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.