by Joel V. Ocampo
On October 15, 2024, the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Most Rev. Ruben Caballero Labajo, D.D, currently serving as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu, Philippines as the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Prosperidad in the Province of Agusan del Sur in Mindanao.
Bishop Labajo was born on September 24, 1966, and a native of Poblacion, Talisay City, Cebu. He was born on a Saturday, a day of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He studied Philosophy and Theology at San Carlos Seminary College, Cebu City. He received his Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters on June 10, 1994 at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu.
As a priest, Father Labajo served in the following ministries:
Parish Vicar, Mandaue City (1995-1997);
Parish Priest, Santa Fe Parish, Bantayan, Cebu;
Moderator, Tabunok Parish, Talisay City (2007-2014);
Moderator, Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu;
Member, Personnel Board of the Archdiocese of Cebu;
Vicar Forane, Vicariate of the Holy Rosary (2014-2019);
Member, Council of Consultors;
Episcopal Vicar, I District;
Member, Presbyteral Council;
Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cebu; and
Moderator, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Balamban, Cebu.
On June 23, 2022, Pope Francis appointed the then Msgr. Ruben Labajo as the new Auxiliary Bishop of the Archbishop of Cebu and as Titular Bishop of Abbir Maius. Then on August 19, of the same year, he was ordained Bishop at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, through the laying of hand of Archbishop Jose Palma, Archbishop of Cebu as the Principal Consecrator; and Archbishop Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, and Bishop Dennis C. Villarojo, the Bishop of Malolos as Principal Co-Consecrators.
Diocese of Prosperidad
The newly established Diocese of Prosperidad is the 87th (and newest) among the Roman Catholic dioceses in the Philippines. This new diocese was detached from the Diocese of Butuan, its mother diocese, and will be one of the suffragans of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. The territory of the Diocese of Butuan contained the Province of Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte; but through the establishment of the new Diocese of Prosperidad, this new diocese will focus on shepherding the people of God in Agusan del Sur, while the Diocese of Butuan will shepherd the faithful in Agusan del Norte.
According to the information provided by the Diocese of Butuan's Social Communications Ministry, the Diocese of Prosperidad has 486,251 Baptized Catholics; it has 26 parishes, 1 quasi-parish, and 3 mission stations. The proposed new cathedral is the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Poblacion, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
St. Michael, Reuben, and Bishop Ruben
Incidentally, the Scriptures tell us that St. Michael the Archangel is regarded as Israel's guardian angel (Daniel 10:20-21). In addition, Bishop Ruben’s name was derived from “Reuben”, the oldest son of Israel (Jacob). As the oldest son, Reuben did all that he could do to protect his brother Joseph from harm (Genesis 37:19-22). As Bishop Ruben takes his seat at the proposed cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, may St. Michael, Reuben, and Bishop Ruben protect the people of God in the Diocese of Prosperidad, as they “walk humbly in the presence of God.”
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