As the Prelature of Infanta marks its 75th founding anniversary this September, it will also witness the rise of a new shepherd with the consecration and installation of Fr. Dave Dean Capucao as its bishop.

Scheduled for 5 September at Saint Mark Cathedral and Infant Jesus of Prague Parish, the rites will begin at 9 AM and are expected to draw a wide gathering of clergy, religious communities, and lay people from across the country.

The dual occasion, both historic and symbolic, underscores a period of renewal for the prelature, according to Bishop Emeritus Bernardino Cortez, who shepherded the ecclesiastical territory for a decade.

“It is a deeply meaningful moment of faith and grace for our Church,” he said.

Capucao, 59, was appointed bishop by Pope Leo XIV on 16 May. This marks the pope’s first episcopal appointment in the Philippines. Until the installation, Cortez continues to serve as apostolic administrator.

Ordained in 1994, Capucao has served the prelature in various capacities for over 30 years. A seasoned theologian and educator, he earned advanced degrees in theology from Radboud University in the Netherlands and the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.

He currently leads priestly formation at the St. Joseph Formation House in Quezon City and oversees local Catholic schools as superintendent.