The Archdiocese of Davao (Latin: Archidioecesis Davaënsis) is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is a metropolitan see in southern Mindanao. The archdiocese comprises the city of Davao, and the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte.
Under its jurisdiction are the three suffragan dioceses of Digos, Tagum, and Mati.
History
The beginnings of the Archdiocese started with the arrival of the Augustinian Recollects in 1848 followed by the Jesuits soon after.
Its official beginnings came during its establishment as a Prelature Nullius on December 17, 1949, having the Archdiocese of Cebu as its Metropolitan. It was elevated into a diocese on July 11, 1966, and eventually became an archdiocese on June 29, 1970, taking as its titular patron saint Peter the Apostle whose feast day is celebrated also on June 29.
The official name given to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction is "Archidioecesis Davaensis" and San Pedro Cathedral Parish as the seat of the archbishop.
On December 29, 1954, Clovis Thibault was appointed prelate of the prelature of Davao. He was a priest of the Foreign Mission Society of Quebec. He became the first bishop and archbishop when the prelature was elevated into a diocese and later into an archdiocese. Antonio Lloren Mabutas, a native of Agoo, La Union, succeeded him on December 9, 1972. He was then succeeded by Fernando Capalla who first became Coadjutor Archbishop on June 28, 1994, and became its archbishop on November 6, 1996. The current archbishop of Davao is Romulo Valles, who was appointed in 2012.
Ordinaries
Archbishops +NoNameIn officeCoat of arms1.Clovis Joseph Thibauld1954–1966 (as Prelate) 1966–1970 (as Bishop)1970–1972 (as Archbishop)2.Antonio Lloren Mabutas1972–19963.Fernando Capalla1996–20124.Romulo Geolina Valles2012–present
Auxiliary bishops Fernando Capalla (1975–1977) Pedro Rosales Dean (1977–1980) Generoso Cambronero Camiña (1978–1979) Patricio Hacbang Alo (1981–1984) Juan de Dios Mataflorida Pueblos (1985–1987) Alfredo Banluta Baquial (1988–1993) Guillermo Dela Vega Afable (2001–2002) George Beluso Rimando (2006–present)Catholic Hierarchy: "Bishop George Beluso Rimando retrieved November 7, 2015
Suffragan dioceses Diocese Bishop Period in office Coat of armsDigos(Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental) Guillermo Dela Vega AfableFebruary 11, 2003 – present() Mati(Davao Oriental) Abel Cahiles ApigoApril 25, 2018 – present()Tagum(Davao del Norte) Medel Sacay Aseo June 20, 2018 – present()
Statistics As of 2023:
Total Population – 1,829,041 Catholic Population – 1,506,873 Diocesan Priests – 82 Religious Priests – 51 Male Religious – 119 Female Religious – 530 Parishes – 41 Vicariates – 7 Catholic educational institutions – 3 seminaries, 2 universities, 6 colleges, and 14 high schools
See also Catholic Church in the Philippines
References
External links
Archdiocese of Davao - CBCP Online Archdiocese of Davao - Catholic Hierarchy Website Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Most Rev. Fernando R. Capalla, D.D., Archbishop of Davao Archdiocese of Davao - Official Website