Other Nations—2

East Africa, West Africa, and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

This blog is the second of six to discuss nations that do not have ecclesiastic provinces.  Typically the jurisdictions are subject directly to the pope.

This blog discusses Catholicism in six nations in eastern Africa and off the coast of eastern Africa:  Comoros and Mayotte, Djibouti, Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, and Somalia; and seven nations in western Africa and the Atlantic Ocean:  Cape Verde, the Falkland Islands, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and Sao Tome and Principe.  

East Africa

Comoros and Mayotte

Portuguese explorers first visited these islands in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa in 1503 and the French colonized them in 1841.  Comoros became independent in 1975, but Mayotte voted to remain a French territory.  Comoros and Mayotte together have a population of 1.1 million and about 98 percent are Muslim.  There are 8,000 Catholics that are served by the Apostolic Vicariate of the Comoros.  The Vicariate, which is immediately subject to the Pope, was established as an apostolic administration in 1975 before being raised to a vicariate in 2010.

Djibouti

The territory that is now Djibouti became part of France in the late 19^th Century, but Djibouti obtained independence in 1977.  Almost all of the Djibouti people are Muslim.  Evangelization efforts began in the 19^th Century by Capuchin priests, but were largely unsuccessful and today there are only 5,000 Catholics.  These Catholics are served by the Diocese of Djibouti which is immediately subject to the Pope.  The diocese was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1914 before becoming a diocese in 1955.

Our Lady of the Good Shepard Cathedral

Source:  Wikipedia

Mauritius

Mauritius, an island off the east coast of Africa, was uninhabited until Arab sailors discovered it in the Middle Ages. The Portuguese came in 1507 and established a base, but not a colony.  The Dutch colonized Mauritius (and gave it its name) in 1638, but the colony was never profitable and was abandoned in 1710.  France took control in 1715 and established sugar plantations and a naval base.  The British took control from France in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars, but the French settlers were allowed to stay.  The British abolished slavery in 1835 and many of the slaves were replaced by indentured servants from India.  Mauritius, which consists of the island of Mauritius, the island of Rodrigues, and other islands, gained independence in 1968.  (Mauritius was the only known home of the dodo bird, made extinct by human activities.)

About half of Mauritius’ population of 1.4 million are Hindu and about 360,000 (26 percent) are Catholic.  Vincentian missionaries brought Catholicism to Mauritius in 1722.  Today’s Catholics are served by two jurisdictions, both of which are immediately subject to the Pope.  The Diocese of Port-Louis serves 328,000 Catholics on the island of Mauritius.  It was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1837 and became a diocese in 1847.  The current Bishop of Port-Louis was named a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2016.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Rodrigues serves 37,000 Catholics on the heavily Catholic island of Rodrigues.  It was established in 2002.

St. Louis Cathedral in Port-Louis

Source:  Wikipedia

Reunion

In 1507, Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to come to Reunion, which was uninhabited.  The French took control of the island, off the east coast of Africa, around 1640.  The French brought in Africans, Chinese, and Indians, mostly as slaves, to work in the sugar cane fields.  After the abolition of slavery in 1848, these former slaves became indentured workers.  Reunion became an overseas department of France in 1946.

Missionaries introduced Catholicism in 1667 and over 80 percent of Reunion’s 865,000 people are Catholic.  Most of the others are either Hindu or Muslim.  Catholics are served by the Diocese of Saint-Denis-de-La Reunion which is immediately subject to the Pope.  It was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1712 and became a diocese in 1850.

Saint-Denis Cathedral

Source:  Wikipedia

Seychelles

European sailors saw the uninhabited islands now known as the Seychelles, but it wasn’t until 1756 that France claimed the island and started settlements.  The British and the French contended for control from 1794 until 1814, when the British won.  Throughout the colonial period, slaves were imported from Africa to work on plantations.  The Seychelles became a British crown colony in 1903 and gained independence in 1976.

Catholicism was introduced in the 18^th Century and over 76 percent of the Seychelles population of 95,000 are Catholic.  Another 13 percent belong to other Christian traditions.  Catholics are served by the Diocese of Port Victoria which is immediately subject to the Pope.  It was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1852, became an apostolic vicariate in 1880, and a diocese in 1892.

Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Source:  Wikipedia

Somalia

       

The British and the Italians formed colonies in the coastal areas of what is now Somalia in the late 19^th Century.  Italy eventually gained control over a larger part of Somalia.  Both nations gave up claims in 1960 and allowed Somalia its independence.  Somalia has over 11 million people and almost all are Muslim.  Catholicism came to Somalia with the Italians and some converts were made among the Somali people.  A Marxist government came to power in 1969 and many Christians left Somalia, although the Church continued to provide some social services.  Internal strife erupted and in 1989, the Bishop of Mogadishu was murdered.  The following year, the Cathedral and much of the Church’s property was destroyed.  Almost all Christians left at this time because of rising Muslim fundamentalism.  One priest who stayed was murdered in 1991. 

Today, there may only be 100 Catholics in Somalia.  These Catholics are served by the Diocese of Mogadishu, which is immediately subject to the Pope.  The diocese began as an apostolic prefecture in 1904, became an apostolic vicariate in 1927, before becoming a diocese in 1975.  The Diocese has not had a bishop since 1989 and is administered by the Bishop of Djibouti.

West Africa and the Atlantic Ocean

Cape Verde

Cape Verde, a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, was uninhabited until Portuguese explorers discovered it in 1456.  The Portuguese used it as a base for the slave trade until the late 19^th Century when it became an important stopover on shipping routes.  Cape Verde gained its independence in 1975.  Portuguese Franciscans brought the Faith to Cape Verde, but many lapsed between the 17^th and 19^th Centuries.  Religious orders returned in the 1940s to once again evangelize the people. 

Today, Catholics make up 90 percent of the total population of 570,000.  Cape Verde has two dioceses, both of which are immediately subject to the Pope.  The Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde in Praia was established in 1533 and serves those Catholics in Cape Verde’s Sotavento Islands.  The Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde in Praia was named a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2015.  The Diocese of Mindelo was established in 2003 to serve Catholics in the Barlavento Islands.

Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Praia

Both from Wikipedia

Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands were uninhabited when a British ship landed in 1690.  The French first settled the islands in 1764, but soon relinquished the islands to Spain.  The British took control of the Falklands in 1840 and they are now a self-governing British Overseas Territory.  The Falkland Islands has a population of 3,200 people and of these, 400 are Catholic.  The Catholics are served by the Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands, which was established in 1952 and is immediately subject to the Pope.

The Gambia

The Gambia is a small English-speaking nation surrounded on three sides by Senegal.  Portuguese explorers came to the mouth of the Gambia River in the 15^th Century.  The Gambia became a British colony in 1783 and Catholic missionaries came in the early 19^th Century.  About 45,000 Catholics, or over 2 percent of the total population of less than 2 million, live in The Gambia.  These Catholics are organized under the Diocese of Banjul.  The Diocese began as a Mission sui juris in 1931, became an apostolic prefecture in 1951, before becoming a Diocese in 1957.  The Diocese is immediately subject to the Pope.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption

Source:  Pinterest and Wikipedia

Guinea-Bissau

      

Parts of what is now Guinea-Bissau became a Portuguese colony in the 16^th Century.  Guinea-Bissau became independent in 1974.  The nation has 1.8 million people and 45 percent are Muslim.  There are about 400,000 Christians, equally divided between Catholics and Protestants.  Franciscans came to Guinea-Bissau with the Portuguese colonists, but missionary work was severely hampered by the slave trade and it was not until the 1930s that French Franciscans were able to bring the Faith to people of Guinea-Bissau.  There are two dioceses in Guinea-Bissau and both are immediately subject to the Pope.  The Mission sui juris of Portuguese Guinea was established in 1940 and became an apostolic prefecture in 1955.  This became the Diocese of Bissau in 1977.  The Diocese of Bafata was created in 2001. 

Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria in Bissau

Source:  Wikipedia

Mauritania

Mauritania was conquered by France in 1912 and became part of French West Africa in 1920.  France granted Mauritania independence in 1960 and ethnic tensions have plagued the nation ever since.  The Mauritanian government has been accused of many human rights violations and it is estimated that 2 percent of Mauritanians are enslaved.  Almost all 3.8 million Mauritanians are Muslim.  There are about 4,000 Catholics, mostly foreign workers from West Africa and Europe.  These Catholics are served by the Diocese of Nouakchott which was established in 1965 and is immediately subject to the Pope.

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are islands in the South Atlantic Ocean and together form a British Overseas Territory.  The Portuguese first came to the islands between 1502 and 1504 and found them uninhabited.  The British colonized the islands in the 17^th Century and have (mostly) controlled them ever since.  The population of the English-speaking Territory is 7,800, most of whom live on Saint Helena Island.  About 69 percent of the population is Anglican and 7 percent belong to other Protestant denominations.  There are only about 100 Catholics.  These Catholics are served by the Mission sui juris of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, which was established in 1986 and is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Mission is administered by the Apostolic Administrator of the Falkland Islands.    

Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe are Atlantic islands off the west coast of Africa.  The uninhabited islands were claimed by Portugal around 1470 and priests came with the colonists.  Portuguese farms produced sugar, coffee, and cocoa, mostly with slave labor, until the 20^th Century.  Sao Tome and Principe gained independence in 1975.  The nation has 205,000 people—60 percent are Catholic and 16 percent are Protestant.  The Catholics are served by the Diocese of Sao Tome and Principe, which is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Diocese was established in 1534 and acquired its current name in 1957.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace

Source:  Wikipedia

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, and apostolic administrations.  All are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  The difference is that a vicar apostolic holds the rank of a bishop, while the others are led by a priest, below the level of a bishop.  There is also a jurisdiction called a Mission sui juris.  A mission sui juris may be part of a province and is often administered by a bishop of another diocese. 

The Philippines—2

This blog will discuss the Philippines’ eight southern Catholic provinces.

Province of Cebu

The province consists of the civil region of Central Visayas and part of the civil region of Eastern Visayas.  The Diocese of Cebu was created in 1595 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu in 1934.

The Spanish Colonial Cathedral of St. Vitales in Cebu City was consecrated in 1815 after 150 years of on-again, off-again, construction.  Heavily damaged during the Second World War, it was essentially rebuilt in the post-war years.  The cathedral has thick walls to help withstand typhoons and earthquakes and has the Spanish Royal Coat of Arms above the main entrance, placed there to honor the Spanish king who donated money for its construction.

From TripAdvisor and Wikipedia

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Tagbilaran was established in 1941.
• The Diocese of Dumaquete was established in 1955.
• The Diocese of Maasin was established in 1968.
• The Diocese of Talibon was established in 1986.

Province of Jaro

The province consists of most of the civil region of Western Visayas.  The Diocese of Jaro was created in 1865 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jaro in 1951.  The Cathedral of St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Iloilo City was completed in 1874 in a Romanesque Revival style.  It was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1948 and repaired by 1956.  The Cathedral is also the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles.  A statue of Our Lady of the Candles is above the Cathedral façade.  The bell tower is across the street from the Cathedral.

First is from Flickr and the rest from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Bacolod was created in 1932.
• The Diocese of San Jose de Antique was established as a territorial prelature in 1962 and became a diocese in 1982.
• The Diocese of Kabankalan was created in 1987.
• The Diocese of San Carlos was created in 1987.

Province of Cagayan de Oro

The province consists of the civil region of Caraga and part of Northern Mindanao.  The Diocese of Cagayan de Oro was created in 1933 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in 1951.  St. Augustine Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City was built in the 1950s to replace the previous cathedral that had been damaged during the Second World War.  It is built with gravel, cement, steel, and concrete.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Surigao was established in 1939.
• The Diocese of Butuan was established in 1967.
• The Diocese of Tandag was established in 1978.
• The Diocese of Malaybalay was established as a territorial prelature in 1969 and was promoted to a diocese in 1982.
• The Diocese of Prosperidad was established in 2024.

Province of Zamboanga

The province consists of Basilan Island and part of the civil region of Zamboanga Peninsula.  The Diocese of Zamboanga was created in 1910 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Zamboanga in 1958.  The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Zamboanga City was constructed between 1998 and 2002 in a modern design.  Inside is a marble statue of the Immaculate Conception by Napoleon Abueva and stained glass windows representing each diocese in Mindanao. 

Both from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan jurisdictions.

• The Diocese of Ipil began as a territorial prelature in 1979 and was promoted to a diocese in 2010.
• The Territorial Prelature of Isabela was established in 1963.

Province of Davao

The province consists of the civil region of Davao.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Davao began as a territorial prelature in 1949 before becoming a diocese in 1966.  It was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1970.  San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City was built in 1964.  It is a modern building made of concrete with a curved design in the shape of local type of boat.  The bell tower is home to a Pieta and two concrete tablets with the Ten Commandments.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Digos was created in 1979.
• The Diocese of Tagum began as a territorial prelature in 1962 and was promoted to a diocese in 1980.
• The Diocese of Mati was created in 1984.

Province of Capiz

The province consists of part of the civil regions of Western Visayas and Mimaropa.  The Diocese of Capiz was created in 1951 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Capiz in 1976.  The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is in Roxas City.  See archdioceseofcapiz.org.  For pictures, also see lakadpilipinas.com/2013/12/roxas-city-capiz-cathedral.

From the Archdiocesan website.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Romblon was established in 1974.
• The Diocese of Kalibo was established in 1976.

Province of Cotabato

The province consists of the civil region of Soccsksargen and part of the civil region of Northern Mindanao.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cotabato was created in 1950 as a territorial prelature and became a diocese in 1976.  It was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1979 with the creation of the province.  The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is in Cotabato City.

The first picture is from Flickr and the second from the Knights of Columbus.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Marbel began as a territorial prelature in 1960 and was promoted to a diocese in 1982.
• The Diocese of Kidapawan began as a territorial prelature in 1976 and was promoted to a diocese in 1982.

Province of Ozamis

The province consists of part of the civil region of Northern Mindanao and most of the civil region of Zamboanga Peninsula.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ozamis began as a territorial prelature in 1951, became a diocese in 1971, and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1983.  Immaculate Conception Cathedral is in Ozamis City.  Construction was completed in 1960.  The Cathedral claims to have the second largest pipe organ in the Philippines.

From Facebook and Flickr

The Province has four suffragan jurisdictions.

• The Diocese of Dipolog was created in 1967.
• The Diocese of Pagadian was created in 1971.
• The Diocese of Iligan was established as a territorial prelature in 1971 and became a diocese in 1982.
• The Territorial Prelature of Marawi was established in 1976.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include territorial prelatures that are missionary territories. 

Table of Published US blogs

11-9-2016:  Introduction 1 and Province of Omaha

11-25-2016:  Province of Hartford



12-10-2016: Province of Washington

12-21-2016: Province of Oklahoma City and Introduction 2



1-10-2017:  Province of Atlanta

1-16-2017:  Province of Anchorage and Cathedral names



2-11-2017:  Province of Baltimore

2-20-2017:  Province of Denver



3-12-2017:  Province of St. Paul and Minneapolis

3-18-2017:  Province of Mobile



4-10-2017:  Province of Dubuque

4-19-2017:  Eastern Rite—Byzantine



5-9-2017:  Eastern Rite—All other

5-20-2017:  Province of Newark



6-9-2017:  Province of Galveston-Houston



7-1-2017:  Province of Chicago, plus history of US cardinals

7-8-2017:  Province of Portland



8-11-2017:  Province of Cincinnati



9-4-2017:  Province of Miami

9-21-2017:  Oklahoma cathedrals update

9-27-2017:  Province of Boston



10-21-2017:  Province of Kansas City



11-22-2017:  Province of Louisville



12-29-2017:  Province of Milwaukee



1-15-2018:  Province of New Orleans



2-16-2018:  Province of Los Angeles

3-31-2018:  Province of Detroit



5-4-2018:  Province of San Francisco



6-27-2018:  Province of Washington—other



8-13-2018:  Province of Philadelphia



9-3-2018:  Province of Santa Fe



10-13-2018:  Province of Seattle

11-25-2018:  Province of St. Louis



2-24-2019:  Province of New York



5-13-2019:  Province of San Antonio



9-20-2019:  Province of Indianapolis

The Philippines—1

The Philippines were colonized by Spain in the 16^th Century and taken by the United States in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.  They became a U.S. Commonwealth in 1935, but were occupied by the Japanese between 1942 and 1945.  The Philippines became independent in 1946.  Spanish missionaries brought the Faith to the Philippines starting in 1564.  About 82 percent of the Philippines population of 106 million is Catholic.  About 9 percent are Protestant [primarily in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Southern Mindanao] and 5 percent are Muslim [primarily in Mindanao, Palawan, and Sulu].

The Philippines has 16 Catholic ecclesiastic provinces.  In addition to the provinces, the Philippines has a diocese for the military (established in 1950) and has 7 apostolic vicariates that are immediately subject to the Pope. 

• Two of these vicariates are in the Cordillera Administrative Region:  Bontac-Lagawe (Mountain Province), and Tabuk (Kalinga), both established in 1992.
• Four are in Mimaropa:  Calapan (Mindoro Oriental), established as an apostolic prefecture in 1936 and as an apostolic vicariate in 1951; Puerto Princesa (Palawan), established as an apostolic prefecture in 1910 and as an apostolic vicariate in 1955; San Jose in Mindoto (Mindoro Occidental), established in 1983; and Taytay (Palawan), established in 2002.
• One—Jolo in Sulu—serves Catholics in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.  It was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1953 and as an apostolic vicariate in 1958.

This blog will discuss the 8 northern ecclesiastic provinces.

Province of Manila

The province consists of the National Capital Region and part of the civil region of Calabarzon.  The Diocese of Manila was created in 1579 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manila in 1595.

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Manila, made of adobe and cement, was built between 1954 and 1958 to replace a building that had been destroyed during the Second World War.  The Cathedral features a baptistery with reliquary-calendar containing 365 relics of saints; artworks by Italian artists; and stained glass windows by Filipino artists.  Pope John Paul II designated the cathedral a minor basilica in 1981.  Additional detail can be found in the Cathedral’s website, manilacathedral.com.ph.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has nine suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Imus was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of Malolos was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of San Pablo was established in 1966.
• The Diocese of Antipolo was established in 1983.
• The Diocese of Novaliches was established in 2002.
• The Diocese of Paranaque was established in 2002.
• The Diocese of Cubao was established in 2003.
• The Diocese of Kalookan was established in 2003.
• The Diocese of Pasig was established in 2003.

Province of Caceres

The province consists of the civil region of Bicol.  The Diocese of Nueva Caceres was established in 1595 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Caceres in 1951.  The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Naga City was built between 1808 and 1843.  The Romanesque Revival building is made of stone, coral, bricks, and cement, and can seat 1,500 people.

From TripAdvisor and Wikipedia.

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Lagazpi was established in 1951.
• The Diocese of Sorsogon was established in 1951.
• The Diocese of Masbate was established in 1968.
• The Diocese of Daet was established in 1974.
• The Diocese of Virac was established in 1974.
• The Diocese of Libmanan was established as a territorial prelature in 1989 and became a diocese in 2009.

Province of Nueva Segovia

The province consists of part of Ilocos civil region and part of the Cordillera Administrative Region.  The Diocese of Nueva Segovia was created in 1595 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in 1951.  The Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle in Vigan City was built in a Baroque style between 1790 and 1800.  The Cathedral has a silver paneled main altar and twelve side altars.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Laoag was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of Bangued began as a territorial prelature in 1955 before becoming a Diocese in 1982.
• The Diocese of Baguio began as an apostolic prefecture in 1932.  It became an apostolic vicariate in 1948 before becoming a diocese in 2004.

Lingayen-Dagupan

The province consists of part of the civil region of Central Luzon and part of the civil region of Ilocos.  The Diocese of Lingayen was established in 1928 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in 1963.  The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Dagupan City was built between 1964 and 1974.  For more information, see saintjohntheevangelistcathedral.blogspot.com.

From Wikipedia

The Co-Cathedral of the Epiphany of the Lord in Lingayen was built in 1587.  The adobe church has a dome and an oriental pagoda-like bell tower.  See epiphanyofthelordparish.blogspot.com.

From Explora and Wikipedia

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Cabanatuan was established in 1963.
• The Diocese of San Fernando de La Union was established in 1970.
• The Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija was established in 1984.
• The Diocese of Alaminos was established in 1985.
• The Diocese of Urdaneta was established in 1985.

Province of Lipa

The province consists of part of the civil regions of Calabarzon and Central Luzon.  The Diocese of Lipa was created in 1910 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lipa in 1972.  The Romanesque San Sebastian Cathedral in Lipa City was built between 1779 and 1865.  It was heavily damaged during the Second World War and rebuilt.  The Cathedral has a dome and a bell tower.  The main door has carved images depicting the history of salvation.  See cathedrallipacity.webs.com.

From Flickr and Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan jurisdictions.

• The Diocese of Lucena was established in 1950.
• The Diocese of Boac was established in 1977.
• The Diocese of Gumaca was established in 1984.
• The Territorial Prelature of Infanta was established in 1950.

Province of Tuguegarao

The province consists of the civil region of Cagayan Valley.  The Diocese of Tuguegarao was established in 1910 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1974.  The Baroque St. Peter’s Cathedral in Tuguegarao City was built between 1761 and 1768.  The church was badly damaged during the Second World War and was rebuilt.  The Cathedral has a five-story bell tower topped with a cross.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan jurisdictions.

• The Diocese of Ilagan was established in 1970.
• The Diocese of Bayombong began as a territorial prelature in 1966 before becoming a diocese in 1982.
• The Territorial Prelature of Batanes was established in 1950.

Province of San Fernando

The province consists of part of the civil region of Central Luzon.  The Diocese of San Fernando was established in 1948 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1975.  The Cathedral of St. Ferdinand in San Fernando was constructed between 1788 and 1808 using Baroque and Renaissance styles.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Tarlac was established in 1963.
• The Diocese of Balanga was established in 1975.
• The Diocese of Iba was established as a territorial prelature in 1955 and became a diocese in 1982.

Province of Palo

The province consists of most of the Eastern Visayas civil region.  The Diocese of Palo was created in 1937 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Palo in 1982.  The Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Palo was built in 1596, but has been reconstructed several times.

The first picture is from TripAdvisor and the others are from Wikipedia.  You may recognize the man in the third picture.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Calbayog was established in 1910.
• The Diocese of Borongan was established in 1960.
• The Diocese of Catarman was established in 1974.
• The Diocese of Naval was established in 1988.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also archdioceses that are not part of a province that are directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, and territorial prelatures.  All are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  The difference is that an apostolic vicariate is led by a bishop and the others are led by a priest below the level of a bishop. 

A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell.  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.