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Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose (Nueva Ecija)

Coordinates: 15°47′31″N 120°59′23″E / 15.79201°N 120.98961°E / 15.79201; 120.98961
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Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija

Dioecesis Sancti Iosephi in Insulis Philippinis

Diyosesis ng San Jose, Nueva Ecija
Diocesis ti San Jose, Nueva Ecija
Catholic
Coat of arms of the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija
Coat of arms
Location
CountryPhilippines
TerritoryNorthern Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Cuyapo, Guimba, Licab, Llanera, Lupao, Muñoz, Nampicuan, Pantabangan, Quezon, Rizal, San Jose, Santo Domingo, Talugtug)
Ecclesiastical provinceLingayen-Dagupan
MetropolitanLingayen-Dagupan
Coordinates15°47′31″N 120°59′23″E / 15.79201°N 120.98961°E / 15.79201; 120.98961
Statistics
Area2,540 km2 (980 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2021)
975,000
860,000[1] (88.2%)
Parishes21
Congregations10 (4 Religious Institutes of Men and 6 Religious Institutes of Women)
Schools12 (10 Diocesan Schools and 2 Religious Administered)
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established16 February 1984
CathedralCathedral-Parish of St. Joseph the Worker
Patron saintJoseph the Worker
Secular priests41
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopSede vacante
Metropolitan ArchbishopSocrates Buenaventura Villegas
Vicar GeneralGetty A. Ferrer
Statistics from Catholic-Hierarchy.org

The Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija (Latin: Dioecesis Sancti Iosephi in Insulis Philippinis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese located in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Established by Pope John Paul II in 1984, it was officially canonically erected on July 14 of the same year. The diocese was created from the territories formerly under the Diocese of Cabanatuan, initially comprising sixteen parishes out of Cabanatuan's original forty-one. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

The diocese celebrated its Silver Anniversary of Canonical Erection last July 14, 2009. San Jose held its first Diocesan Synod in March 2011 led by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.

As of March 27, 2025, the diocese is sede vacante after Bishop Mallari was installed as Bishop of Tarlac.[2]

History

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The Diocese of San Jose, located in Nueva Ecija, Philippines, was established by Pope John Paul II on February 16, 1984. It was canonically erected on July 14, 1984, with territories taken from the Diocese of Cabanatuan.[3]

Sixteen out of the forty-one parishes formerly belonging to the Diocese of Cabanatuan were incorporated into the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija. Approximately 80 percent of the population within the diocese identify as Roman Catholic, while the remaining 20 percent belong to various other religious groups and denominations.[4]

Bishop Florentino F. Cinense was appointed as San Jose's first bishop on May 24, 1984; he was consecrated on July 14, 1984.[5] On August 17, 1985, he was appointed coadjutor bishop of Tarlac but continued to serve as the apostolic administrator of San Jose until his successor, Bishop Leo M. Drona, was appointed on June 10, 1987, and consecrated on July 25, 1987.[6][7]

Bishop Leo M. Drona had been a Salesian of Don Bosco for twenty nine-years prior to his episcopal appointment. He is the first Filipino Salesian priest as well as the first Filipino Salesian bishop.[8] In June 2004, Drona was transferred to the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna as its third bishop.[9]

He was succeeded by Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, who was appointed by Pope John Paul II on February 12, 2005 and was installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija on May 14, 2005.[10] Vergara was subsequently transferred to the Diocese of Pasig in 2011.[11]

On May 15, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named Roberto C. Mallari as the diocese's fourth bishop; he was installed on July 10 of that year.[12][13]

On December 29, 2024, Pope Francis announced the transfer of Bishop Mallari to the Diocese of Tarlac.[14] Following Mallari's installation in Tarlac on March 27, 2025, Fr. Getty Ferrer was elected as its diocesan administrator on March 29, 2025.[2]

Ordinaries

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Bishop Period in Office Coat of Arms
1. Florentino Ferrer Cinense, STL May 24, 1984 - August 17, 1985 appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Tarlac

2. Leo Murphy Drona, SDB June 10, 1987 - May 14, 2004 appointed Bishop of San Pablo
3. Mylo Hubert Claudio Vergara, SThD February 12, 2005 - June 23, 2011 appointed Bishop of Pasig
4. Roberto Calara Mallari July 10, 2012 - December 29, 2024 appointed Bishop of Tarlac

Diocesan officials

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  • Diocesan Administrator and Vicar General: Getty A. Ferrer[2]
  • Chancellor: Rufo Ramil H. Cruz
  • Vice Chancellor: Vic Kevin O. Ferrer
  • Oeconomous: Nestor E. Romano
  • Judicial Vicar: Getty A. Ferrer

Apo Jose Catholic Educational System (ACES)

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Diocesan schools

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Religious administered

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Other educational centers

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "San Jose de Nueva Ecija (Catholic Diocese)". gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  2. ^ a b c "Fr. Getty Ferrer elected administrator of San Jose de Nueva Ecija diocese". CBCP News. 2025-03-29. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  3. ^ "San Jose (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  4. ^ "San Jose Nueva Ecija Diocese: History, Population, Geography, Statistics | UCA News". ucanews.com. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  5. ^ "Bishop Emeritus Bishop Florentino F. Cinense | Bishop Emeritus of Tarlac Diocese Bishop Florentino F. Cinense | Ucanews". www.ucanews.com. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  6. ^ "Bishop Florentino Ferrer Cinense [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  7. ^ "Bishop Leo Murphy Drona [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  8. ^ "St. Joseph Cathedral - SJC.GOV.PH". www.sjc.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2022-07-24. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  9. ^ "Bishop Emeritus Bishop Leo Murphy Drona | Bishop Emeritus of San Pablo Diocese Bishop Leo Murphy Drona | Ucanews". www.ucanews.com. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  10. ^ "Bishop of Pasig Diocese Mylo Hubert Claudio Vergara | UCA News". www.ucanews.com. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  11. ^ "CBCP: Pope names new Pasig bishop". GMA News Online. 2011-04-21. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  12. ^ "Diocese of San Jose Nueva Ecija Philippines | Ucanews".
  13. ^ "Bishop Roberto Calara Mallari [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  14. ^ "Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-04-03.