Vatican City. The Holy See Press Office announced at noon today, 4th of October 2024, Pope Francis’ appointment of Fr. Elias Lumayog Ayuban Jr., CMF as Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, in Quezon City, Philippines.
Fr. Elias or “Fr. Eli” as he is fondly called, is a Claretian missionary. He was born on January 1, 1968, in Parang, Maguindanao, Philippines. He made his first profession on May 5, 1991, in Zamboanga City. On July 16, 1995, he made his perpetual profession in Quezon City, where he also received his priestly ordination on March 9, 1996. He was elected as Provincial Superior of the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province comprising Philippines, Australia, Vietnam and Myanmar in 2019. Fr. Eli is Co-chairperson of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP), formerly known as the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP). He holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome where he served as an official of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and as a guest professor of Canon Law at the Institute of Theology of Consecrated Life Claretianum.
Fr. Eli’s academic journey began at Loay Central Elementary School, where he completed his education from 1975 to 1981. He continued his studies at Holy Trinity Academy for high school from 1981 to 1985 and philosophical studies at Claret College of Philosophy from 1985 to 1989. Later, he pursued theological studies at the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, between 1991 and 1996.
Prior to his assignment in the Roman Curia, he served as the Parish Priest of Risen Christ Parish in Tungawan, Sibugay Province, Philippines. After completing his further studies in Rome from 2000 to 2003, he returned to the Philippines and became the Rector of the Claret Theology House from 2004 to 2008. He was appointed Local Superior in 2009, and from 2010 to 2011, he was rector of the Saint Anthony Mary Claret College-Seminary, Provincial Councillor, and Provincial Prefect of Formation.
From 2004 to 2011, he served as a Professor of Canon Law at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA), Maryhill School of Theology (MST), and Recoletos School of Theology (RST). From 2005 to 2011, he was Chairman of the Commission for the Consecrated Life of the Canon Law Society of the Philippines and also acted as an Ecclesiastical Judge at the Diocesan Tribunal of Novaliches from 20025-2008.
Fr. Elias has authored numerous works. His doctoral dissertation, The Office of the Provincial Superior in the Congregation of Missionaries Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Light of the New Code of Canon Law, was completed in 2003. He later published Canonical Issues Related to Religious Life: 200 Practical Questions and Answers in 2005, followed by an expanded edition in 2008, Canonical Issues Related to Religious Life: 200 Plus Practical Questions and Answers. In 2011, he edited Procedures and Formularies for the Use of Religious Institutes. His published several articles including Non-Collegial Acts in Religious Institutes: A Study of Canons 127 §§ 1-3 and 665 § 1 (2005), Charism and Foundation: Canonical Aspects in the Establishment of Institutes of Consecrated Life (2006 and 2007), and Duties, Rights, and Faculties of Provincial Superiors in Clerical Religious Institutes According to the New Code of Canon Law in the Light of the Tria Munera of the Church (2009) to name a few.
