service here, as the first, the founding bishop of the Diocese of Cubao,&quot; Brown said.</p><p>&quot;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.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LoaQidg9tBg?&amp;t=28s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Before the liturgy, a civic reception was also held to welcome Ayuban.</p><p>Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte handed Ayuban a symbolic key to the city.</p><p>Before his episcopal ordination, Ayuban led the Claretians&#x27; Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province, which covers the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.</p><p>Founded by St. Anthony Mary Claret in 1849, the congregation has been doing missionary work in at least 70 countries across the world.</p><p>For seven years, he worked in the Vatican&#x27;s Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.</p><p>Ayuban will now lead a diocese comprising 45 parishes and three national shrines, including the popular National Shrine of the Most Holy Rosary La Naval de Manila.</p><p>The diocese covers the southern part of Quezon City, starting from Tandang Sora Avenue and Mactan Street leading throughout the south of the city.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n5jOoVFXqbE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Claretian missionary Elias Ayuban Jr. has officially taken the helm of the Diocese of Cubao, making him the lead pastor of nearly 1.5 million Catholics. </p>

Claretian missionary Elias Ayuban Jr. has officially taken the helm of the Diocese of Cubao, making him the lead pastor of nearly 1.5 million Catholics.

Claretian missionary Elias Ayuban officially takes helm of Cubao diocese

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Claretian missionary Elias Ayuban officially takes helm of Cubao diocese

Erik Tenedero,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 03, 2024 05:39 PM PHT

Read More:

Elias Ayuban Jr.

Diocese of Cubao

Honesto Ongtioco

Catholic Church

Pope Francis

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