The International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City, otherwise known as the Antipolo Cathedral, hosted the ordination of the country’s newest Roman Catholic bishop, Bishop Euginius Longakit Cañete of the Diocese of Gumaca in Quezon on Dec. 28.
Bishop Cañete, 58, who hails from Lilo-an, Cebu, was ordained at the Antipolo Cathedral, in a ceremony consecrated by His Eminence Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, the 10th cardinal in the country who is the Bishop of Kalookan.
Co-consecrators in the religious ceremony at the Antipolo shrine which houses the centuries old image of the Nuestra Señora dela Paz Y Buenviaje, were Most. Rev. Jose S. Palma, the archbishop of Cebu and Most. Rev. Ruperto C. Santos, the bishop of Antipolo.
Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, His Excellency Most. Rev. Charles J. Brown, witnessed the event, along with members of the Diocese of Gumaca in Quezon and prelates from other dioceses in the country.
Bishop Cañete who becomes the fourth bishop of Gumaca, will be installed on Jan. 4, 2025 at the Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala in Gumaca, Quezon.
He was appointed by Pope Francis as the newest bishop of the country on Sept. 30, 2024, to lead the Diocese of Gumaca, which was without a bishop since the death of Bishop Victor Ocampo in March 2023.
Bishop Cañete is the current coordinator general of the Missionaries of Jesus (MJ), a congregation which he co-founded along with 41 others in 2002.
He has also held various positions with the MJ, including secretary general of MJ, Antipolo City (2009-2021); rector of the MJ Scholasticate, Antipolo City (2010-2020), vicar general of MJ, Antipolo City (2015-2021); member of the General Finance Committee of MJ, Antipolo City (2015-2021); and coordinator general of MJ, Antipolo City (2021).