Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga
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Diocese of Balanga Dioecesis Balangensis Diyosesis ng Balanga |
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Arms of the Diocese
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| Location | |
| Ecclesiastical province | San Fernando |
| Metropolitan | San Fernando |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 17 March 1975 |
| Cathedral | Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of Saint Joseph |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Ruperto C. Santos |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Florentino Lavarias |
| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
The Diocese of Balanga is one of the 72 ecclesiastical territories called dioceses of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It comprises the whole province of Bataan. It was established on March 17, 1975, appointing the Most Rev. Celso Guevarra as the first Bishop on June 4, 1975. The current bishop is Most. Rev. Ruperto C. Santos who was appointed as bishop on April 1, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI
The Diocese of Balanga was established on March 17, 1975. It comprises the entire civil province of Bataan, the smallest among the provinces of Central Luzon. The province is a peninsula jutting out to sea, with Manila Bay to the east, China Sea to the west, and the province of Zambales to the north.
Before this, the region was divided into two parts: the Corregimiento of Mariveles and the Province of Pampanga. The towns of Mariveles, Bagac, Morong and Maragondon, Cavite comprised the Corregimiento of Mariveles that was under the jurisdiction of the Recollect Order of the Roman Catholic Church. The province of Pampanga included the towns of Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Abucay, Samal, Orani, Llana Hermosa and San Juan de Dinalupihan. The latter group was under the charge of the Dominican Order. Limay, the twelfth town of Bataan, was named only in 1917.
The topography of the province has made most of the inhabitants farmers or fishermen, with a sprinkling of merchants, factory workers and professionals. Recent years, however, have seen the development of manufacturing industries in the province, particularly the Free Zone in Mariveles, which has brought an influx of workers from other provinces and improved living conditions of its own workers.
Historically Bataan is most remembered, along with the island of Corregidor, as the main scene of action in the Philippines during the Second World War. These places are strategic in guarding the entrance to Manila Bay. The surrender of Filipino and American soldiers to overwhelming Japanese forces marked the Fall of Bataan in 1942. A war memorial, Dambana ng Kagitingan, now stands to honor the men who fought and died in that last stand.
The diocese comprises the whole civil province of Bataan. It comprises 34 parishes and 2 chaplaincies. St. Joseph's Cathedral in Aguire Street, Poblacion, Balanga City, serves as the seat of the diocese.
The titular patron of the diocese is St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, whose feast day falls on March 19. The city fiesta is celebrated on April 28.
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Wikipedia