REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Pope Francis Establishes New Diocese In Agusan del Sur, Names Bishop Ruben Labajo As First Leader
Photo credit: JAY MANGUSSAD/CBCP NEWS
Big news for the Catholic community in Agusan del Sur. Pope Francis has officially established a new diocese in the region, named the Diocese of Prosperidad. The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks a significant change for the local church landscape, as the new diocese is carved out from the existing Diocese of Butuan. With this move, the Butuan diocese will now cover only Agusan del Norte.
Leading this new chapter is Bishop Ruben Labajo, who’s stepping up as the first bishop of Prosperidad. Bishop Labajo, 58, isn’t new to leadership; he’s been serving as the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu since June 2022, after being ordained as a priest back in 1994. Now, he's ready to guide the faithful in Prosperidad, which becomes the country's 87th diocese and will fall under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
The decision to establish this new diocese came after a petition from Bishop Cosme Damian Almedilla of Butuan in 2023. Almedilla has been vocal about the need for a division, calling it a “strategic move” aimed at nurturing the spiritual growth of the faithful and improving the administrative operations within the dioceses. He highlighted that Agusan del Sur, with its remote and mountainous communities, is a “missionary frontier,” adding that about one-third of the population are indigenous peoples who often live in hard-to-reach areas.
With nearly 800,000 people in its territory—of which around 486,000 are Catholics—Prosperidad will be served by 32 diocesan priests, 29 religious priests, and 6 sisters across 26 parishes, 1 quasi-parish, and 3 mission stations. The creation of this new diocese is expected to bring the church closer to the people, making it easier for the clergy to serve the spiritual needs of the faithful.
For Bishop Labajo, the new role is a significant step up, but one he’s well-prepared for, thanks to his experience in Cebu. As he takes the helm of the Diocese of Prosperidad, the local Catholic community can look forward to more focused pastoral care and a renewed sense of spiritual mission.
Leading this new chapter is Bishop Ruben Labajo, who’s stepping up as the first bishop of Prosperidad. Bishop Labajo, 58, isn’t new to leadership; he’s been serving as the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu since June 2022, after being ordained as a priest back in 1994. Now, he's ready to guide the faithful in Prosperidad, which becomes the country's 87th diocese and will fall under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
The decision to establish this new diocese came after a petition from Bishop Cosme Damian Almedilla of Butuan in 2023. Almedilla has been vocal about the need for a division, calling it a “strategic move” aimed at nurturing the spiritual growth of the faithful and improving the administrative operations within the dioceses. He highlighted that Agusan del Sur, with its remote and mountainous communities, is a “missionary frontier,” adding that about one-third of the population are indigenous peoples who often live in hard-to-reach areas.
With nearly 800,000 people in its territory—of which around 486,000 are Catholics—Prosperidad will be served by 32 diocesan priests, 29 religious priests, and 6 sisters across 26 parishes, 1 quasi-parish, and 3 mission stations. The creation of this new diocese is expected to bring the church closer to the people, making it easier for the clergy to serve the spiritual needs of the faithful.
For Bishop Labajo, the new role is a significant step up, but one he’s well-prepared for, thanks to his experience in Cebu. As he takes the helm of the Diocese of Prosperidad, the local Catholic community can look forward to more focused pastoral care and a renewed sense of spiritual mission.
Oct 16, 2024
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