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]

Diocese of Calapan

Dioecesis Calapaniensis

Diyosesis ng Calapan
Diocesis de Calapan
Catholic
Coat of arms of the Diocese of Calapan
Coat of arms
Location
CountryPhilippines
TerritoryOriental Mindoro
Ecclesiastical provinceLipa
MetropolitanLipa
Deaneries8
Coordinates13°24′53″N 121°10′49″E / 13.41462°N 121.18027°E / 13.41462; 121.18027
Statistics
Area4,364 km2 (1,685 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2021)
  • 1,003,940
  • 931,000[1] (92.7%)
Parishes21
Churches41
Schools14
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedJuly 2, 1936
CathedralCathedral-Parish of Santo Niño
Patron saintSanto Niño
Secular priests45
Current leadership
PopeLeo XIV
BishopMoises Magpantay Cuevas
Metropolitan ArchbishopGilbert Armea Garcera
Vicar GeneralCarlos P. Paglicawan
Bishops emeritusWarlito I. Cajandig
Map
Jurisdiction of the Diocese of Calapan.
Jurisdiction of the 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]

History

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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

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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.


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.

References

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  1. "Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan Statistics". gcatholic.org.
  2. 1 2 3 David M., Cheney. "Vicariate Apostolic of Calapan". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan". The Catholic Directory of the Philippines. Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  4. "Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan". Claretian Publications. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  5. CBCP News (March 25, 2026). "Vatican elevates Calapan to diocese; Cuevas named first bishop". CBCP. Retrieved March 25, 2026.