Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanatuan

Roman Catholic diocese in the Philippines

Diocese of Cabanatuan

Dioecesis Cabanatuanensis

Diyosesis ng Cabanatuan

Catholic

Cabanatuan Cathedral

Coat of arms

Location
Country|  Philippines
Territory| Southern Nueva Ecija (Aliaga, Bongabon, Cabanatuan, Cabiao, Gabaldon, Gapan, General Mamerto Natividad, General Tinio, Jaen, Laur, Palayan, Peñaranda, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Talavera, Zaragoza)
Ecclesiastical province| Lingayen-Dagupan
Metropolitan| Lingayen-Dagupan
Statistics
Area| 2,743 km2 (1,059 sq mi)
Population

* Total

* Catholics

* (as of 2021)

* 1,227,000

* 1,034,000[1] (84.3%)

Parishes| 30
Information
Denomination| Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church| Latin Church
Rite| Roman Rite
Established| 16 February 1963
Cathedral| Cathedral-Parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentino in Cabanatuan
Titular patrons| Nicholas of Tolentino
La Virgen Divina Pastora (Patroness)
Secular priests| 50
Current leadership
Pope| Francis
Bishop| Prudencio Padilla Andaya, Jr. CICM
Metropolitan Archbishop| Socrates Buenaventura Villegas
Vicar General| Noel J. Jetajobe, SSL, MLS
Judicial Vicar| Reynold H. Oliveros, JCD
Bishops emeritus| Sofronio Aguirre Bancud, S.S.S., D.D.
Statistics from Catholic-Hierarchy.org

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanatuan (Latin: Dioecesis Cabanatuanensis) is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. The diocese comprises 16 towns of Nueva Ecija including the cities of Cabanatuan, Palayan, and Gapan. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.[2]

## History

[edit]

On February 16, 1963 Pope John XXIII, issued the apostolic letter "Exterior Ecclesiae" creating the Diocese of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija separating from the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, and then the Diocese of San Fernando. On June 3, 1963 the Diocese of Cabanatuan was canonically erected after that on June 4, 1963 Bishop Mariano Gaviola was ordained and installed as the first Bishop of Cabanatuan. The Diocese of Cabanatuan was put under the patronage of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino and the Virgin Mary under the title Divine Shepherdess (Divina Pastora) which is popularly venerated in Gapan every May 1. The seat of the diocese is the St. Nicholas of Tolentino Cathedral in Cabanatuan with a feast day of September 10.

The diocese lost territory in 1984 when the Diocese of San Jose in the Northern Part of Nueva Ecija was formed.

The current bishop Emeritus of the diocese and Apostolic administrator is Sofronio Aguirre Bancud, S.S.S., D.D. He was appointed as auxiliary bishop on 2004 and installed as bishop on January 25, 2005. He officially retired on December 8, 2024 after he reached his mandatory retirement age of 76.

On December 8, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Prudencio Padilla Andaya, Jr., CICM, D.D., until now the second Apostolic Vicar of Tabuk since April 16, 2003, to be the 6th bishop of this diocese.[3] Bishop Andaya was installed on February 3, 2025 at the Cabanatuan Cathedral. [4]

## Ordinaries

[edit]

No  | Name  | In office  | Coat of arms

|
|
|

1\.  | Mariano Garces Gaviola  | (8 March 1963 – 31 May 1967)  |
2\.  | Vicente Posada Reyes  | (8 August 1967 – 7 April 1983)  |
3\.  | Ciceron Sta. Maria Tumbocon  | (7 April 1983 – 11 November 1990)  |
4\.  | Sofio Guinto Balce  | (11 November 1990 – 25 June 2004)  |
5\.  | Sofronio Aguirre Bancud, SSS | (6 November 2004 – 8 December 2024)  |
6\.  | Prudencio Padilla Andaya, Jr., CICM | (3 February 2025 - present)  |

## Gallery

[edit]

* Gallery of the Diocese of Cabanatuan
* Sofronio Aguirre Bancud, Bishop-Emeritus of Cabanatuan

* The altar of the Cathedral-Parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentino

* St. Nicholas of Tolentino New Cathedral (on-going construction) and Crypt

* Maria Assumpta Seminary

* College of the Immaculate Conception (Cabanatuan)

* Shrines in the Diocese of Cabanatuan
* National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora and Three Kings Parish in Gapan, Home of the Biggest Pilgrimage in Central Luzon

* Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Isidore the Worker in Talavera

* Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora delas Saleras in Aliaga

* Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. John the Baptist in Bibiclat, Aliaga, Home of Taong Putik Festival

* Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and St. Augustine Parish in Jaen

* Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Anthony of Abbot in San Antonio

* St. Isidore the Farmer Parish and Shrine of Nuestra Señora dela Soledad in San Isidro

* Shrine and chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Apong Lourdes Shrine in Maligaya, Cabiao (under the administration of St. John Nepomucene Parish, Cabiao)

## See also

[edit]

* Catholic Church in the Philippines
* List of Catholic dioceses in the Philippines
* Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose (Nueva Ecija)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Cabanatuan (Catholic Diocese)". gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
2. ^ "Dioceses in the Philippines - Diocese of Cabanatuan" Archived 2014-01-11 at the Wayback Machine Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. Retrieved on 2013-01-11.
3. ^ Lagarde, Roy (December 8, 2024). "Pope Francis appoints Bishop Andaya as head of Cabanatuan diocese". Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
4. ^ "Diocese of Cabanatuan announced the Solemn Canonical Installation of the 6th Bishop of Cabanatuan".

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanatuan.

* Dioecesis Cabanatuanensis Catholic-Hierarchy.org
* Website of the Diocese of Cabanatuan
* Maria Assumpta Seminary

* v
* t
* e

Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanatuan

Dioecesis Cabanatuanensis

Territories|

* Southern Nueva Ecija (Aliaga, Bongabon, Cabanatuan, Cabiao, Gabaldon, Gapan, General Mamerto Natividad, General Tinio, Jaen, Laur, Palayan, Peñaranda, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Talavera, Zaragoza)

Ordinaries|

* Mariano Gaviola
* Vicente Posada Reyes
* Ciceron M. Tumbocon
* Sofio Balce
* Sofronio Bancud
* Prudencio Andaya Jr.

Cathedral|

* Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

Basilica and
national shrine|

* La Virgen Divina Pastora (Gapan)

Parishes|

| Vicariate of
St. Nicholas
Tolentine|

* Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
* Mother of Perpetual Help
* St. Vincent Ferrer
* St. Isidore the Worker
* Sto. Niño
* St. Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila (Talavera, Nueva Ecija)

|

Vicariate of
St. Rose
of Lima|

* St. Rose of Lima (Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija)
* St. Bartholomew the Apostle (San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija)
* Nuestra Señora de las Saleras (Aliaga, Nueva Ecija)
* St. John the Baptist (Aliaga, Nueva Ecija)
* St. Vincent Ferrer (Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija)
* St. Barbara (San Antonio, Nueva Ecija_
* St. John Mary Vianney (San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija)

Vicariate of
St. John
Nepomucene|

* St. John Nepomucene (Cabiao)
* St. Augustine (Jaen, Nueva Ecija)
* Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (San Isidro, Nueva Ecija)
* St. Isidore the Farmer (San Isidro, Nueva Ecija)
* St. Anthony Abbot (San Antonio, Nueva Ecija)

Vicariate of
St. Francis
of Assisi|

* St. Francis of Assisi (Bongabon)
* St. Paul the Apostle (Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija)
* St. Stephen the King (Laur, Nueva Ecija)
* St. Cecilia (Palayan)
* St. Joseph, Husband of Mary
* Our Lady of Fatima (General Mamerto Natividad)

Vicariate of
Divina Pastora|

* Three Kings (Gapan)
* St. Roch (Gapan)
* St. Nicholas of Tolentine (Gapan)
* St. Francis of Assisi (Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija)
* Sto. Cristo (General Tinio)
* St. Helena (Gapan)

* Ecclesiastical Province of Lingayen–Dagupan
* Catholicism portal
* Philippines portal

* v
* t
* e

Catholic dioceses in the Philippines

Listed by ecclesiastical province with the metropolitan archdioceses in yellow and their suffragan dioceses in white

Cáceres|

* Daet
* Legazpi
* Libmanan
* Masbate
* Sorsogon
* Virac

Cagayan de Oro|

* Butuan
* Malaybalay
* Prosperidad
* Surigao
* Tandag

Capiz|

* Kalibo
* Romblon

Cebu|

* Dumaguete
* Maasin
* Tagbilaran
* Talibon

Cotabato|

* Kidapawan
* Marbel

Davao|

* Digos
* Mati
* Tagum

Jaro|

* Bacolod
* Kabankalan
* San Carlos
* San José de Antique

Lingayen-Dagupan|

* Alaminos
* Cabanatuan
* San Fernando de La Union
* San Jose
* Urdaneta

Lipa|

* Boac
* Gumaca
* Lucena
* Prelature of Infanta

Manila|

* Antipolo
* Cubao
* Imus
* Kalookan
* Malolos
* Novaliches
* Parañaque
* Pasig
* San Pablo

Nueva Segovia|

* Baguio
* Bangued
* Laoag

Ozamis|

* Dipolog
* Iligan
* Pagadian
* Prelature of Marawi

Palo|

* Borongan
* Calbayog
* Catarman
* Naval

San Fernando|

* Balanga
* Iba
* Tarlac

Tuguegarao|

* Bayombong
* Ilagan
* Prelature of Batanes

Zamboanga|

* Ipil
* Prelature of Isabela

Apostolic vicariates|

* Bontoc-Lagawe
* Calapan
* Jolo
* Puerto Princesa
* San Jose in Mindoro
* Tabuk
* Taytay

Military ordinariate|

* Military Ordinariate of the Philippines

Other|

* Chinese-Filipino Catholic Apostolate in the Philippines

* Catholicism portal

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church in the Philippines

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines

Timeline|

| History|

* First Mass
* Spanish occupation
* History of De La Salle University
* Expulsion of Jesuits
* Secularization movement
* Gomburza
* Philippine Revolution
* American occupation
* World War II Asia-Pacific War
* Second Vatican Council
* First Papal visit
* Martial Law
* People Power Revolution
* 1995 World Youth Day
* Death penalty debate

|

Contemporary|

* EDSA Dos
* World Meeting of Families
* Death of John Paul II
* Death of Cardinal Sin
* Reproductive Health Bill debate
* Year of Faith
* Revision of the Roman Missal
* Canonization of Pedro Calungsod
* Million People March
* Pope Francis's visit to the Philippines
* 2016 International Eucharistic Congress
* 500 YOC

Archdioceses
(cathedrals
and churches)|

* Caceres
* Cagayan de Oro
* Capiz
* Cebu
* Cotabato
* Davao
* Jaro
* Lingayen–Dagupan
* Lipa
* Manila
* Nueva Segovia
* Ozamis
* Palo
* San Fernando
* Tuguegarao
* Zamboanga

Dioceses|

| Suffragans|

* Alaminos
* Antipolo
* Bacolod
* Baguio
* Balanga
* Bangued
* Bayombong
* Boac
* Borongan
* Butuan
* Cabanatuan
* Calbayog
* Catarman
* Cubao
* Daet
* Digos
* Dipolog
* Dumaguete
* Gumaca
* Iba
* Ilagan
* Iligan
* Ipil
* Imus
* Kabankalan
* Kalookan
* Kalibo
* Kidapawan
* Laoag
* Legazpi
* Libmanan
* Lucena
* Maasin
* Mati
* Malaybalay
* Malolos
* Marbel
* Masbate
* Naval
* Novaliches
* Pagadian
* Parañaque
* Pasig
* Prosperidad
* Romblon
* San Carlos Borromeo
* San Fernando de La Union
* San Jose de Antique
* San Jose de Nueva Ecija
* San Pablo
* Sorsogon
* Surigao
* Tagbilaran
* Tagum
* Talibon
* Tandag
* Tarlac
* Urdaneta
* Virac

|

Military ordinariate|

* Military Ordinariate

Territorial prelatures|

* Batanes
* Infanta
* Isabela
* Marawi

Apostolic vicariates|

* Bontoc-Lagawe
* Calapan
* Jolo
* Puerto Princesa
* San Jose in Mindoro
* Tabuk
* Taytay

Prelates|

* Luis Antonio Tagle
* Jose Advincula
* Gaudencio Rosales
* Orlando Quevedo
* Rex Andrew Alarcon
* Ricardo Baccay
* Victor Bendico
* Midyphil Billones
* José Cabantan
* John Du
* Gilbert Garcera
* Martin Jumoad
* Angelito Lampon
* Florentino Lavarias
* José S. Palma
* Marlo Peralta
* Rómulo Valles
* Socrates Villegas

Literature|

* Catechism for Filipino Catholics
* Doctrina Christiana
* Pasyón

Saints|

* Lorenzo Ruiz
* Pedro Calungsod

Religious|

| Priests and brothers|

* Augustinian
* Augustinian in Cebu
* Augustinian Recollects
* Divine Word
* Dominican
* Franciscan
* Jesuit
* La Salle
* Salesian

|

Sisters|

* Dominican Sisters of Siena
* Franciscan Apostolic Sisters
* Notre Dame
* Religious of the Virgin Mary

Devotions|

| Jesus|

* Black Nazarene
* Crucifixion in the Philippines
* Divine Mercy
* Eucharistic adoration
* Sacred Heart
* Santo Niño de Cebú
* Santo Niño de Arévalo
* Señor Tesoro

|

Marian|

* Angelus
* Buen Suceso
* Candelaria
* Caracol
* Caysasay
* Guia
* Immaculate Conception
* Manaoag
* La Naval de Manila
* Paz y Buen Viaje
* Peñafrancia
* Perpetual Help
* Piat
* Porta Vaga
* Remedios
* Rosary
* Salvación
* Turumba

Joseph|

* San José de Baras
* Tata Hosep

Culture|

| Christmas|

* Belén
* Carols
* Christmas tree
* Gift giving
* Nochebuena
* Parol
* Santa Claus
* Three Kings
* Simbang Gabi

|

Festivals|

* Ati-Atihan
* Feast of the Black Nazarene
* Dinagyang
* Flores de Mayo
* Intramuros Grand Marian Procession
* Obando Fertility Rites
* Sinulog

Holy Week|

* Fasting and abstinence
* Pabasa
* Senákulo
* Via Crucis
* Visita Iglesia

Others|

* Almsgiving
* Bamboo Organ
* Bayanihan
* Filipino names
* Funeral
* Historical churches
* Mano

Media|

* Catholic Media Network
* Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation
* Radio Maria Philippines
* Radio Veritas
* TV Maria
* Cebu Catholic Television Network
* Jesuit Communications Foundation

Education|

* Schools, colleges and universities
* Augustinian
* Divine Word
* Jesuit
* La Salle
* Notre Dame
* Dominican
* University of Santo Tomas
* Colegio de San Juan de Letran
* Vincentian

Laity|

* Catholic Women's League
* Couples for Christ
* El Shaddai
* Family Rosary Crusade
* Knights of Columbus
* Legion of Mary
* Neocatechumenal Way
* Opus Dei
* Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting
* The Feast
* Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network

Overseas|

* Pontificio Collegio Filippino
* San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel

* Catholicism portal
* Philippines portal

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