The new archbishop, 63, trained as a chemical engineer before becoming a priest. He is the first archbishop to graduate from Cagayan de Oro’s theological seminary.
Cagayan de Oro (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis yesterday appointed Bishop Jose Araneta Cabantan, 63, as the new archbishop of Cagayan de Oro.
The new archbishop (pictured) was born in Lagonglong, Misamis Orientale, on 19 June 1957. A chemical engineer by training, he was ordained into the priesthood at the age of 32 on 30 April 1990 at St John the Baptist Parish, in Lagonglong.
After completing his secondary education at the St John the Baptist High School in Lagonglong, he graduated with a Bachelor degree in chemical engineering from the Cebu Institute of Technology in Cebu City.
His is the first archbishop to graduate with a Master in pastoral ministry from the St John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro. He also has a licentiate in sacred theology from the Loyola School of Theology in Manila.
After a year as deputy parish priest at the Cathedral, he served from 1991 to 1995 as administrator of the San Roque parish of Catarman, Camaguin. From 1995 to 1997 he served as dean of studies at the San Jose de Mindanao Seminary in Cagayan de Oro.
After three years of study at the Loyola School of Theology and a year as director of the San Jose Seminary in Quezon City, he taught from 2000 to 2007 at the Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro.
From 2007 to 2010 he served as parish priest at the Medalla Milagrosa parish in Cagayan de Oro. On 18 February 2010, he became bishop of Malaybalay, and was consecrated the following 30 April.
As a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, he was elected president of the Episcopal Commission for Base Communities.
In an interview, the new archbishop said that he would be installed on 28 August, feast day of Saint Augustine, patron saint of Cagayan de Oro, adding that only a few people will be able to attend the event due to the pandemic.