The Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa is a Latin Catholic missionary jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church located in the Province of Palawan, Philippines. Its cathedra is within Immaculate Conception Cathedral in the episcopal see of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. It is not a part of an ecclesiastical province as it is directly exempt to the Holy See, specifically the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, yet for the purpose of apostolic cooperation usually grouped with the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila, along with the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay. The current vicar apostolic is Bishop Socrates Calamba Mesiona.
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 Dioceses 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 May 13, 1910, sent by 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 y Infante was the first vicar apostolic of Palawan. 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 March 27, 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
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 actually represents the fort of Cuyo, where the first missionary arrived on August 1622, as well as the other ports in the province of Palawan 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 (1911–1955) Apostolic prefectPeriod in officeStatus1.Fr. Victoriano Romàn Zárate di S. Giuseppe, O.A.R.April 21, 19111936Died in office2.Fr. Leandro Nieto y Bolandier, O.A.R.November 25, 19381942Died in office3.Fr. Gregorio Espiga e Infante, O.A.R.1954July 03, 1955Appointed as the first vicar apostolic of Palawan
Vicars apostolic of Palawan (1955–2002) BishopPeriod in officeStatusCoat of arms1.Gregorio Espiga y Infante, O.A.R.July 03, 1955December 18, 1987Resigned2.Francisco Capiral San DiegoDecember 18, 1987July 12, 1995Transferred to Diocese of San Pablo3.Pedro Dulay ArigoFebruary 23, 1996March 27, 2002Remained as vicar apostolic of Puerto Princesa
Vicars apostolic of Puerto Princesa BishopPeriod in officeStatusCoat of arms1.Pedro Dulay ArigoMarch 27, 2002 – October 28, 2016Retired2.Socrates Calamba MesionaOctober 28, 2016 – presentIncumbent
See also Catholic Church in the Philippines List of Catholic dioceses in the Philippines Catholic Church hierarchy
References
External links
GCatholic, with incumbent ordinates list and linking biographies Catholic-Hierarchy.org