Ayuban ordained as Cubao diocese bishop

Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. was ordained and installed on Tuesday as the new bishop of the Diocese of Cubao in Quezon City.

Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila led the ordination of Ayuban, 56, to the episcopate, with retired Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran serving as co-consecrators.

Ayuban acknowledged that he has "big shoes to fill," but said he is "comforted by the thought that the mercy of God supplants what is lacking in me."

"To become a bishop is to become powerful in many ways," he added, noting that this power "does not count for anything if I do not use it to empower others, if I do not see it from the perspective of service."

Ayuban vowed that he will be a "listening pastor" and will use his power "to empower others."

"I will listen to you not only once but time and again, I will listen especially if nobody listens to you anymore," he said.

"I will listen even if I do not entirely believe or agree with what you say," he added.

Before his appointment, Ayuban served as the superior of the Claretian's Father Rhoel Gallardo Province, which covers the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

The prelate also worked for seven years in the Vatican's Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Born in the town of Parang in Maguindanao del Norte, Ayuban studied Philosophy at the Saint Anthony Mary Claret College and Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University. He earned a doctorare in canon law from the Pontifical Laretan University in Rome in 2003.

He was ordained as a priest in March 1995 in Quezon City. His first assignment was as the parish priest of the Risen Christ in what was then part of Zamboanga del Sur, from 1996 to 2000.

Ayuban has held various roles both locally and in the Vatican, including academic positions at the Institute for Consecrated Life Asia, the Claret Theology House in Quezon City, and the University of Santo Tomas.

The Cubao diocese encompasses over 45 parishes in southern Quezon City, serving approximately 1.4 million Catholics.

Known as the "Vatican" of religious communities, it is home to around 135 religious orders, congregations, and societies.

Among those in attendance during his installation were papal nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown, Cardinal-designate Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, and Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, archbishop emeritus of Cotabato.

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

Ayuban succeeded Ongtioco.