Balanga (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Rufino Coronel Sescon Jr., Bishop-Elect
Florentino Galang Lavarias, Apostolic Administrator

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 17 March 1975
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San Fernando
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Philippines
Square Kilometers: 1,373 (530 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the entire civil province of Bataan
Official Web Site: http://www.balangadiocese.com/
Mailing Address: Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph, Aguirre St., Balanga, 2100 Bataan, Philippines
Telephone: (047)237-5705
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Celso Nogoy Guevarra † (4 Jun 1975 Appointed - 8 Apr 1998 Retired)
Honesto Flores Ongtioco (8 Apr 1998 Appointed - 28 Jun 2003 Appointed, Bishop of Cubao)
Socrates Buenaventura Villegas (3 May 2004 Appointed - 8 Sep 2009 Appointed, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan)
Ruperto Cruz Santos (1 Apr 2010 Appointed - 24 May 2023 Appointed, Bishop of Antipolo)
Rufino Coronel Sescon Jr. (3 Dec 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
17 March 1975	Erected	Diocese of San Fernando (Bataan)	Diocese of Balanga (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1980 274,038 301,141 91.0% 23 1 24 11,418 1 18 13 ap1981

1990 369,000 419,000 88.1% 19 3 22 16,772 8 16 19 ap1991

1999 440,667 506,694 87.0% 37 37 11,909 25 22 ap2000

2000 450,151 519,178 86.7% 37 37 12,166 25 24 ap2001

2001 462,525 557,659 82.9% 36 36 12,847 25 24 ap2002

2002 495,963 575,400 86.2% 37 37 13,404 37 24 ap2003

2003 484,800 606,000 80.0% 37 37 13,102 37 24 ap2004

2004 528,135 621,336 85.0% 35 35 15,089 39 24 ap2005

2006 543,000 604,000 89.9% 34 18 52 10,442 19 42 35 ap2007

2012 587,399 676,000 86.9% 32 23 55 10,679 28 89 35 ap2013

2015 617,000 712,000 86.7% 31 23 54 11,425 25 82 38 ap2016

2018 647,350 747,960 86.5% 33 23 56 11,559 26 59 38 ap2019

2020 658,300 760,650 86.5% 33 25 58 11,350 50 89 38 ap2021

2022 682,698 853,373 80.0% 34 25 59 11,571 28 59 38 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1980	274,038	301,141	91.0%	23	1	24	11,418	1	18	13	ap1981
1990	369,000	419,000	88.1%	19	3	22	16,772	8	16	19	ap1991
1999	440,667	506,694	87.0%	37		37	11,909		25	22	ap2000
2000	450,151	519,178	86.7%	37		37	12,166		25	24	ap2001
2001	462,525	557,659	82.9%	36		36	12,847		25	24	ap2002
2002	495,963	575,400	86.2%	37		37	13,404		37	24	ap2003
2003	484,800	606,000	80.0%	37		37	13,102		37	24	ap2004
2004	528,135	621,336	85.0%	35		35	15,089		39	24	ap2005
2006	543,000	604,000	89.9%	34	18	52	10,442	19	42	35	ap2007
2012	587,399	676,000	86.9%	32	23	55	10,679	28	89	35	ap2013
2015	617,000	712,000	86.7%	31	23	54	11,425	25	82	38	ap2016
2018	647,350	747,960	86.5%	33	23	56	11,559	26	59	38	ap2019
2020	658,300	760,650	86.5%	33	25	58	11,350	50	89	38	ap2021
2022	682,698	853,373	80.0%	34	25	59	11,571	28	59	38	ap2023