Diocese of Parañaque

Diocese of Parañaque Dioecesis Paranaquensis Diyosesis ng Parañaque
Arms of the diocese
Location
Country	Philippines
Territory	Parañaque City, Las Piñas City, Muntinlupa City
Ecclesiastical province	Manila
Metropolitan	Manila
Statistics
Area	126 km2 (49 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2013) 2,534,321 (as of 2013) 2,234,786 (94%%)
Parishes	50 (4 diocesan shrines, 3 national shrines)
Churches	58 churches
Congregations	18
Schools	12
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	December 7, 2002
Cathedral	Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew
Patron saint	St. Andrew the Apostle
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Most Rev. Jesse E. Mercado, D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop	Luis Antonio Tagle Cardinal-Archbishop of Manila
Vicar General	Rev. Msgr. Allen C. Aganon

The Diocese of Parañaque is one of the 72 ecclesiastical territories called dioceses of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It comprises the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa. Formerly belonging to the Archdiocese of Manila, It was established on December 7, 2002 by Pope John Paul II by virtue of the Papal Bull Ad Efficacius. Most Rev. Jesse E. Mercado, D.D., the Auxiliary Bishop of Manila and then the District Bishop of the Ecclesiastical District of Parañaque (formerly, PPLM), was designated as its first Bishop. He was formally installed on January 28, 2003.

The diocese comprises 50 full-fledged parishes (4 of which are pronounced diocesan shrines, 3 of which are national shrines), 2 quasi-parishes, 2 sub-parishes and 1 non-parochial shrine. The Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew in La Huerta, Parañaque City, serves as the seat of the diocese.

We, the local church of the Diocese of Parañaque, envision ourselves as a communion of diverse communities, embracing and sharing in Jesus' mission to proclaim the Reign of the Father, constantly renewed by the Holy Spirit and accompanied by Mary, our Mother and Model.

As a Diocese, we commit ourselves to proclaim the Kingdom of God by:

The diocese has 2,234,786 Roman Catholics out of a total population of 2.53 million.

The mitre symbolises the pastoral authority of the bishop, which he exercises within the three cities: Parañaque (an "M" in a crown); Las Piñas (the Bamboo Organ); and Muntinlupa (the mountains over water), comprising the Diocese of Parañaque.