Fr. Samuel, SVD, the New Bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija

by Joel V. Ocampo

photo from Diocese of San Jose Nueva Ecija Facebook page

On November 21, 2025, the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Rev. Fr. Samuel Naceno Agcaracar, S.V.D., member of the Society of the Divine Word, until now rector of the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Philippines as the new Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, Philippines.

Early Life, Education, and Vocation

Father Samuel Agcaracar, S.V.D., was born on December 4, 1969, in the Municipality of Claveria, Province of Cagayan, Philippines, under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuguegarao. Her parents were Mr. German Agcaracar and Mrs. Ofelia Naceno.

Father Sam came from a family of farmers. This noble profession that provides food for the world, and requires immense hard work, expertise, and resilience became helpful to him in sowing the Word of God, participating in the mission of Jesus, the Eternal Word of God.

He studied at the Divine Word College of Bangued in the Province of Abra and obtained a degree in History of Religious Education. He continued his graduate studies and obtained a master’s degree in education from the Divine Word College of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Then, he entered the seminary of the Society of the Divine Word and studied Philosophy at Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City, followed by Theology at the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay. Furthermore, he was awarded a doctorate in missiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.

He started his novitiate on June 1, 2001. The following year, he had his first vows on June 2, 2002, in Tagaytay. On May 14, 2006, Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle, Father Sam made his Perpetual Vows. After almost ten years, he was called to become a bishop, to be one of the successors of the apostles like Saint Matthias.

Father Sam received his Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters on February 3, 2007, on the Memorial of St. Ansgar and St. Blaise, Bishops and Martyrs. As a Priest of Society of the Divine Word, Father Samuel served in some of the following ministries:

• Regent of Good Shepherd in Magsaysay (2004-2005),

• Director of Education, Divine Word College in Calapan (2007-2008),

• Professor, Divine Word Seminary (2011-2014),

• Professor, Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies and the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay (2018-2020),

• Guest Professor, Pontifical University of Sto. Tomas and Institute of Consecrated life in Asia,

• Rector, Divine Word Seminary (since 2020),

• Councilor (2020-2023), and Vice-Provincial (since 2024) of the Provincial Council.

On January 17, 2026, Father Samuel was ordained Bishop, with His Em. Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle (Cardinal-Bishop of Albano) as the Principal Consecrator, and Archbishop Charles John Brown (Apostolic Nuncio to Philippines and Titular Archbishop of Aquileia), and Bishop Pablito Martinez Tagura, S.V.D. (Vicar Apostolic of San Jose in Mindoro) as Principal Co-Consecrators.

In his homily, Cardinal Tagle emphasized,

Father Sam, embracing your weakness will not diminish your episcopal mission and authority. In fact, it will enhance it. If you allow Jesus' power to work its wonders, and keep you in communion with your many weak brothers and sisters. The bishop, who cannot empathize with the weakness of others, usurps the authority of Jesus.

You, even after your episcopal ordination, will remain as fragile as the Earth, as the vegetables in the farm, as the passion fruit that gives us really passion, the water soars, with them, you will remain fragile; and you need the authority over heaven and earth that comes from Jesus, the great farmer and creator…There's one consolation, the Risen Lord said, “I will be with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20); and that is enough water for your ministry.