Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga

Diocese of Balanga

Dioecesis Balangensis

Diyosesis ng Balanga
Diócesis de Balanga
Catholic
Coat of arms
Location
Country Philippines
TerritoryBataan
Ecclesiastical provinceSan Fernando
MetropolitanSan Fernando
HeadquartersBalanga, Bataan
Coordinates14°40′45″N 120°32′24″E / 14.6792°N 120.5400°E / 14.6792; 120.5400
Statistics
Area1,373 km2 (530 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2022)
853,373
682,698[1] (80%)
Parishes38 parishes, 5 diocesan shrines, 1 chaplaincy, 1 minor basilica, 1 quasi-parish, 1 chapel
Schools11
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedMarch 17, 1975
CathedralCathedral-Shrine Parish of St. Joseph
Patron saint
Secular priests59 (34 diocesan and 25 religious priests)
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopVacant
Metropolitan ArchbishopFlorentino G. Lavarias
Apostolic AdministratorFlorentino G. Lavarias
Vicar GeneralJosue V. Enero
Map
Website
www.facebook.com/balangadiocese/

The Diocese of Balanga is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, established on March 17, 1975, by Pope Paul VI. The diocese has jurisdiction over the whole province of Bataan, with 38 parishes, 5 diocesan shrines, one minor basilica, chaplaincy, quasi-parish, national shrine and chapel, and 4 vicariates. The Cathedral-Shrine Parish of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary in Aguire Street, Poblacion, Balanga, serves as the seat of the diocese. It is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of San Fernando, Pampanga. The titular patron of the diocese is Saint Joseph, whose feast day falls on March 19. The city fiesta is celebrated on April 28.

As of October 2015, Bishop Ruperto Santos is the longest-serving living bishop of Balanga, having served for 13 years, 3 months, and 21 days (4,860 days) as the diocese's fourth bishop from April 1, 2010 (installed or assumed office on July 8, 2010 3 months and 7 days after being appointed to the position) to July 22, 2023.

The diocese became vacant when Santos became bishop of Antipolo covering Rizal province, and the city of Marikina in Metro Manila on July 22, 2023. Pope Francis then appointed Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga Florentino Lavarias as sede vacante apostolic administrator of the diocese while awaiting for the installation of Santos' successor as the diocese's bishop, returning Bataan temporarily to the jurisdiction of Archdiocese of San Fernando after 47 years and 8 months.

Coat of arms of Bishop Ruperto Santos that was displayed on the cathedra of Balanga Cathedral when he was installed or assumed office as fourth Bishop of Balanga on July 8, 2010 three months after being appointed to the position on April 1, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI (died December 31, 2022 and funeral January 5, 2023 6–7 months before Santos stepped down as the diocese's fourth bishop on July 22, 2023), ending the diocese's 8 months and 4 days sede vacante period or without a bishop in office under the diocesan administrator Victor Ocampo and Santos' 4 months and 7 days bishop-elect period, until he became Bishop of Antipolo covering Marikina in Metro Manila and the province of Rizal on the said date of July 2023.
  1. ^ "Balanga (Catholic Diocese)". gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2023-09-18.