Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo explained

Jurisdiction:Diocese
Border:Catholic
Antipolo
Latin:Dioecesis Antipolensis
Local:Filipino; Pilipino: Diyosesis ng Antipolo
Spanish; Castilian: Diócesis de Antipolo
Coat:File:Coat of Arms Diocese of Antipolo.svg
Coat Size:150px
Country: Philippines
Metropolitan:Manila
Territory:
Province:Manila
Coordinates:14.5876°N 121.177°W
Area Km2:1,828
Population:3,728,586
Population As Of:2021
Catholics:3,026,699[1]
Parishes:73 (9 shrines, 2 quasi-parishes, and 1 minor basilica)
Denomination:Catholic
Sui Iuris Church:Latin Church
Rite:Roman Rite
Cathedral:Cathedral-Parish of the Immaculate Conception — International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
Patron:Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
Priests:95[2]
Metro Archbishop:Jose Advincula
Bishop:Ruperto Santos
Auxiliary Bishops:Nolly Buco

The Diocese of Antipolo (Latin: Dioecesis Antipolensis, Filipino: Diyosesis ng Antipolo, Spanish: Diócesis de Antipolo) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines that comprises the Province of Rizal and the city of Marikina in Metro Manila.

At present, the Diocese of Antipolo is considered to be one of the largest local churches in the Philippines in terms of its Catholic population. Among the 86 ecclesiastical jurisdictions present in the Philippines today, the diocese is the third largest local church in terms of its Catholic population after the Archdiocese of Cebu, and the Diocese of Malolos (Bulacan and Valenzuela City). The population of the whole area covering the diocese is 3,650,000, of which 3,280,000 (or 90%) are Catholics. The seat or center of the diocese is the Antipolo Cathedral, one of the most popular Marian shrines in the country where the historic Canonically crowned image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje) (the Virgin of Antipolo) is enshrined.

History

On January 24, 1983, during his Angelus message, Pope John Paul II announced the creation of the Diocese of Antipolo, which would encompass the whole province of Rizal, the entire Marikina, and part of Pasig (Barangays Dela Paz, Santolan, Manggahan, Rosario, and Santa Lucia, which altogether formed the Vicariate of Santo Tomas de Villanueva, now belonging to the Diocese of Pasig). It is an area that was previously known in the Archdiocese of Manila as the Ecclesiastical District of Eastern Rizal. A suffragan of the said archdiocese, the diocese was canonically established on June 25, 1983.

The first bishop of Antipolo was Protacio G. Gungon. On December 3, 2001, he was succeeded by Crisostomo Yalung as the second bishop, followed by Gabriel V. Reyes, former Bishop of Kalibo in Aklan, as the third bishop. Bishop Reyes was assisted by the then-auxiliary and later coadjutor bishop, Francisco M. De Leon, who was named his successor and fourth bishop effective September 10, 2016.

The diocese had its First Diocesan Synod in 1993 held at Saint Michael's Retreat House in Antipolo City. The diocese has experienced some jurisdictional changes since the time the Diocese of Pasig was created, whereby six parishes within the civil boundaries of Pasig were given to the new local church, together with seven diocesan priests serving in them.

On May 23, 2023, Pope Francis named Ruperto Santos as the fifth Bishop of Antipolo to succeed Francisco Mendoza de Leon who reached the retirement age of 75. Santos became the diocese's fifth bishop upon his installation on July 22, 2023.

Ordinaries

Auxiliary bishops

Bishop Period in OfficeTitular see Coat of Arms Notes
1. Francisco Mendoza de LeonJune 27, 2007[3] – November 21, 2015 Boseta Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Antipolo
2. Nolly C. BucoJuly 10, 2018 – present[4] Gemellae in Byzacena

Vicars-General

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Antipolo (Catholic Diocese). gcatholic.org. 2023-09-16.
  2. Encyclopedia: Antipolo (Diocese) . . David M. Cheney . 25 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Bishop of Antipolo Diocese Francisco mendoza De Leon UCA News . www.ucanews.com . 22 January 2022.
  4. Web site: Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo Diocese Nolly Camigue Buco UCA News . www.ucanews.com . 22 January 2022.