History
The Diocese of Balanga was established on March 17, 1975, from the territory of Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, by Pope Paul VI through the papal bull Quoniam Recte Universum. It comprises the entire civil province of Bataan, the smallest among the provinces of Central Luzon. The province is a peninsula jutting out to sea, with Manila Bay to the east, South China Sea to the west, and the province of Zambales to the north. Only 1 of the 15 priests of the diocese was a native of Bataan when Bishop Celso Guevarra was installed as the diocese's first bishop on November 8, 1975 eight months after its establishment.
Before this, the region was divided into two parts: the Corregimiento of Mariveles and the Province of Pampanga. The towns of Mariveles, Bagac, Morong and Maragondon, Cavite, comprised the Corregimiento of Mariveles that was under the jurisdiction of the Recollect Order. The province of Pampanga included the towns of Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Abucay, Samal, Orani, Llana Hermosa and San Juan de Dinalupihan. The latter group was under the charge of the Dominican Order. Limay, the twelfth town of Bataan, was named only in 1917.
The topography of the province has made most of the inhabitants farmers or fishermen, with a sprinkling of merchants, factory workers and professionals. Recent years, however, have seen the development of manufacturing industries in the province, particularly the Free Zone in Mariveles which has brought an influx of workers from other provinces and improved living conditions of its own workers.
Historically, Bataan is most remembered, along with the island of Corregidor, as the main scene of action in the Philippines during the Second World War. These places are strategic in guarding the entrance to Manila Bay. The surrender of Filipino and American soldiers to overwhelming Japanese forces marked the Fall of Bataan in 1942. A war memorial, Dambana ng Kagitingan, now stands to honor the men who fought and died in that last stand.
During the 23-year tenure of Bishop Celso Guevarra, the diocese has continuously spread its branches far and wide. The number of parishes increased from 13 to 25. In each of these parishes, one can find many concerned, committed and generous lay leaders. Together with their parish priests, not only have they renovated and/or totally rebuilt their parish churches and convents but are actively responding to the never-ending demands of evangelization. The major diocesan commissions, which have been established, introduced new and various apostolates in the diocese and in the parishes.
The inspiring words and assuring presence of Honesto Ongtioco (now Bishop-emeritus of Cubao), who succeeded Bishop Celso, guided the young diocese as it celebrated its 25th anniversary and as it responded to the call of Pope John Paul II at the beginning of the third millennium, “Duc in Altum.” His kindness and charity allowed the various branches of the diocesan tree to grow in different directions in pursuit of his plan to convoke a Diocesan Pastoral Assembly. However, God has other and better plans both for Bishop Ongtioco and the diocese of Balanga. Bishop Ongtioco has just laid the foundation for the realization of his vision when he was installed to lead the new Diocese of Cubao in Quezon City on August 28, 2003.
In July 2005, under the tenure of Socrates Villegas, the six-years term of each parishes and churches of the diocese began where each rectors and parish priests will serve the whole term except if one dies, designation is controversial, the Bishop of Balanga decided to have a fill-in priest to serve the remaining part of a current term, or if there is no priest designated, the bishop will become a parish administrator of a particular parish where the official position is vacant.
In 2006, the Diocesan Schools of Bataan Educational Foundation, Inc. (DSOBEFI) was established to integrate Catholic schools in Bataan into the Diocese of Balanga.
On December 8, 2008, Clinica Diocesano de San Jose, the diocese's clinic, was founded which is a weekly medical and dental mission for the poor people of Bataan.
At the second half of the third 2017–2023 subsequent 6-years term of the diocese from June 5, 2020 to June 4, 2023, Ruperto Santos became the parish administrator of Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Nicholas Tolentine in Mariveles, Bataan due to the workers from the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) expressed opposition against the parish's programs under its last rector and parish priest Rev. Fr. Gerry Jorge which forced him to stepped down and no fill-in priest for that term available to be designated, making the first bishop to hold the position on a particular parish.
On July 22, 2023, Bataan returned temporarily to the jurisdiction of Archdiocese of San Fernando after 47 years and 8 months when Santos became Bishop of Antipolo, covering Rizal Province as well as Marikina City in Metro Manila where Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Florentino Lavarias as sede vacante apostolic administrator or temporary bishop of the diocese which lasted until Rufino Sescon became fifth bishop on March 1, 2025.
The diocese celebrated its 50th anniversary on March 18, 2025. Its logo was unveiled and first used in 2020 under Ruperto Santos as its preparation. The mass for the diocese's anniversary was presided by Charles John Brown (Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines), Florentino Lavarias, Teodoro Bacani (Bishop-Emeritus of Novaliches), former bishops Honesto Ongtioco and Socrates Villegas, and current Rufino Sescon.
Philippines 
