Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa
| Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa Apostolicus Vicariatus Portus Principis in Philippins Apostolikal na Bikarato i’ang Puerto Princesa Bikaryato Apostoliko ng Puerto Princesa Vicariato Apostólico de Puerto Princesa | |
|---|---|
| Catholic | |
| Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Puerto Princesa Cathedral
| |
| Location | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Territory | City of Puerto Princesa, Municipality of Cagayancillo and the Southern Palawan's Municipalities, namely: Aborlan, Narra, Palawan, Quezon, Palawan, Rizal, Palawan, Sofronio Española, Brooke's Point, Bataraza, Balabac and Kalayaan, Palawan. |
| Ecclesiastical province | Immediately subject to the Holy See |
| Headquarters | Puerto Princesa |
| Coordinates | 9°44′24″N 118°43′50″E / 9.73993750°N 118.73062770°E |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 8,800 km2 (3,400 sq mi) |
| Population Total Catholics |
(as of 2021) 836,615 536,225[1] (64.1%) |
| Parishes | 35 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | July 3, 1955 |
| Cathedral | Immaculate Conception Cathedral |
| Patron saint | Saint Joseph |
| Secular priests | 60 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Vicar Apostolic | Socrates Calamba Mesiona |
| Vicar General | Jesusinio Panganiban, Jr. |
| Bishops emeritus | a |
| Map | |
| Jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa | |
| Website | |
| cbcponline.net/most-rev-socrates-mesiona/ | |
| Source of statistics: Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa[2] | |
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The Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa is a Latin Catholic missionary jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church located in the Province of Palawan, Philippines. Its cathedra is within Immaculate Conception Cathedral in the episcopal see of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. It is not a part of an ecclesiastical province as it is directly exempt to the Holy See, specifically the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, yet for the purpose of apostolic cooperation usually grouped with the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila, along with the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay. The current vicar apostolic is Bishop Socrates Calamba Mesiona.[3]
History
The establishment as prefectura apostolica was announced and celebrated on April 10, 1910, a great day among the Recollect priests. In the bull of the founding of Pope Pius X entitled "Novas Erigere Diocese" (Newly established Dioceses) the Prefectura Apostolica de Palawan was mentioned along with the elevated levels of the Dioceses of Lipa, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga and Calbayog. The prefectura apostolica is administered by the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of Faith to the Recollect priests as stated in Protocol No. 837/910 on May 13, 1910, sent by Girolamo Maria Cotti, the prefect, and Luigi Veccia, the secretary.
On July 3, 1955, Rome declared the elevation of the prefectura apostolica to the Apostolic Vicariate of Palawan (AVP) by a bull entitled "Ad Christi Regnum" (The Reign of Christ) signed by Pope Pius XII. Bishop Gregorio Espiga y Infante was the first vicar apostolic of Palawan. He became bishop on September 10, 1955, in the church of San Sebastian, Manila, as titular bishop of Afneo. He formally took office on September 18, 1955.
On March 27, 2002, it was renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa and lost part of its territory when the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay was established.[4]
Coat of arms
The two lilies represent Saint Joseph, the patron saint whom the founding Augustinian Recollect fathers dedicated the local church of Palawan. The crescent represents the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the cathedral. The fort actually represents the fort of Cuyo, where the first missionary arrived on August 1622, as well as the other ports in the province of Palawan built by the Augustinian Recollect fathers to protect their mission and their faithful from depredations of the Moros from the south.
List of ordinaries
The early ordinaries were missionary members of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.).
- Apostolic prefects of Palawan (1911–1955)[5]
| Apostolic prefect | Period in office | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Fr. Victoriano Romàn Zárate di S. Giuseppe, O.A.R. | April 21, 1911 – 1936 | Died in office |
| 2. | Fr. Leandro Nieto y Bolandier, O.A.R. | November 25, 1938 – 1942 | Died in office |
| 3. | Fr. Gregorio Espiga e Infante, O.A.R. | 1954 – July 03, 1955 | Appointed as the first vicar apostolic of Palawan |
- Vicars apostolic of Palawan (1955–2002)[5]
| Bishop | Period in office | Status | Coat of arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gregorio Espiga y Infante, O.A.R. | July 03, 1955 – December 18, 1987 | Resigned | File:Coat of arms of Gregorio Espiga y Infante.svg |
| 2. | Francisco Capiral San Diego | December 18, 1987 – July 12, 1995 | Transferred to Diocese of San Pablo | |
| 3. | Pedro Dulay Arigo | February 23, 1996 – March 27, 2002 | Remained as vicar apostolic of Puerto Princesa | File:Coat of arms of Pedro Dulay Arigo.svg |
- Vicars apostolic of Puerto Princesa[5]
| Bishop | Period in office | Status | Coat of arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pedro Dulay Arigo | March 27, 2002 – October 28, 2016[4] | Retired | File:Coat of arms of Pedro Dulay Arigo.svg |
| 2. | Socrates Calamba Mesiona | October 28, 2016 – present[3] | Incumbent | File:Coat of arms of Socrates Calamba Mesiona.svg |
See also
- Catholic Church in the Philippines
- List of Catholic dioceses in the Philippines
- Catholic Church hierarchy
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa is a apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church.[6]
External links
References
- Back to citation "Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa Statistics". gcatholic.org.
- Back to citation "Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa". Diocesan Directory. UCANews. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 "Nomina del Vicario Apostolico di Puerto Princesa (Filippine)". Holy See Press Office. October 28, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 "RINUNCE E NOMINE, 13.05.2002". Holy See Press Office (in Italian). May 13, 2002. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
- Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 Back to citation occurrence 5.2 "Diocese of Puerto Princesa". UCANews. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
- Back to citation Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa, official website