Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (May 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa Apostolicus Vicariatus Portus Principis in Philippins Bikaryato Apostoliko ng Puerto Princesa Vicariato Apostólico de Puerto Princesa
catholic
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Official Seal
Location
Country	Philippines
Territory	City of Puerto Princesa, Municipality of Cagayancillo and the Southern Palawan's Municipalities, namely: Aborlan, Narra, Palawan, Quezon, Palawan, Rizal, Palawan, Sofronio Española, Brooke's Point, Bataraza, Balabac and Kalayaan, Palawan.
Metropolitan	Immediately subject to the Holy See (Propaganda Fide)
Headquarters	Puerto Princesa
Coordinates	9°44′24″N 118°43′50″E / 9.73993750°N 118.73062770°E / 9.73993750; 118.73062770Coordinates: 9°44′24″N 118°43′50″E / 9.73993750°N 118.73062770°E / 9.73993750; 118.73062770
Statistics
Area	8,552 km2 (3,302 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members)	(as of 2020) 736,520 529,686 (71.9%)
Parishes	35
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	July 3, 1955 (1955-07-03)
Cathedral	Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Patron saint	Saint Joseph
Secular priests	60
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Vicar Apostolic	Most Rev. Socrates C. Mesiona, MSP, DD
Vicar General	Rev. Fr. Jesusinio Panganiban, Jr.
Bishops emeritus	Most Rev. Pedro D. Arigo, DD
Map
Jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa.
Website
cbcponline.net/most-rev-socrates-mesiona/
Source of statistics: Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa[1]

The Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa is located in the Province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the Code of Canon Law 371 §1, "An apostolic vicariate or apostolic prefecture is a certain portion of the people of God which has not yet been established as a diocese due to special circumstances and which, to be shepherded, is entrusted to an apostolic vicar or apostolic prefect who governs it in the name of the Supreme Pontiff."

Its episcopal see is the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. It is not a part of an ecclesiastical province as it is directly subject to the Holy See through the Congregation of the Evangelization of People (Propaganda Fide), yet for the purpose of apostolic cooperation usually grouped with the Archdiocese of Manila, along with the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay.

The Catholic Church in the Philippines is organized into 72 dioceses in 16 Ecclesiastical Provinces, as well as 7 Apostolic Vicariates and a Military Ordinariate.

The current Vicar Apostolic (Bishop) is the Most Rev. MSP, DD.

History[]

The establishment as Prefectura Apostolica was announced and celebrated on April 10, 1910, a great day among the Recollect Priests. In the bull of the founding of Pope Pius X entitled “Novas Erigere Diocese” (Newly established Dioceses) the Prefectura Apostolica de Palawan was mentioned along with the elevated levels of the Diocese of Lipa, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga and Calbayog. The Prefectura Apostolica is administered by the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of Faith to the Recollect priests as stated in Protocol No. 837/910 on 13 May 1910 sent by Father Girolamo Maria Cotti, the Prefect, and Luigi Veccia, the Secretary.

On July 3, 1955 Rome declared the elevation of the Prefectura Apostolica to the Apostolic Vicariate of Palawan (AVP) by a bull entitled “Ad Christi Regnum” (The Reign of Christ) signed by Pope Pius XII . Bishop Gregorio Espiga and Infante, D.D. was the first Apostolic Vicar of Palawan. He became bishop on September 10,1955 in the church of San Sebastian, Manila as Titular Bishop of Afneo. He became bishop on September 10,1955 in the church of San Sebastian, Manila as Titular Bishop of Afneo. He formally took office on September 18, 1955.

On 27 March 2002, it was renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa and lost part of its territory when the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay was established.

Coat of Arms[]

• 

  Official Seal

The two lilies represent Saint Joseph, the Patron Saint whom the founding Augustinian Recollect Fathers dedicated the local church of Palawan. The crescent represents the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the cathedral. The fort is actually crowned with the fortification (Fort Santa Isabel) built by the Augustinian Recollect Fathers to protect their mission and their faithful from depredations of the Moros from the south.

List of Ordinaries[]

The early ordinaries were missionary members of the order of Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.)

Apostolic Prefects of Palawan

• Friar Victoriano Romàn Zárate di S. Giuseppe, O.A.R. (1911.04.21 – 1938)
• Friar Leandro Nieto y Bolandier, O.A.R. (1938.11.25 – 1953)
• , O.A.R. (1953 – 1955.07.03 see below)

Apostolic Vicars of Palawan

• , O.A.R. (1955.07.03 – 1987 see above)
• Francisco Capiral San Diego, (1987–1995) - previously Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Palawan (1983.06.06 – 1987.12.18).
• Pedro D. Arigo (1996.02.23 – 2002.03.27 see below)

Apostolic Vicars of Puerto Princesa

• (2002.03.27 – 2016.10.28)
• Socrates C. Mesiona (2016.10.28 - present)

See also[]

• Roman Catholicism in the Philippines
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses in the Philippines
• Catholic Church hierarchy

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa.

• Official website
• GCatholic, with incumbent ordinaties list and linking biographies
• Catholic-Hierarchy.org