Samuel Agcaracar
| His Excellency, The Most Reverend Samuel Agcaracar SVD, D.D. | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Lingayen-Dagupan |
| See | San Jose, Nueva Ecija |
| Appointed | November 21, 2025 |
| Installed | February 6, 2026 |
| Predecessor | Roberto Mallari |
| Previous posts | rector, Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay (2020-2026) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | February 3, 2007 by Gaudencio Rosales |
| Consecration | January 17, 2026 by Luis Antonio Tagle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuel Naceno Agcaracar December 4, 1969 Claveria, Cagayan, Philippines |
| Alma mater | Divine Word College of Bangued Divine Word College of Laoag Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay Pontifical Gregorian University |
| Motto | Fac Nos Omnes Unum in Eo (Latin for 'Make us one in Him')[1] |
| Ordination history | |
| History Priestly ordination Ordained by Gaudencio Rosales[2] Date February 3, 2007 Place Holy Spirit Chapel, Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Luis Antonio Tagle Co-consecrators Charles John Brown Pablito Tagura Date January 17, 2026 Place Holy Spirit Chapel, Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay | |
Samuel Naceno Agcaracar (born December 4, 1969) is a Filipino Catholic prelate, serving as Bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija since 2026.
Early life and education
Agcaracar was born on December 4, 1969, in Claveria, Cagayan,[3] to a family of farmers.[4] He studied at the Divine Word College of Bangued, graduating with a bachelor's degree in History of Religious Education, before continuing at the Divine Word College of Laoag, where he obtained a master's degree in education.[5]
Entering the seminary after being a teacher and catechist in his hometown,[6] he took up his philosophical studies at the Christ the King Mission Seminary in Quezon City, followed by his theological studies at the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay.[5] He then studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he was awarded a doctorate in missiology.[3]
Ministry
Priesthood
Agcaracar entered the novitiate on June 1, 2001, and took his first religious vows on June 2, 2002. He then had his perpetual vows on May 14, 2006, and on February 3, 2007, he was ordained to the priesthood.[5]
Following his ordination, he was assigned as the director of education at the Divine Word College of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro, a role he took up until 2008.[3] From 2011 to 2014, he was a professor at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay, where, since 2020 until his episcopal appointment, was its rector.[5]
Episcopate
On November 21, 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed him Bishop of San Jose in Nueva Ecija, becoming the fifth bishop of the diocese. He succeeded Roberto Mallari, who was transferred to the Diocese of Tarlac in March.[4]
Agcaracar was ordained to the episcopate on January 17, 2026, at the Divine Word Seminary by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, with Apostolic Nuncio Charles John Brown, and Pablito Tagura of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Mindoro as co-consecrators.[7]
He was installed on February 06, 2026 at the Cathedral-Parish of St. Joseph the Worker by Apostolic Nuncio Charles John Brown, with Archbishop Socrates Villegas.
Environmental advocacy
Agcaracar founded the SVD Laudato Si' Farm, a 5.8-hectare (14-acre)[8] farm in Tagaytay which opened in 2021.[6] Inspired by the namesake encyclical of Pope Francis, the farm's beginnings began when priests and seminarians cleared around six hectares of land for plantation to address their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.[8] It has evolved to an eco-tourism destination, drawing around 5,000 visitors every weekend.[6]
In 2025, he noted that farmers, despite their vital role in food production, are seen as the "poorest of the poor" and emphasized the need to uphold their dignity. He also said that the Laudato Si' Farm allowed him to reconnect with his family's roots and to empower more farmers.[9]
References
- Back to citation From John 17:21
- Back to citation Fiel, Rev. Fr. Felmar Castrodes (February 4, 2007). SVD ORDINATION 2007 IN DWST. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via YouTube. Timestamps at 1:55 and 3:35.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Back to citation occurrence 3.2 "Resignations and Appointments, 21.11.2025". Holy See Press Office. November 21, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 "SVD priest is new bishop of San Jose in Nueva Ecija". CBCP News. November 21, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 Back to citation occurrence 5.2 Back to citation occurrence 5.3 Ocampo, Joel V. (January 18, 2026). "Fr. Samuel, SVD, the New Bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija". Dominus Est. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 6.0 Back to citation occurrence 6.1 Back to citation occurrence 6.2 Samson, Oliver (November 24, 2025). "Philippines: Eco-Missionary Priest Fr. Agcaracar Appointed Bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, the Country's Rice Bowl". Radio Veritas Asia. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- Back to citation Lagarde, Roy (January 17, 2026). "Bishop Agcaracar ordained, says God 'widened the field' in call to San Jose diocese". CBCP News. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 8.0 Back to citation occurrence 8.1 Virola, Madonna T. (November 24, 2025). "SVD Laudato Si Farm, A Place for Mission". Radio Veritas Asia. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- Back to citation Lagarde, Roy (December 19, 2025). "New bishop draws mission from fields to pulpit". CBCP News. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
External links
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Roberto Mallari |
Bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija February 6, 2026 – present |
Incumbent |