Roman Catholic Diocese of Masbate

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Masbate (Latin: Dioecesis Masbatensis) is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The seat of the bishop is the Cathedral Parish of Saint Anthony of Padua along Quezon Street, Masbate City.

Diocese of Masbate

Dioecesis Masbatensis

Diyosesis san Masbate
Diyosesis ng Masbate
Diócesis de Masbate
Catholic
Coat of arms of the Diocese of Masbate
Coat of arms
Location
CountryPhilippines
TerritoryMasbate
Ecclesiastical provinceCaceres
MetropolitanCaceres
Statistics
Area7,000 km2 (2,700 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2021)
983,172
917,532[1] (93.3%)
Parishes35
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedMarch 23, 1968 (created), September 25, 1968 (canonically erected)
CathedralSaint Anthony of Padua Cathedral
Patron saintAnthony of Padua
Secular priests60
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopJosé S. Bantolo
Metropolitan ArchbishopRolando Joven Tria Tirona
Vicar GeneralRev. Fr. Eusebio Llonoso
Map
Territorial jurisdiction of the Diocese of Masbate
Territorial jurisdiction of the Diocese of Masbate
Statistics from Catholic-Hierarchy.org

The diocese has experienced no jurisdictional changes and is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Cáceres. Its patron is Saint Anthony of Padua.

History

With the other provinces of Bicol, Masbate once belonged to the Archdiocese of Cáceres. When Cáceres was elevated to the status of an archdiocese on June 29, 1951, Masbate became part of the newly erected Diocese of Sorsogon. Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Masbate on March 23, 1968. It was formally inaugurated on September 25, 1968, with Msgr. Porfírio Rivera Iligan, a priest from the Archdiocese of Cáceres, as its first bishop.

Ordinaries

No Name In office Coat of arms
1. Bishop Porfirio R. Iligan, D.D. June 17, 1968 – February 14, 1998
2. Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, D.D. February 14, 1998 – October 01, 2009 appointed Bishop of Legazpi
2. Bishop José S. Bantolo, D.D. June 15, 2011 – present

Vicars-General

The Vicar-General assists the bishop in the administrative duties over the diocese. The Offices of the Vicar General and the Episcopal Vicars temporarily ceased upon the vacancy of the episcopal see.

  • Very Rev. Msgr. Anacleto Golimlim, P.A (†)
  • Very Rev. Msgr. Arturo Lachica, H.P (†)
  • Very Rev. Msgr. Claro Caluya III, H.P (1984–2009)
  • Very Rev. Msgr. Ismael Misolas, P.C (2009)
  • Very Rev. Fr. Eusebio Llonoso (2011–present)

References

  1. "Masbate (Catholic Diocese)". gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2023-09-11.

See also

Resources

  • The 20102011 Catholic Directory of the Philippines (published by Claretian Publications for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, 2010)

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