MOST REVEREND JACINTO AGCAOILI JOSE D.D.
Most Reverend Jacinto Jose, the "third bishop of the young Diocese of Urdaneta," is a native of Mangato, Laoag City. Born on the 29th day of October 1950 to Modesto Jose (+) and Juliana Agcaoili. Bishop Jose had the distinct privilege of being ordained to the sacred order of priest right at the "heart of the Catholic Church." He was ordained in June 29, 1975 by the Roman Pontiff himself, Pope Paul VI at St. Peter’s Square in Rome. A fourth among 7 children, Bishop Jose moved from one school to another during his secondary education. He was at St. William High School in Laoag City for his first year before moving to ICMS in Vigan City before finally settling at St. Mary’s Seminary in Laoag City. He took up college education at the ICMS in Vigan and then finished theology at UST Central Seminary in Manila. After finishing theology, he pursued further studies in School Administration in the Northern Christian College in Laoag and a few years into his priesthood, he was sent by UST in Rome Italy to take up licentiate study for Canon Law. As a priest, Bishop Jose’s assignments varied from prefect of discipline (1975-1977) to Rector (1977-82 of St. Mary’s Seminary in Laoag, Parish Administrator for a brief year in St. John Sahagun Parish, Burgos, Ilocos Norte, then was sent to serve in ICST as prefect of discipline from 1985-1987 and rector from 1987-1990. From 1990-2005, he was in the parishes of Ilocos Norte and once assigned as Station Manager of DZEA in Laoag, before being elected as Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Laoag.
He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Urdaneta by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on September 21, 2005. Most Rev. Antonio Franco, the Papal Nuncio consecrated him to the order of bishops on November 26 on that same year and was installed as the "third bishop of Urdaneta on December 30, 2005.