Erected in 1960, as the territorial prelature of Marbel, the prelature was elevated in 1982 to a full diocese. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cotabato and is currently headed by Bishop Cerilo Uy Casicas on April 29, 2018 by Pope Francis.[2]
South Cotabato occupies the southern portion of what used to be the entire province of Cotabato. This resulted from a political participation of the province into two Cotabato in 1967. The territory is bounded on the east by Davao del Sur, on the west by what is now Cotabato Province and the Moro Gulf, on the north by Cotabato alone and on the south by the Celebes Sea and Sarangani Bay.[3]
It is also where Dole Philippines has over 80 square kilometers of pineapple plantations, and a sister company is involved in the production of Cavendish bananas. The pineapple cannery alone employs thousands of workers and is a major activity of the province. The fishing industry is also extending from the surrounding waters of Sarangani Bay and the Celebes Sea.
The capital city is Koronadal, formerly known as Marbel, hence the name of the diocese. It hosts the Cathedral of Christ the King, the seat of the Bishop of Marbel.[4]
History
Marbel's journey toward the elevation of a Diocese in 1982. The area was originally administered as part of the Diocese of Manila, which was established in 1575. It was later elevated to an Archdiocese, with the creation of suffragan dioceses in 1595. Among these was the Diocese of Cebu, which existed under the Spanish colony. In the nineteenth century, a new Diocese was established when the Diocese of Jaro was created in 1865, separating it from Cebu.[5]
Before the Diocese of Jaro was erected in 1865, the entire region of Mindanao had been designated as an Apostolic Prefecture on September 28, 1840, under the leadership of Most Rev. Bernardo M. Rabascall, O.S.M. However, he resigned in 1841 due to various challenges and circumstances that hindered the mission of spreading the faith. Additionally, in 1841, threats from the Moros led to the dissolution of the Apostolic Prefecture of Mindanao later that same year.[6]
During the American colonialization, in 1898, after the Treaty of Paris signed which the territory of the Philippines was ceded to the United States from Spain, Pope Leo XIII issued an Apostolic Constitution of Quae Mari Sinico for the Philippines, known as the magna carta for the situation of the future development of the Catholic Church in the Philippines under the leadership of the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Giovanni Battista Guidi who promulgated it on December 8, 1902.[7]
On December 8, 1907, the First Provincial Council of Manila was opened under the leadership of Apostolic Delegate, Msgr. Ambrogio Agius, OSB. The council aimed to discuss the implementation of the provisions outlined in the Apostolic Constitution Quae Mari Sinico, created by Pope Leo XIII. Among the key topics was the establishment of new ecclesiastical territories. Three years after the promulgation of the First Provincial Council in 1910, the Diocese of Zamboanga was established as one of the first dioceses in Mindanao, alongside the Dioceses of Tuguegarao, Lipa, and Calbayog, as well as the Apostolic Prefecture of Palawan. [7]
Following the establishment of the Diocese of Zamboanga and before the arrival of General Paulino Santos and the initial settlers, the first documented group of Christian colonists arrived in Glan in 1914, with another group coming in 1915 under Tranquilino Ruiz, Sr.. In 1916, a small number of Christian settlers made their home in Makar. Between 1920 and 1926, some homeseekers from the Ilocos region moved to the Kiamba area under Cristanto Hidalgo. Additionally, in 1930, a group of families from Nueva Ecija settled in Baluan, Polomolok, and Tupi.[5]
In 1933, the northern part of Mindanao was separated from the Diocese of Zamboanga, which led to the creation of the Diocese of Cagayan De Oro and the parts of the southern part of Mindanao, which encompasses of provinces of Zamboanga, Sulu, Davao, Cotabato, and Lanao.[5]
Bishop Luis del Rosario, SJ, the Bishop of Zamboanga, faced numerous challenges in administering the large southern region of Mindanao. During the Spanish colonial period, the Jesuits took on the responsibility for all of Mindanao, serving the needs of the community. At that time, only 25 Jesuit priests were actively working to propagate the mission and support the people in southern Mindanao.
To address the problem and its challenges, Bishop del Rosario, SJ, invited the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) in 1938 to undertake a mission in the communities of Cotabato and Sulu. In 1939, Fr. Hulwegg visited these areas to investigate the situation. After his visit, he returned to Rome, where he shared his findings, highlighting the need for support, which led to the decision to serve in those communities.[5]
On February 27, 1939, the first group of pioneering settlers arrived on the shores of Dadiangas, led by General Paulino Santos, who became the Administrator of the National Settlement Administration. This settlement was established for migrants from Luzon and Visayas, each bringing a distinct vernacular language. The settlers built shelters and other structures for their survival, which led to the creation of the National Land Settlement Administration, approved through Commonwealth Act No. 441 by President Manuel L. Quezon in June 1939. [5]This program was a part of social justice efforts connected to the Papal Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum, which aimed to provide land to the landless and support agricultural development in the vast surrounding areas.
Composition
The Diocese of Marbel comprises the civil provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani and some parts of Sultan Kudarat. It has a land area of 10,000 square kilometers and a population of 1,094,770, of which 80 percent are Catholics. Marbel was made a prelature on December 17, 1960. On November 15, 1982, it was elevated into a diocese, remaining a suffragan of the Diocese of Cotabato. Its titular patron is Christ the King, whose feast is celebrated toward the end of November.[8]
Community
The Diocese of South Cotabato has 22 parishes and 2 missions attended to by 65 priests. It has 15 religious brothers and 93 religious sisters doing varied works in the community. Among its Catholic institutions are 1 university, 2 colleges, 24 high schools, 34 elementary schools and 9 kindergarten schools. It also has 2 hospitals, 3 homes for dependent children, 1 home for adults, and 8 retreat centers. The total number of BECs has now reached 1,242.
The diocesan pastoral offices include the Commissions on Christian Formation, Social Action, Worship and Liturgy. The diocesan lay associations include those of the Lay Liturgical Leaders, the Lay Liturgists, the Knights of Columbus, the Parish Pastoral Councils, the BCC/GKK Practitioners, the Kriska Alagads, the Catholic Youth Ministry, the Family and Life Ministry, and the Catechists.[9]
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