Masbate Cathedral

Saint Anthony of Padua Cathedral Parish
Facade of the Masbate Cathedral.
Location	Quezon St., Masbate City, Masbate Province 5400
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Founded	1578 (1578)
Dedication	Saint Anthony of Padua
Administration
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Masbate
Province	Archdiocese of Caceres
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Rev. Jose Bantolo, DD
Pastor(s)	Rev. Ismael "Maeng" B. Misolas, PC (cathedral rector)

Masbate Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral-Parish of Saint Anthony of Padua, is a Roman Catholic church located on Quezon Street in Masbate City, Masbate Province, the Philippines. It is the cathedral or seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masbate.

It belongs to the Vicariate of St. Anthony of Padua, which includes also Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Malinta, Masbate City and St. Nicholas of Tolentino Parish in Mobo. It was founded in 1578 by Spanish Missionaries. The present rector of the cathedral is Rev. Ismael B. Misolas.

It was founded in 1578 by Spanish Missionaries.

In 1951, the parish became a part of the newly erected Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon, of which Rev. Teopisto Alberto was its first Bishop. Then parish priest Msgr. Arnulfo Arcilla (later made bishop of Sorsogon) laid down the foundation of the first structures of the cathedral-parish in 1954. On March 23, 1968, the civil province of Masbate was declared an independent diocese from Sorsogon, and St. Anthony of Padua Parish was made the cathedral or seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masbate.

A major repair on the building was done during the administration of the first Bishop of Masbate, Rev. Porfirio R. Iligan. Expansions and other improvements followed later under the supervision of its succeeding cathedral rectors.

The present Cathedral is almost a re-construction, and no mere renovation of the old one. Its center floor and isle was of course preserved as well as some vestiges of the cross-shaped part of the ceiling. Msgr. Joel Z. Baylon, the second successor to Episcopacy in the Diocese of Masbate, initiated this venture and was supported by Msgr. Quintin Feraren Jr., together with all the parish priests and faithful here and abroad. The Cathedral was blessed and dedicated on September 25, 2004.

St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral-Parish is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masbate, canonically erected on September 23, 1968.