Diocese of Calapan
Catholic missionary jurisdiction in the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Diocese of Calapan (Latin: Dioecesis Calapanensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. In 2010, 756,000 residents had been baptized out of about 814,000 inhabitants.[2][3]
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Diocese of Calapan Dioecesis Calapaniensis Diyosesis ng Calapan Diocesis de Calapan | |
|---|---|
| Catholic | |
| |
 Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Territory | Oriental Mindoro |
| Ecclesiastical province | Lipa |
| Metropolitan | Lipa |
| Deaneries | 8 |
| Coordinates | 13°24′53″N 121°10′49″E |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 4,364 km2 (1,685 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 21 |
| Churches | 41 |
| Schools | 14 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | July 2, 1936 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral-Parish of Santo Niño |
| Patron saint | Santo Niño |
| Secular priests | 45 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Moises Magpantay Cuevas |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Gilbert Armea Garcera |
| Vicar General | Carlos P. Paglicawan |
| Bishops emeritus | Nestor Julao Adalia |
| Map | |
 Jurisdiction of the metropolitan see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calapan. | |
It has six related parishes. The episcopal residence and seat of the diocese is the Santo Niño Cathedral located in Calapan.[4]
On November 13, 2018, Pope Francis has appointed Nestor Adalia, currently the Vicar General of Calapan, to take the post as apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis", meaning "at the disposition of the Holy See" or to take temporary charge of the administration of the apostolic vicariate, due to the health condition of Warlito Itcuas Cajandig. On June 29, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Moises Magpantay Cuevas (previously as Auxiliary Bishop of Zamboanga) as the 6th Apostolic Vicar and on March 25, 2026, as the first Bishop of Calapan by Pope Leo XIV.[5]
History
The Apostolic Prefecture of Mindoro was created on July 2, 1936, with territories taken from the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Jaro and Lipa, both of which were later elevated into archdioceses.
On July 12, 1951, Pope Pius XII, through the papal bull Merit ab Apostolic, elevated the apostolic prefecture to an apostolic vicariate.[2]
On December 19, 1974, and January 27, 1983, portions of its territory were lost to the creation of the Diocese of Romblon and the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Mindoro.[2]
On March 25, 2026 Pope Leo XIV has elevated the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan to a diocese and appointed its apostolic vicar, Moises Cuevas, as its first bishop.[5]
Ordinaries
- Apostolic Prefects of Mindoro (1936-1951)
| Name | Period in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bishop William Finnemann, S.V.D. | December 04, 1936 – October 10, 1942 |
| 2. | Fr. Henry Ederle, S.V.D. | June 06, 1946 – July 12, 1951 |
- Apostolic Vicars of Calapan (1951-2026)
| Name | Period in office | Coat of arms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bishop Wilhelm Josef Duschak, S.V.D. | July 12, 1951 – November 26, 1973, resigned[3] |  |
| 2. | Bishop Simeon Oliveros Valerio, S.V.D. | November 26, 1973 – September 26, 1988, resigned[3] |  |
| 3. | Bishop Warlito Itucas Cajandig | April 28, 1989 – November 7, 2022, ceased |  |
| 4. | Bishop Moises Magpantay Cuevas | June 29, 2023 – March 25, 2026, Appointed as First Bishop of the Newly Elevated Diocese of Calapan. | .svg) |
Ordinaries of the Diocese of Calapan (2026-Present)
| Name | Period in office | Coat of arms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bishop Moises Magpantay Cuevas | March 25, 2026, Appointed as First Bishop of the Newly Elevated Diocese of Calapan. | |