Appointment of a new bishop: Fr. Samuel Naceno Agcaracar, SVD

On November 21, 2025, the Holy See announced that His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed our confrere, Fr. Samuel Naceno Agcaracar, SVD, as as bishop of the diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, until now rector of the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City.

Curriculum Vitae:

Date of birth: December 4, 1969.
Place of birth: Claveria, Diocese of Tuguegarao, Philippines.
Parents: German Agcaracar and Ofelia Naceno.
Novitiate: June 1, 2001, in Calapan.
First Vows: June 2, 2002, in Tagaytay.
Perpetual vows: May 14, 2006, in Tagaytay.
Priestly Ordination: February 3, 2007, in Tagaytay.
First assignment: PHC (2006).
Holds a doctorate in missiology form the Pontifical Gregorian Univeristy of Rome (2018).

Since being ordained as a priest, he has lived in PHC Province and held various ministries and responsibilities:

He has held the following positions: Regent of Good Shepherd in Magsaysay; Director of Education at Divine Word College in Calapan; Professor (2011–14) and Rector (since 2020) at Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay; Professor at Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies; Councellor (2020–23) and Vice-Provincial (since 2024).

The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose was erected in 1984 from the Diocese of Cabanatuan.
The diocese covers 2,540 square kilometers and has 636,422 Catholics in a total population of 922,351.
The diocese has 21 parishes, 35 priests, and 16 members of religious institutes (15 female and 1 male) (2023).

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Father Samuel Naceno Agcaracar. His appointment is an honor for both Fr. Samuel and the Society of the Divine Word. As we thank God for this gift to the Church, we humbly ask for His blessings upon Fr. Samuel’s life and mission. May His wisdom continue to guide and inspire many.

Rome, November 21, 2025
Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro,
SVD Superior General