Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo

Roman Catholic diocese in the Philippines

Diocese of San Pablo

Dioecesis Sancti Pauli in Insulis Philippinis

Diyosesis ng San Pablo
Diócesis de San Pablo

Catholic

San Pablo Cathedral

Coat of arms

Location
Country| Philippines
Territory| Laguna
Ecclesiastical province| Manila
Metropolitan| Manila
Coordinates| 14°04′11″N 121°19′36″E﻿ / ﻿14.06969°N 121.32663°E﻿ / 14.06969; 121.32663
Statistics
Area| 1,918 km2 (741 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics| (as of 2021)
3,748,000
3,036,000[1] (81%)
Parishes| 92
Schools| 37
Information
Denomination| Catholic Church
Sui iuris church| Latin Church
Rite| Roman Rite
Established| November 28, 1966
Cathedral| Cathedral-Parish of St. Paul the First Hermit
Patron saint| Paul the First Hermit
Secular priests| 220 (145 diocesan, 75 religious)
Current leadership
Pope| Francis
Bishop| Sede Vacante
Metropolitan Archbishop| Jose Advincula
Apostolic Administrator| Mylo Hubert Vergara
Vicar General| Ricardo D. De Luna
Episcopal Vicars|

* Jorge Seldon V. Coronado (District I)
* Mario Rafel M. Castillo (District II)
* Reynaldo C. Hayag (District III)
* Luis A. Tolentino (District IV)

Judicial Vicar| James A. Contreras
Bishops emeritus| Leo M. Drona
Buenaventura Famadico
Website
Diocese of San Pablo

The Diocese of San Pablo (Latin: Dioecesis Sancti Pauli in Insulis Philippinis, Filipino: Diyosesis ng San Pablo, Spanish: Diócesis de San Pablo) is a Roman Catholic diocese which is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Manila. Its patron saint or titular is Paul the First Hermit, the only one in the world dedicated to him.

## Location[edit]

The diocese covers the entire province of Laguna. It is bordered southwest by the Archdiocese of Lipa in Batangas, north by the Diocese of Antipolo in Rizal and Laguna de Bay, west by the Diocese of Imus in Cavite, east by the Prelature of Infanta and southeast by the Diocese of Lucena in Quezon, and northwest by the Diocese of Parañaque in Metro Manila.[2]

## Ordinaries[edit]

Bishop | Period in Office | Coat of Arms

|
|

1. |  | Pedro Natividad Bantigue | January 26, 1967 – July 12, 1995 |
2. |  | Francisco Capiral San Diego | July 12, 1995 – June 28, 2003 |
3. |  | Leo Murphy Drona | May 14, 2004 – January 25, 2013 |
4. |  | Buenaventura Malayo Famadico | January 25, 2013 – September 21, 2023 |

## History[edit]

The seed of Christianity was planted first in the town of Majayjay in 1571, as Augustinian missionaries were in the place and made contact with the natives. Augustinian priests in 1586 erected a parish known as the "Parish of San Pablo delos Montes". It was until 1578 when the Franciscan Apostolic Province of San Gregorio Magno was established in the Philippines and in Laguna. The two missionaries Padre Juan de Plasencia and Padre Diego de Oropesa founded on that same year formal settlements of Lumbang (Lumban) and Pila to become their primary residencia. Later, Peter Baptist, being the Minister Provinciale of the Franciscans in the Philippines, expanded further the establishment of parishes and pueblos, namely of Longos, Pakil, and San Antonio in 1587.

Several religious orders also took hold of parishes and lands, such as the Dominicans (in Binan, Santa Rosa, some in San Pedro and Calamba, even in Cabuyao), the Society of Jesus (in San Pedro and Calamba) and the Augustinians (San Pablo, Bay, and Los Banos; they were later succeeded by Franciscans).

During the Revolution, churches were sacked and its properties, looted; priests were either massacred or escaped or even arrested by the Katipunan. In order to fill the curate of souls, Filipino native priests took possession of these churches.

With the advent of the Americans, there came Masonic ideals in schools and societies. The Philippine Independent Church, known popularly as Aglipayans, took hold of their presence in some towns such as Santa Cruz and Nagcarlan.

To revitalize the Christian life of the faithful in Laguna, missionary activities were made by the Redemptorists and the Jesuits. Devotions to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, to the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes, Therese of the Child Jesus, and Flores de Mayo were utilized and prospered in each barrio and towns. Apostolates attracted the local elites.

In 1917, a seminario menor was opened under the auspices of the priests of the Congregation of the Mission until 1941 in San Pablo City.

Until 1910, Laguna was part of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila; thus, the Diocese of San Pablo was carved out from the newly constituted Diocese of Lipa. The new diocese was erected through the Apostolic Constitution Ecclesiarum per ampla on November 28, 1966, by Pope Paul VI.

Pedro Bantigue y Natividad was installed as its first bishop on April 18, 1967, and became its Bishop Emeritus in 1995 until his death in 2012. He was succeeded by Francisco San Diego in 1995 who was later transferred as first Bishop of the Diocese of Pasig. Following San Diego's appointment as Bishop of Pasig, he was succeeded by Leo M. Drona, a Salesian, in 2004 until his retirement in 2013. The diocese was then led by Buenaventura M. Famadico, who was installed as fourth Bishop of San Pablo on March 2, 2013.[3] Pope Francis accepted Famadico's resignation in September 2023, thus placing the diocese in sede vacante.

## Coat of arms[edit]

On the superior [upper] section of the shield is a crow with a piece of bread in its beak. It symbolizes the providential feeding of Paul the First Hermit during his long sojourn in the desert. Each day, the crow brought a half piece of bread for his physical sustenance. When Anthony the Abbot discovered his presence and stayed for a while. The crow brought a whole loaf of bread to signify that God takes care of the needs of his two faithful servants.

On the inferior section of the shield is the nine blue and white circles and a blue lake. The nine blue and white circles represent the nine lakes that are found in the province of Laguna and the City of San Pablo. In San Pablo, the city of the Seven Lakes, we encounter the lakes of Sampaloc, Bunot, Palakpakin, Kalibato, Mohicap, Pandin and Yambo. The eighth circle represents the man-made Lake Caliraya, and the ninth circle represents the great freshwater lake La Laguna de Bae that gave the province its name.

The blue lake is the actual shape of the Laguna de Bae, the principal natural geographical formation that gave the province its name and forms the natural boundary between the province and the province of Rizal and Metro Manila. The diocese chose the words of Psalm 92:12: “Iustus ut Palma Florebit,” (and the just will flourish like the Palm tree) as its motto.[4]

## Feast day[edit]

The feast day of the diocese is celebrated every January 15. The anniversary of the dedication of the cathedral is a day before the feast day, every January 14. For the cathedral itself, it is ranked with solemnity (I class; Double I class with common octave in the whole diocese), but for the parishes in its jurisdiction, it is celebrated with a rank of feast. The same principle goes with the feast of the patron the next day.

## Seminaries[edit]

Because of the shortage of priests in the diocese, there have been several priests that were incardinated into the diocese. With Pedro Bantigue as the newly appointed bishop at that time, he established a seminary, following the canonical erection of the Diocese of San Pablo.

The San Pablo Minor Seminary was opened in 1968, but was eventually closed in 1981. In that same year, the major seminary of the diocese was established, namely, the Saint Peter's College Seminary, in order to stress the obedience of those under the diocese towards the See of Peter. It was inaugurated on July 6, 1981, under Elias O. Poblete. It is currently located in Barangay Concepcion, San Pablo and serves as the philosophy college seminary of the diocese.

The other seminary, the San Pablo Theological Formation House, is located in Tagaytay, Cavite, serves as the formation house for the theology seminarians of the diocese. It was named after Saint Paul the Apostle, as it was formerly named after the patron of the diocese, Saint Paul the First Hermit.[3]

## See also[edit]

* Roman Catholic churches in Laguna

## References[edit]

1. ^ "San Pablo (Catholic Diocese)". gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
2. ^ "Lipensis (S. Pauli in Insulis Philippinis), Constitutio Apostolica, Quibusdam territoriis e dioecesi Lipensi detractis, nova conditur dioecesis, nomine «S. Pauli in Insulis Philippinis», d. 28 m. Novembris a. 1966, Paulus PP. VI | Paulus PP. VI". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
3. ^ a b "Diocese of San Pablo". www.dioceseofsanpablo.net. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
4. ^ "Diocese of San Pablo". www.dioceseofsanpablo.net.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo.

* Catholic Hierarchy: Diocese of San Pablo
* Official Website of the Diocese of San Pablo

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Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo

Dioecesis Sancti Pauli in Insulis Philippinis

Territories|

* Laguna

Ordinaries|

* Pedro Bantigue
* Francisco San Diego
* Leo M. Drona
* Buenaventura M. Famadico

Cathedral|

* Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral

Shrines|

| National|

* San Antonio de Padua

|

Diocesan|

* Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre
* San Vicente Ferrer
* Mary Help of Christians
* Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus
* Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba
* Our Lady of Guadalupe
* San Isidro Labrador

Parishes|

| Vicariate of
Holy Family|

* Christ the King (San Pedro, Laguna)
* Holy Family Parish (San Pedro, Laguna)
* Most Holy Name of Jesus (San Pedro, Laguna)
* Mother of Good Counsel (San Pedro, Laguna)
* Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (San Pedro, Laguna)
* San Martin de Porres (San Pedro, Laguna)
* St. Joseph the Patriarch (San Pedro, Laguna)
* St. Joseph the Worker (San Pedro, Laguna)

|

Vicariate of
San Pedro|

* San Pedro Apostol (San Pedro, Laguna)
* San Lorenzo Ruiz (San Pedro, Laguna)
* Sto. Rosario (San Pedro, Laguna)
* Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre (San Pedro, Laguna)
* Our Lady of Fatima (San Pedro, Laguna)
* Our Lady of Lourdes (San Pedro, Laguna)

Vicariate of
San Isidro
Labrador|

* San Isidro Labrador (Biñan, Laguna)
* Blessed Sacrament (Biñan, Laguna)
* Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buen Viaje (Biñan, Laguna)
* Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Biñan, Laguna)
* Risen Lord (Biñan, Laguna)
* San Antonio de Padua (Biñan, Laguna)
* San Pedro Apostol (Biñan, Laguna)
* San Vicente Ferrer (Biñan, Laguna)
* St. Joseph the Worker (Biñan, Laguna)
* St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Biñan, Laguna)
* Sto. Niño de Cebu (Biñan, Laguna)

Vicariate of
Sta. Rosa
de Lima|

* Sta. Rosa de Lima (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
* Chair of St. Peter (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
* Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
* Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
* San Lorenzo Ruiz (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
* St. John Bosco (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)

Vicariate of
St. Polycarp|

* St. Polycarp (Cabuyao, Laguna)
* St. Francis of Assisi (Cabuyao, Laguna)
* St. Joseph the Worker (Cabuyao, Laguna)
* San Vicente Ferrer (Cabuyao, Laguna)
* San Miguel Arkanghel (Calamba, Laguna)

Vicariate of
St. John
the Baptist|

* St. John the Baptist (Calamba, Laguna)
* Holy Trinity (Calamba, Laguna)
* Mary Help of Christians (Calamba, Laguna)
* Our Lady of Fatima (Calamba, Laguna)
* San Agustin (Calamba, Laguna)
* San Isidro Labrador (Calamba, Laguna)
* San Pedro Calungsod (Calamba, Laguna)
* San Vicente Ferrer (Calamba, Laguna)
* St. Joseph the Worker (Calamba, Laguna)
* St. Mary Magdalene (Calamba, Laguna)
* Sts. Peter and Paul (Calamba, Laguna)

Vicariate of
Immaculate
Conception|

* Immaculate Conception (Los Baños, Laguna)
* St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Los Baños, Laguna)
* San Antonio de Padua (Los Baños, Laguna)
* San Isidro Labrador (Calauan, Laguna)
* San Agustin (Bay, Laguna)
* San Nicholas de Tolentino (Bay, Laguna)

Vicariate of
St. Paul the
First Hermit|

* St. Paul the First Hermit (San Pablo, Laguna)
* Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (San Pablo, Laguna)
* San Gabriel Arkanghel (San Pablo, Laguna)
* St. Francis of Assisi (San Pablo, Laguna)
* St. Luke the Evangelist (San Pablo, Laguna)
* Immaculate Conception (San Pablo, Laguna)
* San Roque (San Pablo, Laguna)
* Our Lady of the Pillar (Alaminos, Laguna)

Vicariate
of San
Bartolome|

* St. Bartholomew the Apostle (Nagcarlan, Laguna)
* San Gregorio Magno (Majayjay, Laguna)
* Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Majayjay, Laguna)
* Sta. Maria Magdalena (Magdalena, Laguna)
* St. Michael the Archangel (Rizal, Laguna)
* St. John the Baptist (Liliw, Laguna)
* Sts. Joachim and Anne (Liliw, Laguna)

Vicariate of
San Antonio
De Padua|

* San Antonio de Padua (Pila, Laguna)
* San Jose (Pila, Laguna)
* Immaculate Conception (Sta. Cruz, Laguna)
* St. John Paul II (Sta. Cruz, Laguna)
* La Resurreccion (Victoria, Laguna)

Vicariate of
Our Lady of
Guadalupe|

* Our Lady of Guadalupe (Pagsanjan, Laguna)
* Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Luisiana, Laguna)
* San Sebastian (Lumban, Laguna)
* Transfiguration of the Lord (Cavinti, Laguna)

Vicariate of
St. James|

* St. James the Apostle (Paete, Laguna)
* St. Peter of Alcantara (Pakil, Laguna)
* San Isidro Labrador (Pakil, Laguna)
* Nuesta Señora dela Natividad (Pangil, Laguna)
* St. Mark the Evangelist (Pangil, Laguna)
* San Antonio de Padua (Kalayaan, Laguna)
* St. John the Baptist (Kalayaan, Laguna)
* St. John the Evangelist (Kalayaan, Laguna)

Vicariate of
Sts. Peter
and Paul|

* Sts. Peter and Paul (Siniloan, Laguna)
* Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (Mabitac, Laguna)
* Nuestra Señora de los Angeles (Sta. Maria, Laguna)
* San Isidro Labrador (Pakil, Laguna)
* San Sebastian (Famy, Laguna)

Seminaries|

* St. Peter's College Seminary
* San Pablo Theological Formation House

Schools|

* Liceo de San Pablo
* Don Bosco College

Images|

* Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba
* Nuestra Señora de la O
* Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Pagsanjan

* Ecclesiastical Province of Manila
* Catholicism portal
* Philippines portal

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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
* 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

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