Roman Catholic Diocese of Baguio

Last updated

Diocese of Baguio

Dioecesis Baghiopolitana

Diocesis ti Baguio
Diosesis ng Baguio
Diócesis de Baguio
Catholic
Baguio Cathedral 2023-02-24.jpg
Coat of arms of the Diocese of Baguio.svg
Coat of arms
Location
CountryPhilippines
Territory
Ecclesiastical province Nueva Segovia
Metropolitan Nueva Segovia
Statistics
Area2,655 km2 (1,025 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2021)
  • 818,000
  • 594,000 [1]  (72.6%)
Parishes34
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
EstablishedJuly 6, 1992 (Apostolic Vicariate)
June 24, 2004 (Diocese)
Cathedral Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral
Patron saint Our Lady of the Atonement
Secular priests 58
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Bishop Rafael T. Cruz
Metropolitan Archbishop Marlo Peralta
Vicar GeneralRoland P. Buyagan
Bishops emeritus Victor Bendico

The Diocese of Baguio (Latin: Dioecesis Baghiopolitana) is a Latin Church of the Catholic Church in the Philippines comprising the city of Baguio and the province of Benguet on Luzon island in the Philippines. Its see is the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral.

Contents

It was erected to a diocese in 2004 as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. It is currently headed by the Most Rev. Rafael T. Cruz, the third Bishop of Baguio, succeeding Victor Barnuevo Bendico, who was appointed Archbishop of Capiz.

History

The Coat of Arms of the then-Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province (Montanosa) Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg
The Coat of Arms of the then-Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province (Montañosa)

The diocese is one of the oldest ecclesiastical territories in the Philippines. It was established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Mountain Provinces (Latin: Praefectura Apostolica Montana) on July 15, 1932. [2] The territory that the Diocese of Baguio now spans was split from the Archbishop of Nueva Segovia.

On June 10, 1948, the apostolic prefecture was elevated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Provinces (Montañosa), entitling it to a titular bishop. [3] The apostolic vicariate received a papal visit from John Paul II in February 1981.

On July 26, 1992, the apostolic vicariate was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Baguio, after ceding territories to form the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe and the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk.

On June 24, 2004, the apostolic vicariate was elevated into the Diocese of Baguio, losing its missionary pre-diocesan status and becoming a suffragan of Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.

On June 20, 2024, Rafael Tambao-An Cruz was announced as the next bishop, replacing then Bishop Victor Barnuevo Bendico, who was elevated as Archbishop of Capiz in May 2023. He was ordained on September 7 at Dagupan Cathedral by Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan as principal consecrator, with Archbishop Victor Barnuevo Bendico of Capiz and Bishop Jesse Mercado of Parañaque as co-consecrators. [4] His installation took place on September 17, 2024, led by Archbishop Charles John Brown and Jose Cardinal Advincula of Manila at the Baguio Cathedral. [5] [6]

Ordinaries

These ordinaries are all Latin Rite clergy, who are mostly members of missionary congregations.

No.BishopPeriod in officeNotesCoat of arms
Prefects Apostolic of the Mountain Provinces (November 15, 1935 – June 10, 1948)
1 Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg Giuseppe Billiet, C.I.C.M. November 15, 1935 – 1947
(12 years)
Died in office Template-Priest Coat of Arms.png
Vicars Apostolic of the Mountain Provinces (June 10, 1948 – December 18, 1987)
1 Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg William Brasseur, C.I.C.M.June 10, 1948 – November 7, 1981
(33 years, 150 days)
Retired Coat of arms of William Brasseur.svg
2' Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg Emiliano Kulhi MadangengNovember 7, 1981 – December 18, 1987
(6 years, 41 days)
Retired Coat of arms of Emiliano Kulhi Madangeng.svg
Vicars Apostolic of Baguio (December 18, 1987 – June 24, 2004)
3 Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg Ernesto Antolin Salgado December 18, 1987 – December 7, 2000
(12 years, 355 days)
Appointed Bishop of Laoag Coat of arms of Ernesto Antolin Salgado (Baguio).svg
4 Diocese of Baguio seal vectorized.svg Carlito Joaquin Cenzon January 25, 2002 – June 24, 2004
(2 years, 151 days)
Elevated as diocesan bishop Coat of arms of Carlito Joaquin Cenzon.svg
Bishops of Baguio (June 24, 2004 – present)
1 Diocese of Baguio seal vectorized.svg Carlito Joaquin Cenzon June 24, 2004 – October 1, 2016
(12 years, 99 days)
Retired Coat of arms of Carlito Joaquin Cenzon.svg
2 Diocese of Baguio seal vectorized.svg Victor Barnuevo Bendico January 10, 2017 – March 3, 2023
(6 years, 52 days)
Appointed Archbishop of Capiz Coat of arms of Victor Barnuevo Bendico.svg
3 Most Rev. Rafael T. Cruz, 2024.jpg Rafael Tambao-an Cruz September 17, 2024 – present
(339 days)
Coat of arms of Rafael Tambao-an Cruz.svg

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic

Coadjutor Vicars Apostolic of the Mountain Provinces/Baguio
No.PortraitNameFromUntilDurationNotes
1 Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg Emiliano K. Madangeng
1927–1997
July 4, 1979November 7, 19812 years, 4 months, 3 daysAppointed Vicar Apostolic of Mountain Provinces.
2 Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg Ernesto A. Salgado
1936–
October 17, 1986December 18, 19871 year, 2 months, 1 dayAppointed Vicar Apostolic of Baguio; later Archbishop of Nueva Segovia.

Auxiliary Bishops

Auxiliary Bishops of the Mountain Provinces/Baguio
No.PortraitNameFromUntilDurationNotes
1 Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg Emiliano K. Madangeng
1927–1997
April 24, 1971July 4, 19798 years, 2 months, 10 daysAppointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Mountain Provinces.
2 Coat of Arms of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Province.svg Sebastian A. Dalis
1925–2004
November 18, 1987July 11, 200012 years, 7 months, 23 daysRetired.

See also

References

  1. "Baguio (Catholic Diocese)". gcatholic.org. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  2. Pope Pius XI, Apostolic Decree creating the Apostolic Prefecture of the Mountain Provinces Quo facilius consuli (July 15, 1932), Acta Apostolicae Sedis 25 (1933), pp. 206-207. DISMEMBRATIONIS DIOECESIS ET ERECTIONIS PRAELATURAE APOSTOLICAE "MONTANAE".
  3. Pope Pius XII, Apostolic Constitution elevating the Apostolic Prefecture of the Mountain Provinces into an Apostolic Vicariate Quo inter infideles (June 10, 1948), Acta Apostolicae Sedis 40 (1948), pp. 535-536. PRAEFECTURA APOSTOLICA MONTANA IN VICARIATUM APOSTOLICUM, IISDEM SERVATIS NOMINE AC LIMITIBUS, EVEHITUR.
  4. "Baguio's new bishop, Rafael Cruz, ordained". GMA News. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  5. Patinio, Ferdinand (July 3, 2024). "Episcopal ordination of new Baguio bishop set Sept. 7". Philippine News Agency . Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  6. "Pope Francis names Pangasinan priest as new Baguio bishop". Rappler. June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.

16°24′46″N120°35′53″E / 16.4128°N 120.5980°E / 16.4128; 120.5980