Filipino bishops gather for a Holy Mass at the Transfiguration Abbey in Malaybalay, Bukidnon last July 4, 2024. It was part of the bishops’ annual retreat. File photo courtesy of Roy Lagarde/CBCP

Amid grand Catholic festivities ushering in 2025, more celebrations are expected in various local churches as several Philippine dioceses are set to welcome their new bishops. 

Two dioceses have already received their new shepherds while four are scheduled for installations until March.  

In Mindanao, the freshly created Diocese of Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur, is set to welcome Bishop Ruben Labajo as its first-ever bishop on January 28. 

The prelate was serving as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu when Pope Francis chose him to lead the new diocese.  

Carved out from the Diocese of Butuan, Prosperidad will be the country’s 87th diocese.  

The official Facebook page of Labajo’s new diocese shared photos, including preparations in the cathedral and the bishop's residence.  

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Cebu held a despedida party for their outgoing auxiliary bishop. 

Next to welcome their new bishop is the Diocese of Cabanatuan. 

Bishop Prudencio Andaya will be installed as the 6th bishop of the diocese on February 3.  

Andaya, who relinquished his role as vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk, will succeed Bishop Sofronio Bancud, who already reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops.  

The Diocese of Cabanatuan covers the southern part of Nueva Ecija province. 

For the Diocese of Balanga, the scenario will be a little different as their new shepherd will first undergo an episcopal consecration.  

Rev. Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr, rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila, will be ordained as bishop on February 25, the anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution.  

Sescon served as an aide to the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who was one of the key figures in the peaceful uprising.  

The bishop-elect will be ordained to the episcopate at the Manila Cathedral.

After this, Sescon will be officially installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Balanga on March 1.  

The diocese has been without a bishop since the transfer of Bishop Ruperto Santos to the Diocese of Antipolo in 2023.  

Bishop Roberto Mallari, on the other hand, will take the helm of the Diocese of Tarlac on March 27.  

Prior to his appointment as Tarlac's fourth bishop, Mallari had been leading the Diocese of San Jose.  

Meanwhile, last January 4, the Diocese of Gumaca in Quezon witnessed the arrival of Bishop Eugenius Cañete as their fourth bishop. He was first consecrated as bishop at the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo.  

The Diocese of Catarman in Northern Samar also recently received their new shepherd.  

Bishop Nolly Buco was installed last January 15 as the third bishop of Catarman, which has been without a bishop since the retirement of Bishop Emmanuel Trance in 2023.  

Before taking charge of his own diocese, Buco, a canon law expert, served as auxiliary bishop of Antipolo.  

Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown, who witnessed the two installations, appealed for prayers so that the remaining dioceses without bishops would be filled soon.  

“It’s a glorious thing to see a new bishop installed. In fact, we had a number of bishops named in the last several months and God-willing we have some more because we have a few vacancies,” the archbishop said in an interview with Church-run Radio Veritas last January 6. 

The apostolic nuncio is part of the long process of the selection of new bishops and archbishops along with the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops before it is ultimately decided by the pope. 

According to the Catholic Hierarchy website, there are six dioceses in the Philippines that are still “sede vacante” — a Latin term which means “with the chair being vacant” and denotes the absence of a sitting bishop.  

The seat refers to the bishop’s “cathedra,” the special chair, which only the residential bishop is authorized to occupy and symbolizes his teaching authority.  

The list includes the dioceses of Boac, Daet, Ipil, Pagadian, and San Jose and the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk.  

“So if you are in a diocese with no bishop at the moment, keep praying and I’m sure the Holy Spirit through the Holy Father will send you a bishop soon," Brown said.