Archdiocese of Lipa
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa today comprises the civil province of Batangas
located in the southwestern part of the island of Luzon
in the Philippines
.
and Laguna, on the east by Tayabas Bay
, and Quezon Province, on the west by the China Sea
, and on the south by the Balayan and Batangas
Bay
s. Its land area is 3165 square kilometres (1,222 sq mi) and the population as of the 1994 census is 1,668,480 of which 99.5 per cent are Catholics.
The province surrounds Lake Taal from which Taal Volcano
rises in the center. The rich soil of Batangas
was formed from volcanic tuff coming from the active volcanoes of Taal. The terrain is characterized by rolling hills, plateaus and low mountains, the highest of which is Mount Makiling
which is only 1,109 meters (3,600 ft) in elevation.
of Lipa
is the Most Reverend
Ramon Cabrera Arguelles
.
under the supervision of Pope Pius X
. The diocese then covered the provinces of Batangas
, Laguna, Quezon
, Marinduque
and Mindoro
, with Most Reverend Joseph Petrelli, D.D., as the first bishop
. He was faced with a monumental task because the diocese was large and there was but a handful of priests.
Bishop Petrelli invited different religious congregations
to come to his diocese and help minister to the spiritual needs of the faithful. He also conceived the building of a seminary
in the diocese. In June 1914 a diocesan seminary was built in Bauan, which was later transferred to San Pablo
in Laguna. This initiative of the first bishop was continued by the next bishop, Alfredo Verzosa, D.D., who served a long term from 1916 to 1950. He invited priests from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to help in the administration of the new seminary.
In 1950 Rufino Santos took over the diocese. Described as a financial administrator of great acumen, Bishop Santos applied for bank loans to help construct some buildings. This way he continued the construction work of the Lipa Cathedral and built a major seminary beside it.
Bishop Olalia died in 1973 and was replaced by Bishop Ricardo J. Vidal who stayed with the diocese until 1981. During his incumbency. Bishop Vidal organized the Pastoral Council, and initiated the construction of the Lipa Archdiocesan Formation Center.
Bishop Vidal was replaced in 1981 by Bishop Mariano Gaviola, D.D. who stayed with the diocese from 1981 to 1993. He was at the helm of the archdiocese as it celebrated its 75th anniversary on March 19, 1993, the reins of the archdiocese were again transferred, this time to Bishop Gaudencio Rosales, a native of Batangas City. He was ordained priest in Lipa in 1958, became Auxiliary Bishop of Manila in 1974, served as bishop in Malaybalay in 1982, and on December 30, 1992 he was elected Archbishop of Lipa.
With the resignation of Cardinal Jaime Sin in 2003, there was a vacancy at the Holy See of Manila. Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales was chosen by Pope John Paul II
to be the new Archbishop
of Manila
. With Archbishop Rosales' appointment, the Vatican
appointed Bishop Ramon Arguelles to the new Archbishop of Lipa
.
farmer is a model farmer known for his intensive cultivation of land. This was brought about in large part by big landowners selling portions of their land, thus eliminating social unrest.
Fishing and mineral reserves abound in the province which also has a number of manufacturing industries including petroleum refineries, sugar centrals, food and beverage companies, and countless cottage industries. The coastline is dotted with beach resorts often frequented by local and foreign tourists. it is popular with foreign diving
aficionados.
As they have a stable source of income, most families in Batangas can afford to send their children to schools and colleges in Batangas
or in Manila
. This explains why 90 per cent of the population is educated.
Batangas
was originally called Balayan, with Taal
as its first capital. In 1754 the capital was moved to Batangas City
, its capital today. Historically, Batangas
is known as the birth place of Apolinario Mabini
, a Filipino hero known as the "Sublime Paralytic" who became Secretary of State of the First Philippine Republic. The last Filipino general to surrender to Americans in the Philippine American War, Miguel Malvar
, was also from this province.
B. Religious Institutes of Women
C. Lay Religious Organizations/Movements and their Heads
changed hands over the years, changes too were happening to its territorial jurisdiction over certain areas. These were proud moments for the archdiocese, when a number of provinces had acquired the capability to stand on their own. Thus in 1936 Mindoro
was separated and became the Apostolic Prelature of Calapan. In 1950 Lucena City
became a diocese of its own, and also in 1950 the Prelature of Infanta was created, comprising the northern part of Quezon Province, Polilio and Aurora, Laguna's turn came next and became a separate diocese in 1967, that of San Pablo. The Diocese of Boac in Marinduque
was created in 1977 and that of Gumaca in 1984. Both dioceses were part of the Diocese of Lucena before their establishment. In 1983 the new Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose
in Occidental Mindoro
was created.
Today the Archdiocese of Lipa
is for the province of Batangas alone. But the population has multiplied many times over. The archdiocese is divided into 6 vicariates, each headed by a vicar forane . Except for the parishes in Vicariate IV which are run by the Oblates of St. Joseph
, all other parishes are run by the diocesan clergy. There are 49 parishes in all, served by 143 priests. 122 of them diocesan. There are 13 religious brothers, and 197 religious sisters. Catholic schools number 23, high school seminaries 2 and college seminaries 3. Two pastoral centers are being maintained.
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
located in the southwestern part of the island of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Suffragan dioceses
- Diocese of BoacRoman Catholic Diocese of BoacThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Boac is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. It has jurisdiction over the province of Marinduque.-History:...
- Diocese of GumacaRoman Catholic Diocese of GumacaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Gumaca is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.The diocese was erected in 1984 from the Diocese of Lucena....
- Diocese of LucenaRoman Catholic Diocese of LucenaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Lucena is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines....
Location
It is bounded on the north by the provinces of CaviteCavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
and Laguna, on the east by Tayabas Bay
Tayabas Bay
Tayabas Bay is a large bay in the southern part of Luzon island, Philippines, at . Several islands are located in the bay, largest of which is Marinduque.Some of its parts is in Quezon Province Tayabas Bay is a large bay in the southern part of Luzon island, Philippines, at . Several islands are...
, and Quezon Province, on the west by the China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, and on the south by the Balayan and Batangas
Batangas Bay
Batangas Bay is a semi-enclosed body of water located in the Philippines. The municipalities of Mabini, Bauan, San Pascual, Tingloy on Maribacan Island and Batangas City are located on the coast of the bay. The water surface area of the bay is about 220 km² , and the coastline has an...
Bay
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
s. Its land area is 3165 square kilometres (1,222 sq mi) and the population as of the 1994 census is 1,668,480 of which 99.5 per cent are Catholics.
The province surrounds Lake Taal from which Taal Volcano
Taal Volcano
Taal Volcano is a complex volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Historical eruptions are concentrated on Volcano Island, an island near the middle of Lake Taal. The lake partially fills Taal Caldera, which was formed by powerful prehistoric eruptions between 140,000 to 5,380 BP...
rises in the center. The rich soil of Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
was formed from volcanic tuff coming from the active volcanoes of Taal. The terrain is characterized by rolling hills, plateaus and low mountains, the highest of which is Mount Makiling
Mount Makiling
Mount Makiling, also rarely Mount Maquiling, is a potentially active volcano in Laguna province on the island of Luzon, Philippines. It rises to 1,090 m above mean sea level.-Legend:...
which is only 1,109 meters (3,600 ft) in elevation.
The Archbishop of Lipa
The current ArchbishopArchbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Lipa
Lipa
LIPA may stand for:*League for Independent Political Action, an American progressive political organization established in 1928*Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, a performing arts university in the English city of Liverpool that offers training in acting, dance, music, sound technology, arts...
is the Most Reverend
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Ramon Cabrera Arguelles
Ramon Arguelles
The Most Reverend Ramon Cabrera Arguelles, D.D. is the current Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lipa in the province of Batangas, on the island of Luzon, Philippines.-Biography:...
.
Creation of the Diocese
The Diocese of Lipa was created on April 10, 1910, separating it from that of ManilaRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila or Archdiocese of Manila is a particular Church or Diocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is also considered as the primatial see of the country, currently headed by the Archbishop of Manila and it enjoys primacy over the other dioceses in...
under the supervision of Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
. The diocese then covered the provinces of Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
, Laguna, Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
, Marinduque
Marinduque
In 1945, combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops attacked from the Japanese Troops liberated to the Battle of Marinduque in the Second World War.-Archaeology:...
and Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, with Most Reverend Joseph Petrelli, D.D., as the first bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He was faced with a monumental task because the diocese was large and there was but a handful of priests.
Bishop Petrelli invited different religious congregations
Roman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
to come to his diocese and help minister to the spiritual needs of the faithful. He also conceived the building of a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in the diocese. In June 1914 a diocesan seminary was built in Bauan, which was later transferred to San Pablo
San Pablo
-Geography:San Pablo is a common toponym in parts of the world where the Spanish language is or was spoken.Towns, cities, and counties called San Pablo:*Argentina**San Pablo , Catamarca Province...
in Laguna. This initiative of the first bishop was continued by the next bishop, Alfredo Verzosa, D.D., who served a long term from 1916 to 1950. He invited priests from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to help in the administration of the new seminary.
In 1950 Rufino Santos took over the diocese. Described as a financial administrator of great acumen, Bishop Santos applied for bank loans to help construct some buildings. This way he continued the construction work of the Lipa Cathedral and built a major seminary beside it.
Archdiocese
With the departure of Monsignor Rufino Santos for the Archdiocese of Manila came a young bishop, Most Reverend Alejandro Olalia, D.D., who stayed with the diocese from 1953 to 1973. It was during his term that the Diocese of Lipa, on June 20, 1972, became the tenth Archdiocese and Ecclesiastical Province by order of the Holy Father, Pope Paul VI. This same order elevated Bishop Olalia to the rank of archbishop on August 15, 1972.Bishop Olalia died in 1973 and was replaced by Bishop Ricardo J. Vidal who stayed with the diocese until 1981. During his incumbency. Bishop Vidal organized the Pastoral Council, and initiated the construction of the Lipa Archdiocesan Formation Center.
Bishop Vidal was replaced in 1981 by Bishop Mariano Gaviola, D.D. who stayed with the diocese from 1981 to 1993. He was at the helm of the archdiocese as it celebrated its 75th anniversary on March 19, 1993, the reins of the archdiocese were again transferred, this time to Bishop Gaudencio Rosales, a native of Batangas City. He was ordained priest in Lipa in 1958, became Auxiliary Bishop of Manila in 1974, served as bishop in Malaybalay in 1982, and on December 30, 1992 he was elected Archbishop of Lipa.
With the resignation of Cardinal Jaime Sin in 2003, there was a vacancy at the Holy See of Manila. Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales was chosen by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
to be the new Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. With Archbishop Rosales' appointment, the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
appointed Bishop Ramon Arguelles to the new Archbishop of Lipa
Lipa
LIPA may stand for:*League for Independent Political Action, an American progressive political organization established in 1928*Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, a performing arts university in the English city of Liverpool that offers training in acting, dance, music, sound technology, arts...
.
The Province
The province is rich in natural resources. Almost 80 per cent of Batangueños have a piece of land to cultivate, and the BatangasBatangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
farmer is a model farmer known for his intensive cultivation of land. This was brought about in large part by big landowners selling portions of their land, thus eliminating social unrest.
Fishing and mineral reserves abound in the province which also has a number of manufacturing industries including petroleum refineries, sugar centrals, food and beverage companies, and countless cottage industries. The coastline is dotted with beach resorts often frequented by local and foreign tourists. it is popular with foreign diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
aficionados.
As they have a stable source of income, most families in Batangas can afford to send their children to schools and colleges in Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
or in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. This explains why 90 per cent of the population is educated.
Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
was originally called Balayan, with Taal
Taal
Taal is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for language and was used as an early name for Afrikaans; it may also refer to the South African creole language Tsotsitaal.The word Taal can also refer to:*Tala...
as its first capital. In 1754 the capital was moved to Batangas City
Batangas City
- Foreign Rule :The first Spanish missionaries arrived in Batangas City since 1572. Finally on 1581 Spanish authorities governing the Philippines created a pueblo in the area which included the hill where the present Provincial Capitol of Batangas stands after the formal end of the Coumintang...
, its capital today. Historically, Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
is known as the birth place of Apolinario Mabini
Apolinario Mabini
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan was a Filipino political philosopher and revolutionary who wrote a constitutional plan for the of 1899-1901, and served as its first prime minister in 1899...
, a Filipino hero known as the "Sublime Paralytic" who became Secretary of State of the First Philippine Republic. The last Filipino general to surrender to Americans in the Philippine American War, Miguel Malvar
Miguel Malvar
Miguel Malvar y Carpio was a Filipino commander who served during the Philippine Revolution and subsequently during the Philippine–American War. He assumed command of the Philippine revolutionary forces during the latter conflict following the capture of Emilio Aguinaldo in 1901...
, was also from this province.
Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes
A. Religious Institutes of Men- Congregation of the Most Holy RedeemerCongregation of the Most Holy RedeemerThe Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
~ CSsR, Redemptorists - Brothers of the Christian Schools ~ FSC, De La Salle Brothers
- Order of Friars Minor CapuchinOrder of Friars Minor CapuchinThe Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
~ OFM Cap - Oblates of St. JosephOblates of St. JosephThe Oblates of St. Joseph is a Catholic religious order founded in 1878 by St. Joseph Marello. In 1999 their Shrine of Saint Joseph the Guardian of the Redeemer was named after the Apostolic exhortation Redemptoris Custos.-External links:* *...
~ OSJ - Salesian Society of St John Bosco ~ SDB
- Order of Preachers ~ OP, Dominicans
- Society of the Divine Word ~ SVD
- Oblates of St. Francis de SalesOblates of St. Francis de SalesThe Oblates of St. Francis de Sales are a congregation of Roman Catholic priests and brothers who base their spirituality on the teachings of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (Latin: Oblati Sancti Francisci Salesii, O.S.F.S.) are a congregation of...
~ OSF
B. Religious Institutes of Women
- Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters ~ AR
- Clarisas Capuchinas Sacramentarias ~ CCS, Contemplative
- Canossian Daughters of Charity ~ FdCC
- Daughters of St. PaulDaughters of St. PaulThe Daughters of St Paul is a Roman Catholic international religious congregation founded in 1915 in Italy.The congregation is part of the worldwide Pauline family, consisting of ten orders and lay institutes, all founded by Blessed Giacomo Alberione, and operates in 50 countries around the world....
~ FSP - Daughters of St. Francis of Florence ~ DSFF
- Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus ~ FMIJ
- Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart ~ MCSH
- Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus ~ MCST
- Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima ~ MSOLF
- Discalced Nuns of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel ~ OCD, Contemplative
- Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation ~ OSA-ASOLC
- Benedictines of the Incarnate Word ~ OSB
- Sisters Oblates of the Holy Spirit ~ OSS
- Oblates of Sisters of St. Joseph ~ OSSJ
- Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows Servants of Mary ~ OSM, Servite Sisters
- Pious Worker Sisters of the Immaculate Conception ~ POIC
- Congregation of our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd~ RGS/CGS
- Missionary Sisters of the Catechism ~ SMC
- Congregation of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres ~ SPC
- Minim Nuns of St. Francil of Paola ~ OM
- Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate ~ FSI
- La Salle Sisters of Guadalupe ~ HGS
- Congregation of the Daughters of St. Dominic ~ OP-DSD
- Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of NazarethSisters of the Holy Family of NazarethThe Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth are a Roman Catholic religious order which was founded in Rome in 1875 by Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd . The Sisters of the Holy Family are an apostolic, international congregation, located on four continents and in thirteen countries. There are...
~ CSFN
C. Lay Religious Organizations/Movements and their Heads
- Pondong Batangan Community Foundation, Inc
- Cursillo Movement
- Adoracion Nocturna Filipina
- Apostleship of Prayer
- Archdiocesan Charismatic Movement
- El Shaddai Movement
- Knights of Columbus
- Basic Ecclesial Communities
- Legion of Mary
- Barangay Sang Birhen
- Mother Butler's Guild
- Holy Name Society
- Daughters of Mary Immaculate:
- Catholic Women's League
- Propagation of the Devotion to St. Lorenzo Ruiz
- Prisoner's Welfare
- Defenders of the Faith
Territorial re-organisation
As the Archdiocese of LipaArchdiocese of Lipa
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa today comprises the civil province of Batangas located in the southwestern part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines.-Suffragan dioceses:*Diocese of Boac*Diocese of Gumaca*Diocese of Lucena-Location:...
changed hands over the years, changes too were happening to its territorial jurisdiction over certain areas. These were proud moments for the archdiocese, when a number of provinces had acquired the capability to stand on their own. Thus in 1936 Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila...
was separated and became the Apostolic Prelature of Calapan. In 1950 Lucena City
Lucena City
Metro Lucena has an estimated population of 700,000 which is mostly concentrated in the flat south-central portion of Quezon, which includes the cities of Lucena and Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, Lucban & Pagbilao . The people are often characterized as friendly and hardworking...
became a diocese of its own, and also in 1950 the Prelature of Infanta was created, comprising the northern part of Quezon Province, Polilio and Aurora, Laguna's turn came next and became a separate diocese in 1967, that of San Pablo. The Diocese of Boac in Marinduque
Marinduque
In 1945, combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops attacked from the Japanese Troops liberated to the Battle of Marinduque in the Second World War.-Archaeology:...
was created in 1977 and that of Gumaca in 1984. Both dioceses were part of the Diocese of Lucena before their establishment. In 1983 the new Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
in Occidental Mindoro
Occidental Mindoro
Occidental Mindoro is a province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. "Home of the Indigenous Mangyans". Its capital is Mamburao and occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro, on the west by Apo East Pass, and on the south by the Mindoro Strait; Oriental Mindoro is...
was created.
Today the Archdiocese of Lipa
Archdiocese of Lipa
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa today comprises the civil province of Batangas located in the southwestern part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines.-Suffragan dioceses:*Diocese of Boac*Diocese of Gumaca*Diocese of Lucena-Location:...
is for the province of Batangas alone. But the population has multiplied many times over. The archdiocese is divided into 6 vicariates, each headed by a vicar forane . Except for the parishes in Vicariate IV which are run by the Oblates of St. Joseph
Oblates of St. Joseph
The Oblates of St. Joseph is a Catholic religious order founded in 1878 by St. Joseph Marello. In 1999 their Shrine of Saint Joseph the Guardian of the Redeemer was named after the Apostolic exhortation Redemptoris Custos.-External links:* *...
, all other parishes are run by the diocesan clergy. There are 49 parishes in all, served by 143 priests. 122 of them diocesan. There are 13 religious brothers, and 197 religious sisters. Catholic schools number 23, high school seminaries 2 and college seminaries 3. Two pastoral centers are being maintained.
Vision
On August 18, 1995, after much review, and meetings presided over by Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales himself, the archdiocese's vision was conceived:"A people of God called by the Father in Jesus Christ to be communities of totally developed human persons in the world, witnessing to the Kingdom of God by living the Paschal Mystery in the power of the Holy Spirit."