Roman Catholic Diocese of Alaminos

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Alaminos (Lat: Dioecesis Alaminensis) is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.

The diocese was erected in 1985 from the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan with the bishop's see at Alaminos, Pangasinan.

It was created and erected, January 12, 1985, and comprises: 14 municipalities in the western part of the province of Pangasinan. Titular: St. Joseph the Patriarch, March 19. The diocese has experience no jurisdictional changes, and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

The current bishop is Most Rev. Marlo Mendoza Peralta, appointed in 2007. The current Vicar General and cathedral rector is Very Rev. Msgr. Rey Jose Ragudos.

Ordinaries

• Jesus Aputen Cabrera (22 Apr 1985 Appointed - 1 Jul 2007 Resigned)

Born: December 12, 1940 in Manila. Ordained Priest: April 11, 1964. Appointed titular Bishop of Tisiduo and Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan: May 9, 1980. Ordained Bishop: July 1, 1980. Appointed first Bishop of Alaminos: April 22, 1985. Installed: June 28, 1985. Retired: July 1, 2007.

Shepherd’s Home Makatiw, 2404 Alaminos City, Pangasinan Tel. [phone]

• Marlo Mendoza Peralta (1 Jul 2007 Succeeded - )

Born: July 13, 1950 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan. Ordained Priest: March 31, 1975. Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Alaminos: January 14, 2006. Ordained Bishop: March 31, 2006. Installed: April 28, 2006. Bishop of Alaminos by succession: July 1, 2007.

Bishop’s Residence 2404 Alaminos, Pangasinan Tel. [phone] Tel./Fax [phone]

History of the Cathedral Church

Augustinian Recollect Cathedrals and Churches in Luzon

Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Alaminos City, Pangasinan. In the past the Alaminos City had various names (San Jose de Soyang, San Jose de Casborran, Sarapsap) and underwent several transfers and locations except, for a gap of half a century, the Recollects stayed at Alaminos since its foundation in 1610 until the Philippine Revolution of 1896. A great fire reduced the town into ashes and it was thereafter renamed Sarapsap. The actual name was taken after Governor General Juan de Alaminos who visited it in 1872.

Among other edifices constructed by Recollects is the majestic cathedral dedicated to Saint Joseph. Father Manuel Bosquete who was at the helm of the San Jose de Casborran mission from 1838-1849 started the construction of the divine temple. His successor Father Jose Tornos, who was proficient in Pangasinense, inaugurated it in 1857. This Recollect minister who tool over the parochial administration in 1849 remained in Alaminos for almost thirty years and endowed the church with the best ornaments. Father Tornos died in 1878 and was buried in the future cathedral. At the church pavement one can view his tombstone in Spanish.

Father Patricio Marcellan writes in 1879: "The present church and parochial house are made of brick manufactured in the same town. The first oven for brick-making making was built under the supervision of Father Manuel Bosquete, the first Recollect parish priest of this town [sic], and the edifices are the tallest and most spacious in the province, which draws naturally any visitor's attention." The church still attracts attention up to this day, already as a cathedral since it’s the erection of Alaminos Diocese in 1985. Alaminos is not a big city in terms of population, with about 75,000 inhabitants only. But the faithful can do boast of the structure of their cathedral-spacious, majestic and well-proportioned- and equally stable belfry made of bricks.

by Pablo Panedas Galindo OAR Translated, edited and enriched by Emmanuel Luis A. Romanillos

External links

• www.dioceseofalaminos.org
• catholic-hierarchy-diocese of alaminos
• cbcponline.org - diocese of alaminos

• Catholic Church in the Philippines
• philippine islands