Roman Catholic Diocese of Baguio explained

Jurisdiction:Diocese
Border:Catholic
Baguio
Latin:Dioecesis Baghiopolitana
Local:Diocesis ti Baguio
Diosesis ng Baguio
Diócesis de Baguio
Coat:Coat of arms of the Diocese of Baguio.svg
Coat Size:240px
Country: Philippines
Metropolitan:Nueva Segovia
Territory:
Province:Nueva Segovia
Area Km2:2,655
Population:818,000
Population As Of:2021
Catholics:594,000[1]
Parishes:31
Denomination:Catholic Church
Sui Iuris Church:Latin Church
Rite:Roman Rite
Established:July 6, 1992 (Apostolic Vicariate)
June 24, 2004 (Diocese)
Cathedral:Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral
Patron:Our Lady of the Atonement
Priests:44
Bishop:Rafael Cruz (Bishop-elect)
Diocesan Admin:Roland P. Buyagan -->
Vicar General:Berlynden Dao-Anis

The Diocese of Baguio (Latin: Dioecesis Baghiopolitana) is a Latin Church suffragan diocese 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 in Baguio, Benguet, Cordillera Administrative Region.

It was first established in 1952 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Mountain Province, later elevated to an apostolic vicariate in 1948. It was later renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Baguio in 1992, and was elevated to a diocese in 2004 as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. It is currently headed by the diocesan administrator, Roland P. Buyagan, after then-Bishop of Baguio, Victor Barnuevo Bendico, was appointed Archbishop of Capiz.

History

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

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

In 1992, the 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 vicariate was elevated into the Diocese of Baguio, losing its missionary pre-diocesan status and becoming a suffragan of its mother Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.

Ordinaries and auxiliary episcopate

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

Apostolic Vicar of Mountain Province (Montañosa)

No.PictureNameFromUntilCoat of arms
1 William Brasseur10 Jun 1948 7 Nov 1981
2 Emiliano Kulhi Madangeng7 Nov 1981 18 Dec 1987

Apostolic Vicars

No.PictureNameFromUntilCoat of arms
1 Ernesto Antolin Salgado18 Dec 1987 7 Dec 2000
2 Carlito Joaquin Cenzon25 Jan 2002 10 Jul 2004

Bishops

No.PictureNameFromUntilCoat of arms
1 Carlito Joaquin Cenzon10 Jul 2004 1 Oct 2016
2 Victor Barnuevo Bendico10 Jan 2017 3 May 2023
3 Rafael Tambao-an Cruz17 Sept 2024 incumbent

On June 20, 2024, Rafael Tambao-An Cruz was announced as the next bishop, replacing then Bishop Victor Barnuevo Bendico, who was elevated as Capiz Archbishop in May 2023. His episcopal ordination is set for September 7 at Dagupan Cathedral with Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan as principal consecrator with Archbishop Victor Barnuevo Bendico of Capiz and Bishop Jesse Mercado of Paranaque as co-consecrators. His installation is officially set on September 17, to be led by Archbishop Charles John Brown and Jose Cardinal Advincula of Manila at Baguio Cathedral. Currently, Cruz is the head of Saint Ildephonse of Seville Parish Church (Malasiqui).[4] [5]

Auxiliary Bishops

See also

Sources and external links

16.4128°N 120.598°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baguio (Catholic Diocese). gcatholic.org. 2023-09-16.
  2. Pope Pius XI, Apostolic Decree creating the Apostolic Prefecture of the Mountain Provinces Quo facilius consuli (15 July 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 (10 June 1948), Acta Apostolicae Sedis 40 (1948), pp. 535-536. PRAEFECTURA APOSTOLICA MONTANA IN VICARIATUM APOSTOLICUM, IISDEM SERVATIS NOMINE AC LIMITIBUS, EVEHITUR.
  4. News: Patinio . Ferdinand . Episcopal ordination of new Baguio bishop set Sept. 7. July 6, 2024 . . July 3, 2024.
  5. News: Pope Francis names Pangasinan priest as new Baguio bishop . Rappler . June 20, 2024 . June 20, 2024.