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Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa Apostolicus Vicariatus Portus Principis in Philippins Apostolikal na Bikarato i’ang Puerto Princesa Bikaryato Apostoliko ng Puerto Princesa Vicariato Apostólico de Puerto Princesa | |
|---|---|
| Catholic | |
.jpg) | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Territory | City ofPuerto Princesa, Municipality ofCagayancillo and the Southern Palawan's Municipalities, namely:Aborlan,Narra, Palawan,Quezon, Palawan,Rizal, Palawan,Sofronio Española,Brooke's Point,Bataraza,Balabac andKalayaan, Palawan. |
| Ecclesiastical province | Immediately subject to theHoly See |
| Headquarters | Puerto Princesa |
| Coordinates | 9°44′24″N118°43′50″E / 9.73993750°N 118.73062770°E /9.73993750; 118.73062770 |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 8,800 km2 (3,400 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 35 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | July 3, 1955 (1955-07-03) |
| Cathedral | Immaculate Conception Cathedral |
| Patron saint | Saint Joseph |
| Secular priests | 60 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Vicar Apostolic | Socrates Calamba Mesiona |
| Vicar General | Jesusinio Panganiban, Jr. |
| Bishops emeritus | a |
| Map | |
 Jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa. | |
| Website | |
| cbcponline | |
| Source of statistics:Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa[2] | |
TheApostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa is aLatin Catholic missionary jurisdiction orapostolic vicariate of theCatholic Church located in the Province of Palawan,Philippines. Itscathedra is withinImmaculate Conception Cathedral in theepiscopal see ofPuerto Princesa City,Palawan, Philippines. It is not a part of an ecclesiastical province as it is directlyexempt to theHoly See, specifically theCongregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, yet for the purpose of apostolic cooperation usually grouped with theEcclesiastical Province of Manila, along with theRoman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay. The current Vicar Apostolic is BishopSocrates Calamba Mesiona.[3]
The establishment asprefectura apostolica was announced and celebrated on April 10, 1910, a great day among theRecollect priests. In the bull of the founding ofPope Pius X entitled "Novas Erigere Diocese" (Newly established Dioceses) thePrefectura Apostolica de Palawan was mentioned along with the elevated levels of the Dioceses ofLipa,Tuguegarao,Zamboanga andCalbayog. Theprefectura apostolica is administered by the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of Faith to the Recollect priests as stated in Protocol No. 837/910 on May 13, 1910, sent by Girolamo Maria Cotti, the prefect, and Luigi Veccia, the secretary.
On July 3, 1955, Rome declared the elevation of theprefectura apostolica to theApostolic Vicariate of Palawan (AVP) by a bull entitled "Ad Christi Regnum" (The Reign of Christ) signed byPope Pius XII. Bishop Gregorio Espiga y Infante was the first Vicar Apostolic of Palawan. He became bishop on September 10, 1955, in the church of San Sebastian, Manila, as Titular Bishop of Afneo. He formally took office on September 18, 1955.
On March 27, 2002, it was renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa and lost part of its territory when theApostolic Vicariate of Taytay was established.[4]
The twolilies representSaint Joseph, the patron saint whom the foundingAugustinian Recollect fathers dedicated the local church of Palawan. The crescent represents theImmaculate Conception, the patroness of the cathedral. The fort actually represents the fort of Cuyo, where the first missionary arrived on August 1622, as well as the other ports in the province of Palawan built by theAugustinian Recollect fathers to protect their mission and their faithful from depredations of theMoros from the south.
The early ordinaries were missionary members of theOrder of Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.)
| Apostolic prefect | Period in office | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Fr. Victoriano Romàn Zárate di S. Giuseppe,O.A.R. | April 21, 1911 – 1936 | Died in office |
| 2. | Fr. Leandro Nieto y Bolandier,O.A.R. | November 25, 1938 – 1942 | Died in office |
| 3. | Fr. Gregorio Espiga e Infante,O.A.R. | 1954 – July 03, 1955 | Appointed as the first vicar apostolic of Palawan |
| Bishop | Period in office | Status | Coat of arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gregorio Espiga y Infante, O.A.R. | July 03, 1955 – December 18, 1987 | Resigned |  |
| 2. | Francisco Capiral San Diego | December 18, 1987 – July 12, 1995 | Transferred toDiocese of San Pablo | |
| 3. | Pedro Dulay Arigo | February 23, 1996 – March 27, 2002 | Remained asVicar apostolic of Puerto Princesa |  |
| Bishop | Period in office | Status | Coat of arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pedro Dulay Arigo | March 27, 2002 – October 28, 2016[4] | Retired | |
| 2. | Socrates Calamba Mesiona | October 28, 2016 – present[3] | Incumbent |  |
Apostolicus Vicariatus Portus Principis in Philippins | |||||
| Territories |  | ||||
| Ordinaries | |||||
| Cathedral | |||||
| Parishes |
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For the complete list of Roman Catholic churches in Palawan, see theRoman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa andRoman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay | |||||
