Calbayog (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Isabelo Caiban Abarquez, Bishop
Ricardo Pido Tancinco, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 10 April 1910
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Palo
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Philippines
Square Kilometers: 5,591 (2,159 Square Miles)
Description: Western Samar
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 2, J.D. Avelino St., Calbayog City, 6710 Western Samar, Philippines
Telephone: (055)209-1372
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pablo Singzon y Baeza (de la Anunciacion) † (12 Apr 1910 Appointed - 9 Aug 1920 Died)
Sofronio Hacbang y Gaborni † (22 Feb 1923 Appointed - 3 Apr 1937 Died)
Miguel Acebedo y Flores † (16 Dec 1937 Appointed - 25 Jul 1958 Died)
Manuel Platon Del Rosario † (25 Jul 1958 Succeeded - 11 Dec 1961 Appointed, Bishop of Malolos)
Cipriano Urgel y Villahermosa † (22 Mar 1962 Appointed - 12 Apr 1973 Appointed, Bishop of Palo)
Ricardo Pido Tancinco (8 Mar 1974 Appointed - 21 Apr 1979 Resigned)
Sincero Barcenilla Lucero † (10 Dec 1979 Appointed - 11 Oct 1984 Resigned)
Maximiano Tuazon Cruz † (20 Dec 1994 Appointed - 13 Jan 1999 Retired)
Jose Serofia Palma (13 Jan 1999 Appointed - 18 Mar 2006 Appointed, Archbishop of Palo)
Isabelo Caiban Abarquez (5 Jan 2007 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 April 1910	Erected	Diocese of Cebu (Provinces of Samar and Leyte)	Diocese of Calbayog (erected)
28 April 1934	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Calbayog (from Manila)
28 November 1937	Territory Lost	Diocese of Calbayog (Leyte and adjacent islands)	Diocese of Palo (erected)
22 October 1960	Territory Lost	Diocese of Calbayog (Borongan, Maydolong, Llorente, Hernani, Gral. MacArthur, San Julián, Sulat, Oras, San Policarpo, San Ramón (Arteche), Hipapad, Gamay, Dolores, Can-Avid, Taft, Guiuan, Sulangan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Matarinao, Villareal, Talalora, ...)	Diocese of Borongan (erected)
23 November 1974	Territory Added	Diocese of Borongan (Western Samar)	Diocese of Calbayog
5 December 1974	Territory Lost	Diocese of Borongan Diocese of Calbayog	Diocese of Catarman (erected) (Northern Samar)
15 November 1982	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Calbayog (from Cebu)

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

1950 751,100 758,300 99.1% 51 51 14,727 18 37 ap1951

1958 862,470 898,484 96.0% 70 12 82 10,517 15 40 51 ap1960

1970 580,802 601,062 96.6% 14 14 41,485 17 30 32 ap1971

1980 451,000 455,000 99.1% 31 5 36 12,527 8 20 25 ap1981

1990 623,000 648,000 96.1% 29 4 33 18,878 4 39 27 ap1991

1999 540,190 563,703 95.8% 46 8 54 10,003 49 49 27 ap2000

2000 628,882 661,981 95.0% 41 8 49 12,834 41 46 26 ap2001

2001 609,068 641,124 95.0% 48 8 56 10,876 30 45 26 ap2002

2002 620,153 652,792 95.0% 44 8 52 11,926 29 42 26 ap2003

2003 631,439 664,673 95.0% 46 8 54 11,693 39 40 26 ap2004

2004 642,931 676,770 95.0% 48 6 54 11,906 43 46 26 ap2005

2006 668,000 702,000 95.2% 57 8 65 10,276 40 38 27 ap2007

2013 752,000 789,000 95.3% 68 8 76 9,894 47 33 32 ap2014

2016 731,542 770,045 95.0% 72 9 81 9,031 60 32 34 ap2017

2019 761,830 792,960 96.1% 79 11 90 8,464 71 39 34 ap2020

2021 745,592 793,183 94.0% 71 10 81 9,204 37 55 46 ap2022

2023 745,592 811,630 91.9% 84 12 96 7,766 56 55 48 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	751,100	758,300	99.1%	51		51	14,727		18	37	ap1951
1958	862,470	898,484	96.0%	70	12	82	10,517	15	40	51	ap1960
1970	580,802	601,062	96.6%		14	14	41,485	17	30	32	ap1971
1980	451,000	455,000	99.1%	31	5	36	12,527	8	20	25	ap1981
1990	623,000	648,000	96.1%	29	4	33	18,878	4	39	27	ap1991
1999	540,190	563,703	95.8%	46	8	54	10,003	49	49	27	ap2000
2000	628,882	661,981	95.0%	41	8	49	12,834	41	46	26	ap2001
2001	609,068	641,124	95.0%	48	8	56	10,876	30	45	26	ap2002
2002	620,153	652,792	95.0%	44	8	52	11,926	29	42	26	ap2003
2003	631,439	664,673	95.0%	46	8	54	11,693	39	40	26	ap2004
2004	642,931	676,770	95.0%	48	6	54	11,906	43	46	26	ap2005
2006	668,000	702,000	95.2%	57	8	65	10,276	40	38	27	ap2007
2013	752,000	789,000	95.3%	68	8	76	9,894	47	33	32	ap2014
2016	731,542	770,045	95.0%	72	9	81	9,031	60	32	34	ap2017
2019	761,830	792,960	96.1%	79	11	90	8,464	71	39	34	ap2020
2021	745,592	793,183	94.0%	71	10	81	9,204	37	55	46	ap2022
2023	745,592	811,630	91.9%	84	12	96	7,766	56	55	48	ap2024