Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zamboanga

Archdiocese of Zamboanga Archdiocesis Zamboangensis
Location
Country	Philippines
Territory	Zamboanga City and Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay
Metropolitan	Zamboanga City
Statistics
Population - Total	600,000
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	April 10, 1910 (as diocese)
Cathedral	Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral
Current leadership
Pope	Benedict XVI
Archbishop	Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, Archbishop of Zamboanga
Website
cbcponline.net/jurisdictions/zamboanga.html

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Archdiocese of Zamboanga (Latin name: Archdiocesis Zamboangensis) is a Catholic archdiocese in the Philippines. Its present jurisdiction includes Zamboanga City, with suffragans in Basilan (Territorial Prelature of Isabela, Basilan), Sulu Archipelago (Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo) and Zamboanga Sibugay (Diocese of Ipil). It became Mindanao's first diocese in 1910, and was established as the second archdiocese of Mindanao in 1958. Today the archdiocese covers a land area of 1,648 square kilometers and has a population of 442,345, of which 81 per cent are Catholics. The archdiocese includes 26 parishes, served by 49 diocesan and 18 religious priests. There are also 51 religious sisters working in the archdiocese.

The present Archbishop is Romulo Valles.

History

From 1607 to 1910 the entire island of Mindanao was under the Diocese of Cebu and Jaro. On April 10, 1910, Pope Pius X created the Diocese of Zamboanga and gave it jurisdiction over the whole island of Mindanao, including the adjacent islands of the Sulu Archipelago and the island of Cagayan de Sulu.

The Catholic faith was brought to Zamboanga by Jesuit missionaries Melchor de Vera and Alejandro Lopez in 1635. The efforts of the Spanish authorities to subdue the Muslims resulted in reprisal raids in Zamboanga and the Visayan Islands. In 1636 Fort Pilar, in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar, was constructed by priest-engineer Fr. de Vera. Jesuit Frs. Francisco Paliola and Alejandro Lopez died as martyrs in their efforts to win the Muslims through diplomacy. The establishment of Fort Pilar gave birth of the future city of Zamboanga.

On January 20, 1933, Pope Pius XI divided Mindanao into two areas. Southern Mindanao including the Sulu Archipelago became under the jurisdiction of Zamboanga. Northern Mindanao became under the Diocese of Cagayan de Oro. In 1951 Cagayan de Oro became an archdiocese, the first in the island of Mindanao. All episcopal jurisdictions in Mindanao and Sulu, including Zamboanga, became suffragans of this archdiocese.

The Diocese of Zamboanga was further divided when the Prelature Nullius of Davao was established and separated in 1949; the Prelature of Cotabato in 1950; the Prelature of Isabela, Basilan, in 1963, and the Prelature of Ipil in 1979.

Zamboanga was established an archdiocese on May 15, 1958 by Pope Pius XII. As an ecclesiastical province, the Archdiocese of Zamboanga included Zamboanga City and had as suffragans the Prelature of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay, the Prelature of Isabela in Basilan and the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo. Its titular patroneses is Our Lady of the Pillar, and its secondary patron is St. Pius X.

The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines adopted the Community of Disciples as the prime model of the Church, with focus on being a Church of the Poor. The challenge for the archdiocese in Zamboanga is to incarnate the vision of PCP II.

An Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly was held early in 1995, formalizing preparations for the Second Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly of Zamboanga in 1996.

Among the Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese of Zamboanga are 2 colleges, 6 secondary schools, 6 elementary schools, and 8 kindergarten schools. Charitable and social institutions include a leprosarium, 5 free clinics, 1 orphanage and 1 child center.

In 2010 the Zamboanga archdiocese celebrated the 100th anniversary of its establishment as the first diocese in Mindanao with a commemorative mass on April 12, 2010. The 50th or golden anniversary of its establishment as an archdiocese (1958-2008) was part of this celebration.

Suffragan Diocese and Territorial Prelature

• Diocese of Ipil
• Territorial Prelature of Isabela

List of Bishops and Archbishops

The Diocese of Zamboanga (1910-1958)

• Michael James O'Doherty (1911-1916)
• James Paul McCloskey (1917-1920)
• José Clos y Pagés, S.J. (1920-1931)
• Luis Del Rosario, S.J. (1933-1958)

The Archdiocese of Zamboanga (1958-present)

• Luis del Rosario, S.J. (1958-1966)
• Lino Gonzaga y Rasdesales (1966-1973)
• Francisco Raval Cruces (1973-1994)
• Carmelo Dominador Flores Morelos (1994-2006)
• Romulo Valles (2006-present)

Parishes under the Archdiocese of Zamboanga

The Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception

• Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral ( Founded: 1816) - seat of the Zamboanga Archdiocese
• Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, Fort Pilar
• Saint Joseph Chinese Community Parish, Nuñez St., Zamboanga City (Founded: 1954)
• St. Ignatius de Loyola, Tetuan, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1836)
• Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Tugbungan, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1987)
• St. Isidore the Laborer, Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1992)
• Saint Roche (San Roque), Mampang, Zamboanga City (quasi-parish, founded: 2008)
• Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Guiwan, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1997)
  • Secondary Patron: St. Isidore the Laborer
• St. Anthony of Padua, Putik, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1991)
• Divine Mercy Parish, Divisioria, Zamboanga City (Founded:2005)
  • Primary Patroness: Our Lady of Fatima (former quasi-parish)

The Vicariate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

• Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Ayala, Zamboanga City (Founded:1871)
• Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Labuan, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1988)
• Transfiguration Parish, Sinunuc,Zamboanga City (Founded:2006)
  • Patron: Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (former quasi-parish)
• San Roque Parish San Roque, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1998 )
  • Primary Patron: Saint Roch
• Our Lady of Purification, Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1935 )
• Holy Trinity, Pasonanca, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1992 )
• Our Lady of Manaoag Parish, Tumaga, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1997 )
  • Secondary Patroness: St. Clare of Assisi (former quasi-parish)
• St. Anthony Mary Claret, Canelar (Founded: 1980)
• Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Southcom Village, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1992 )

The Vicariate of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

• Our Lady of Ransom, Mercedes, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1891)
• Our Lady of the Assumption, Culianan, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1993)
• Our Lady of Fatima, Manicahan, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1967)
• St. Joseph the Worker, Sangali, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1992)
• Our Lady of Lourdes, Bunguiao, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1993 )
• Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Bolong, Zamboanga City (Founded: 1974)
• St. Stanislaus Kostka, Curuan, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1984 )
• Our Lady of the Pillar, Vitali, Zamboanga City ( Founded: 1963 )

Office and Residence

• Archbishop's Palace, Sacred Heart Center, R.T. Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City
• Archdiocesan Chancery and Plenary Hall (Centro Pastoral), Gov. Camins Avenue, Zamboanga City

Religious Congregations in the Archdiocese of Zamboanga

Men

• • Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary or known as Claretians (CMF)
  • Pontifical Society of Foreign Missions (PIME)
  • Society of Jesus or Jesuits (SJ)

Women

• • Handmaids of the Divine Heart [Spinola Sisters] (ADC)
  • Religious of the Virgin Mary
  • Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (DC)
  • Daughters of Saint Paul (FSP)
  • Living The Gospel Community (LGC)
  • Missionary Sisters of St. Anthony Mary Claret (MC)
  • Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz (MMB)
  • Society of Catholic Medical Mission Sisters (MMS)
  • Sisters of the Queen of Apostles (SRA)
  • Oblates of Notre Dame (OND)
  • Missionary Dominican Sisters of the Rosary (OP)
  • Benedictine Sisters of the Eucharistic King (OSB)
  • Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS)
  • Religious of Mary Immaculate Claretian Missionary Sisters (RMICM)
  • Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (SFIC)
  • Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit (SSpS)
  • Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres (SPC)
  • Order of the Blessed Virgin of Mt. Carmel (OCD) (Discalced Carmelites-Contemplatives)

Schools and Institutions

• Ateneo de Zamboanga University (SJ)- La Purisima St., Zamboanga City
  • ADZU High School- Tumaga-Lunzuran Road, Tumaga, Zamboanga City
• Saint Joseph School (Archdiocesan)- Gov. Camins Ave., Zamboanga City
• Pilar College (RVM)- Justice R.T. Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City
• Immaculate Conception Archdiocesan School (Archdiocesan)- in front of St. Ignatius Parish, Tetuan, Zamboanga City
  • Annex Campus- Natividad Road, Tetuan, Zamboanga City
• Immaculate Conception Archdiocesan School (ICAS) de Calarian (formerly Western Immaculate Conception Archdiocesan School), San Jose-Limpapa National Highway, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City
• Eastern Immaculate Conception Archdiocesan School (EICAS), Ma. Clara L. Lobregat Highway, Sangali, Zamboanga City
• Mercedarian Kindergarten School (Mercedarians)- Mercedarian Compound, Santa Maria, Zamboanga City
• Claret School of Zamboanga City (Claretians)- San Jose Road, Canelar, Zamboanga City

Facts and Information

• The city's primary patroness is Our Lady of the Pillar, whose shrine is located at the old Fort Pilar. Her feast day is October 12, the city's official holiday.
• Bishop Michael O'Doherty was the first bishop of the diocese in 1910 until he was appointed Archbishop of Manila in 1916.

See also

• Roman Catholicism in the Philippines

References

• Archdiocese of Zamboanga (Catholic-Hierarchy.org
• Archdiocese of Zamboanga (Dipolognon.com)
• Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.