Archdiocese of Zamboanga

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The Archdiocese of Zamboanga (Latin name: Archdiocesis Zamboangensis) is a Catholic archdiocese located within the Philippine Islands. Its present jurisdiction takes in mainland Zamboanga City, with suffragans in Basilan (Prelature of Isabela, Basilan), Sulu Archipelago (Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo) and Zamboanga Sibugay (Prelature of Ipil). Established in 1910 as Mindanao's first diocese, Zamboanga is elevated into the second archdiocese in Mindanao in 1958. The archdiocese today covers a land area of 1,648 square kilometers and a population of 442,345 of which 81 per cent are Catholics. The area covers 26 parishes, served by 49 diocesan and 18 religious priests. There are also 51 religious sisters working in related activities in the archdiocese.

The current Archibishop is Romulo Valles

Contents

[edit] History

From 1607 to 1910 the entire island of Mindanao was under the Diocese of Cebu and Jaro. On April 10, 1910, Pope Pius X created the Diocese of Zamboanga and gave it jurisdiction over the whole island of Mindanao, including the adjacent islands of the Sulu Archipelago and the island of Cagayan de Sulu.

The Catholic faith first came to Zamboanga in 1635 with the arrival of the first missionaries, Father Melchor de Vera and Father Alejandro Lopez, both Jesuits. The Spanish authorities were always at war with the Muslims then. Their efforts to subdue the Muslims always resulted in reprisal raids in Zamboanga and the Visayan Islands. In Zamboanga, Fort Pilar, in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar, was constructed in 1636. Two Jesuits priests died as martyrs in their efforts to win the Muslims through diplomacy – Father Francisco Paliola and Father Alejanrdo Lopez.

On January 20, 1933, Pope Pius XI divided the Mindanao area into two – the whole southern portion, including the Sulu Archipelago, under the jurisdiction of Zamboanga, and the northern portion under the Diocese of Cagayan de Oro. In 1951, Cagayan de Oro was elevated to an archdiocese, the first in the island of Mindanao. And all episcopal jurisdictions in Mindanao and Sulu, including that of Zamboanga, became suffragans of this archdiocese.

The Diocese of Zamboanga was further divided when the Prelature Nullius of Davao was established and separated in 1949; the Prelature of Cotabato in 1950; the Prelature of Isabela, Basilan, in 1963, and finally the Prelature of Ipil in 1979.

Zamboanga was raised to an archdiocese on May 15, 1958 by Pope Pius XII. As an ecclesiastical province, the Archdiocese of Zamboanga now comprises the City of Zamboanga. As suffragans it has the Prelature of Ipil, in Zamboanga Sibugay, the Prelature of Isabela in Basilan, and the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo. Its titular patroneses is Our Lady of the Pillar, and its secondary patron is St. Pius X, Pope.

The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines adopted the Community of Disciples as the prime model of the Church, with the special attribute of being a Church of the Poor. For the church in Zamboanga, the challenge is to incarnate in the archdiocese the vision of PCP II.

An Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly was held early in 1995 to formalize preparations leading to Second Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly of Zamboanga in 1996.

Among the Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese of Zamboanga are 2 colleges, 6 secondary schools, 6 elementary schools, and 8 kindergarten schools. Charitable and social institutions include a leprosarium, 5 free clinics, 1 orphanage and 1 child center.

On 2010, the Archdiocese will celebrate its 100th anniversary of the establishment of the first diocese in Mindanao, although the golden anniversary of being elevated as an archdiocese in 2008 is still part of the said celebration.

[edit] List of Bishops and Archbishops

[edit] The Diocese of Zamboanga (1910-1958)

  • Michael James O'Doherty (1911-1916)
  • James Paul McCloskey (1917-1920)
  • José Clos y Pagés, S.J. (1920-1931)
  • Luis Del Rosario, S.J. (1933-1958)

[edit] The Archdiocese of Zamboanga (1958-present)

  • Luis del Rosario, S.J. (1958-1966)
  • Lino Gonzaga y Rasdesales (1966-1973)
  • Francisco Raval Cruces (1973-1994)
  • Carmelo Dominador Flores Morelos (1994-2006)
  • Romulo Valles (2006-present)

[edit] Parishes under the Archdiocese of Zamboanga

[edit] Office and Residence

  • Archbishop's Palace, Sacred Heart Center, R.T. Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City
  • Archdiocesan Chancery and Plenary Hall, Gov. Camins Avenue, Zamboanga City

[edit] Facts and Information

  • The city's primary patroness is Our Lady of the Pillar, whose shrine is located at the old Fort Pilar. Her feast day is October 12, the city's official holiday.
  • Bishop Michael O'Doherty was the first bishop of the diocese in 1910 until he was appointed Archbishop of Manila in 1916.


[edit] References
Flag of the Philippines Metropolitan Sees of the Philippines Flag of the Philippines
Archdiocese of Caceres | Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro | Archdiocese of Capiz | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu | Archdiocese of Cotabato | Archdiocese of Davao | Archdiocese of Jaro | Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan | Archdiocese of Lipa | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila | Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia | Archdiocese of Ozamis | Archdiocese of Palo | Archdiocese of San Fernando | Archdiocese of Tuguegarao | Archdiocese of Zamboanga | Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines | Military Ordinariate of the Philippines

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.