Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga

Diocese of Balanga
Location
Ecclesiastical province	Archdiocese of San Fernando
Statistics
Parishes	Vicariate of St. Peter of Verona, Vicariate of St. Dominic de Guzman, Vicariate of Our Lady of the Pillar, Vicariate of St. Michael Archangel
Information
Cathedral	St. Joseph's Cathedral, Balanga
Current leadership
Bishop	Most Rev. Ruperto C. Santos, DD
Website
balangadiocese.org

The Diocese of Balanga is one of the 72 ecclesiastical territories called dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. It comprises the whole province of Bataan. It was established on March 17, 1975, appointing the Most Rev. Celso Guevarra as the first Bishop on June 4, 1975. On July 3, 2004, Bishop Socrates B. Villegas was appointed as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Balanga; he was named Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

Brief history

Balanga Cathedral

The Diocese of Balanga was established on March 17, 1975. It comprises the entire civil province of Bataan, the smallest among the provinces of Central Luzon. The province is a peninsula jutting out to sea, with Manila Bay to the east, China Sea to the west, and the province of Zambales to the north.

Before this, the region was divided into two parts: the Corregimiento of Mariveles and the Province of Pampanga. The towns of Mariveles, Bagac, Morong and Maragondon, Cavite comprised the Corregimiento of Mariveles that was under the jurisdiction of the Recollect Order of the Roman Catholic Church. The province of Pampanga included the towns of Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Abucay, Samal, Orani, Llana Hermosa and San Juan de Dinalupihan. The latter group was under the charge of the Dominican Order. Limay, the twelfth town of Bataan, was named only in 1917.

The topography of the province has made most of the inhabitants farmers or fishermen, with a sprinkling of merchants, factory workers and professionals. Recent years, however, have seen the development of manufacturing industries in the province, particularly the Free Zone in Mariveles, which has brought an influx of workers from other provinces and improved living conditions of its own workers.

Historically Bataan is most remembered, along with the island of Corregidor, as the main scene of action in the Philippines during the Second World War. These places are strategic in guarding the entrance to Manila Bay. The surrender of Filipino and American soldiers to overwhelming Japanese forces marked the Fall of Bataan in 1942. A war memorial, Dambana ng Kagitingan, now stands to honor the men who fought and died in that last stand.

The Diocese

The diocese comprises the whole civil province of Bataan. It comprises 34 parishes and 2 chaplaincies. St. Joseph's Cathedral in Aguire Street, Poblacion, Balanga City, serves as the seat of the diocese.

The titular patron of the diocese is St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, whose feast day falls on March 19. The city fiesta is celebrated on April 28.

Diocesan Logo

The miter symbolizes the pastoral authority of the bishop-elect, which he will be exercising within the province.

The three long-stemmed lilies, symbols of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the Cathedral. According to legend the staves of the many suitors of the Blessed Virgin Mary were gathered in the temple; the staff of Saint Joseph bloomed to signify that he was the one chosen by God to be the head of the Holy Family. Blue signifies peace, justice and tranquility. Saint Joseph was called "just" by the Gospel. He was a placid and silent man, too.^[1]

The three youths reading books. Bataan, the civil province co-terminus with the Diocese, means the Land of the Youth, the hope of the Fatherland. The books being read by each are respectively marked VIA, meaning Christ The Way; VERITAS, meaning Christ The Truth; and VITA, meaning Christ The Life. Overhead is the golden sun with the letters IHS, meaning Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "I am the Light of the world" (John 8:12; 9:5). He is the "real light that comes into the world and shines on all men" (John 1:9). He is the Lamb, the lamp of the Celestial Jerusalem (Revelation 21:23), the Sun of Justice (Malachi 4:2). He also said, "I am The Way, I am The Truth, I am The Life" (John 14:6). So in the light of Christ that is explained by the Church, we must study and follow and live Christ who is the way, the truth and the life. This study entails seriousness, this following of Christ means patience, this living of Christ requires perseverance—virtues signified by the red color.^[2]

Diocesan Curia

Chancery

Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph

Balanga 2100 Bataan

Tel./Fax: [phone]

Tel. [phone]

Chancellor: Rev. Msgr VICTOR OCAMPO Oeconomus: Rev.Fr. ANTONIO QUINTOS, JR

Administrative Section

Diocesan Bishop’s Council (Board of Consultors)

Members:

• Rev. FR Abraham Pantig
• Rev. Msgr. Antonio Dumaual
• Rev. Fr. Antonio Quintos Jr
• Rev. Fr. Edilbert Pomer
• Rev. Msgr. Remigio Hizon
• Rev. Fr. Percival V. Medina
• Rev. Fr. Arnel Takata
• Rev. Fr. Bong Dammay, RCJ
• Rev. Fr.Joshua Maria, MMHC
• Rev. Fr. Alwin Bobis
• Rev. Fr Santi de Tablan

Diocesan Pastoral Council

President: Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas

Vice-President: Msgr. ANTONIO DUMAUAL

Secretary: Rev. MSGR VICTOR OCAMPO

Commissions

• Komisyon ng Diyosesis para sa Buhay Panalangin
• Komisyon ng Diyosesis para sa Pagpapahalaga sa Eukaristiya
• Komisyon ng Diyosesis sa mga Sakramento ng Pagpapagaling
• Komisyon ng Diyosesis para sa Pagpapakasakit
• Komisyon ng Diyosesis para sa Bayanihan at Kabayanihan
• Komisyon ng Diyosesis para sa Dukha
• Komisyon ng Diyosesis para sa mga Kabataan
• Komisyon ng Diyosesis para sa Katolikong Edukasyon at Katekesis

Finance Council

Chairman: Bishop Socrates B. Villegas

Vice Chairman: Rev. Fr. ANTONIO QUINTOS, JR

Mrs. Lourdes Valdecanas, Sister Maria Lourdes Ogsimer, RVM

Ms. Nemia Brillantes Mr. Archangel Inton

Mr. Mon Magalong, Atty. David Paguio, Jr

Coordinators of the Vicariates

Vicariate of St. Peter of Verona: Rev. Msgr. Antonio Dumaual

Vicariate of St. Dominic Guzman: Rev. Fr Abraham Pantig

Vicariate of Our Lady of the Pillar: Rev. Fr. Edilbert Pomer

Vicariate of St. Michael Archangel: Rev. Fr. Santi de Tablan

Judiciary Section

Advocate: Rev.Msgr. Hernando B. Guanzon,JCD

Pastoral Section

Diocesan Commission on Clergy Affairs Director: Rev. Fr JOEL JIMENEZ

Parishes

I. Vicariate of St. Peter of Verona

PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, Dinalupihan

PARISH OF ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA, Pagalanggang, Dinalupihan

PARISH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES, Colo, Dinalupihan

PARISH OF ST. JEROME EMILIANI, Roosevelt, Dinalupihan

PARISH OF ST. RAYMUND NONNATUS, San Ramon, Dinalupihan

PARISH OF THE HOLY FAMILY, Balsik, Hermosa

PARISH OF ST. PETER VERONA, Hermosa

PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH, New San Jose, Dinalupihan

II. Vicariate of St. Dominic de Guzman

PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, Tapulao, Orani

PARISH OF SAINT JOSEPHINE BAKHITA, Tala, Orani

PARISH OF OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY, Orani

PARISH OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA, Samal

PARISH OF ST. VINCENT FERRER, Calaguiman, Samal

PARISH OF ST. ANTHONINE OF FLORENCE, Mabatang, Abucay

Bishop Celso Guevarra Formation Center, Calaguiman, Samal

PARISH OF ST. DOMINIC DE GUZMAN, Abucay

PARISH OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, Bangkal, Abucay

III. Vicariate of Our Lady of the Pillar

CATHEDRAL PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH, Balanga City

PARISH OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, Pto. Rivas, Balanga City

PARISH OF STO. CRISTO, Cupang, Balanga City

PARISH OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, Parang, Bagac

PARISH OF ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA, Bagac

PARISH OF SAN VICENTE FERRER, Saysain, Bagac

PARISH OF OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR, Morong

PAG-IBIG BATAAN, Sitio Mathay, Tuyo, Balanga City

PARISH OF OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR, Pilar

PARISH OF SAN ISIDRO, Nagwaling, Pilar

IV. Vicariate of St. Michael Archangel

PARISH OF STS. PETER AND PAUL, Calungusan, Orion

PARISH OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, Orion

PARISH OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, Limay

PARISH OF ST. ROCHE, Lamao, Limay

PARISH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, Alion, Batangas II Mariveles

PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH, THE WORKER, Cabcaben, Mariveles

PARISH OF STO. NIÑO, Alas-asin, Mariveles

PARISH OF SAINT NICHOLAS TOLENTINE, Mariveles

CHAPLAINCY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA, BEZ, Mariveles

References

1. ^ http://www.balangadiocese.com/coat.htm COAT OF ARMS of Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, D.D.Bishop of Balanga paragraph 4
2. ^ http://www.balangadiocese.com/coat.htm COAT OF ARMS of Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, D.D. Bishop of Balanga paragraph 5

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga Official Website