Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila

Archdiocese of Manila Archidioecesis Manilensis Arkidiyosesis ng Maynila
Location
Country	Philippines
Territory	Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, and Laguna
Statistics
Population - Catholics	approx. 2,800,000
Members	347 over all
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	February 6, 1579 (Diocese), August 14, 1595 (Archdiocese)
Cathedral	Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Patron saint	Immaculate Conception
Current leadership
Pope	Benedict XVI
Archbishop	Most Rev. Luis Antonio G. Tagle, DD, STD
Auxiliary Bishop	Bernardino C. Cortez Broderick S. Pabillo
Vicars General	Very Rev. Msgr. Rolando R. Dela Cruz, PC
Website
www.rcam.org

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila or Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) is a particular church or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is also considered as the primatial see of the country, currently held by the Archbishop of Manila as de facto primate over all other dioceses. The Archbishop is customarily elevated to the status of Cardinal some time after his enthronement.

The current Archbishop is Luis Antonio Tagle, formerly bishop of the Diocese of Imus, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 13 October 2011.^[1] Its titular church is the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Immaculate Conception as the principal patroness of the Republic of the Philippines and Filipino people.

History

The original Diocese of Manila was canonically erected on 6 February 1579 encompassing all of the Spanish colonies in Asia and originally was a suffragan of Mexico. Over the course of Philippine history and the growth of Catholicism in the region, the Archdiocese of Manila had carved new dioceses from its territory.

On 14 August 1595, Pope Clement VIII raised the diocese to the status of an archdiocese and created three new dioceses as suffragan to Manila: Nueva Caceres, Nueva Segovia, and Cebu. With the creation of these new dioceses, the territory of the Archdiocese was reduced to the city of Manila and the ten civil provinces in proximity to it, namely: Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Bataan, Zambales, and Mindoro.

The province of Mindoro was established as an independent diocese on 10 April 1910 by virtue of a Decretum Consistoriale executed by Pope Pius X, implementing the Bull “Quae Mari Sinico” of Pope Leo XIII. Also on that date saw the creation of the Diocese of Lipa (now known as the Archdiocese of Lipa) which had jurisdiction over the provinces of Batangas, Quezon Province, Marinduque and some parts of Masbate.

Eighteen years later, on 19 May 1928, Pope Pius XI established the Diocese of Lingayen, dividing Manila and Nueva Segovia. In this division 26 parishes were separated from Manila. He also named Our Lady of Guadalupe a patroness of the Filipino people in 1938.

In September 1942, Pope Pius XII declared on a Papal Bull Impositi Nobis the Immaculate Conception as the Principal Patroness of the Philippines, along with SS Pudentiana and Rose of Lima as secondary patrons.^[2]

On 11 December 1948, the Apostolic Constitution, “Probe noscitur” further divided the Archdiocese of Manila by separating the northern part of the Archdiocese and establishing it as the Diocese of San Fernando. On 25 November 1961, the Archdiocese of Manila was again partitioned. The civil provinces of Bulacan in the north and Cavite in the south were separated from the Archdiocese, the northern part becoming the Diocese of Malolos and towards the south the Diocese of Imus.

Blessed Pope John Paul II declared the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception a Minor Basilica in 1982 through a Motu Proprio.

Fifteen towns and two barangay from eastern Rizal were excised on 24 January 1983 to form the Diocese of Antipolo.

In 2002, two more dioceses were carved out of the Archdiocese: the Diocese of Novaliches in the north and the Diocese of Parañaque in the south, which also comprised the cities of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa.

In 2003, by the recommendation of Cardinal Jaime Sin and by papal decree, the Archdiocese was further partitioned to form three new dioceses: the Dioceses of Cubao, Kalookan and Pasig.

Archbishop of Manila

The see of the Archbishop of Manila is the Manila Cathedral, under the patronage of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The Archbishop of Manila is also the metropolitan bishop of several suffragan archdioceses and dioceses as well as the Primate of the Philippines.

After having been served by a single residential bishop, nineteen Archbishops were appointed from Spain. In 1903, the Archdiocese of Manila received its first American archbishop as appointed by the Holy See. Following the tenure of Archbishop Jeremiah James Harty from St. Louis, Missouri, the Irishman Michael J. O'Doherty was appointed, and received on 6 September 1916,.

Archbishop O'Doherty would lead the Philippine Church in its most difficult times, when Filipinos were petitioning for sovereignty from the United States, followed by the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines during World War 2.

When Archbishop O'Doherty died after Philippine independence, the Vatican chose the first Filipino to become Archbishop. Fr. Gabriel Reyes was already serving as Coadjutor Archbishop of Manila before being raised to the position. His successor, Archbishop (later Cardinal) Rufino Jiao Santos, became the first Filipino to become a cardinal in-consistory.

Jaime Sin became the most recognised Archbishop worldwide when he challenged the authoritarian regime of Ferdinand Marcos. Having becoming only the third Filipino cardinal, Cardinal Sin was credited as one of the architects of the 1986 People Power movement that deposed Marcos and dismantled his government.

In 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed Gaudencio Rosales as the new Archbishop, succeeding Cardinal Sin; he was later elevated by Pope Benedict XVI to the cardinalate on 24 March 2006.

The current Archbishop of Manila and Primate of the Philippines is The Most Reverend Luis Antonio Tagle. On 13 October 2011, the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila announced the appointment of Tagle, the then-Bishop of Imus as the new Archbishop, replacing Cardinal Rosales, whose resigned upon having reached the compulsory age of retirement. Tagle is currently assisted by two auxiliary bishops, while his predecessor Cardinal Rosales has retired from public ministry and now enjoys the honorary title of Archbishop-Emeritus

Ordinaries

Picture	Name	From	Until
	Domingo de Salazar, O. P.	February 6, 1579	December 4, 1594
	Ignacio Santibáñez, O.F.M.	August 30, 1595	August 14, 1598
	Miguel de Benavides, O.P.	October 7, 1602	July 26, 1605
	Diego Vázquez de Mercado	March 28, 1608	June 12, 1616
	Miguel García Serrano, O.S.A.	February 12, 1618	June 14, 1629
	Hernando Guerrero, O.S.A.	January 9, 1634	July 1, 1641
	Fernando Montero Espinosa	February 5, 1646	1648
	Diego Camacho y Ávila	August 19, 1696	January 14, 1704
	Francisco de la Cuesta, O.S.H.	1704	September 23, 1723
	Ángel Rodríguez, O.SS.T.	December 17, 1731	June 24, 1742
	Pedro José Manuel Martínez de Arizala, O.F.M.	February 3, 1744	May 28, 1755
	Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra	1759	1764
	Basilio Tomás Sancho Hernando de Santa Justa, Sch. P.	April 14, 1766	December 15, 1787
	Juan Antonio Gallego Orbigo, O.F.M.	December 15, 1788	May 17, 1797
	Juan Antonio Zulaibar, O.P.	March 26, 1804	March 4, 1824
	Hilarión Díez, O.S.A.	July 3, 1826	May 7, 1829
	José Seguí, O.S.A.	July 5, 1830	July 4, 1845
	José Aranguren, ORSA	January 19, 1846	April 18, 1861
	Gregorio Melitón Martínez Santa Cruz	December 23, 1861	1875
	Pedro Payo y Piñeiro, O.P.	January 28, 1876	January 1, 1889
	Bernardino Nozaleda y Villa, O.P.	May 27, 1889	February 4, 1902
	Jeremiah James Harty	June 6, 1903	May 16, 1916
	Michael J. O'Doherty	September 6, 1916	October 13, 1949
	Gabriel M. Reyes	October 13, 1949	October 15, 1952
	Rufino Jiao Cardinal Santos	February 10, 1953	September 3, 1973
	Jaimé Lachica Cardinal Sin	September 3, 1973	November 18, 2003
	Gaudencio Borbón Cardinal Rosalés	November 21, 2003	December 12, 2011
	Luís Antonio Gokim Taglé	December 12, 2011	present[3]

College of Consultors

Below are member priests of the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Manila since 18 January 2012. Auxiliary bishops also serve as Vicar-Generals.

• Auxiliary Bishop – Most Rev. Bernardino C. Cortez, STL
• Auxiliary Bishop – Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo, SSL
• Vicar General and Moderator Curiae – Rev. Msgr. Rolando R. Dela Cruz, PC
• Episcopal Vicar for Chancery Matters / Chancellor – Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon, Jr.
• Episcopal Vicar for Foreign Communities Concern - Rev. Msgr. Esteban U. Lo, LRMS, PC
• Episcopal Vicar for the Diocesan Clergy - Rev. Fr. Generoso M. Geronimo
• Judicial Vicar - Rev. Msgr. Geronimo F. Reyes, PC, JCD
• Oeconomus - Rev. Fr. Ramon U. Merino
• Private Secretary to the Archbishop of Manila - Rev. Fr. Reginald R. Malicdem

Tangible assets

The archdiocese is considered to be one of the wealthiest archdioceses in the world, and the wealthiest in the Philippines. It has a considerable number of real estate holdings located in Metro Manila and financial interests in some institutions, even after the division of its territories in the past few years. For one, the archdiocese owns 8.5 %% of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, the Philippines' second largest bank and has shares in San Miguel Corporation, Southeast Asia's largest food and beverage company. The archdiocese also owns schools, hostels, charitable institutions and a travel agency.

National demographics

As of 2004, the Archdiocese of Manila has registered a total of 2,719,781 baptized Catholics. The faithful are served by the archdiocese's 475 diocesan and religious priests – with a ratio of 5,725 Catholics per priests, under 85 parishes. The archdiocese also houses 369 male religious and 1,730 female religious engaged in various social, pastoral and missionary works in various areas of the archdiocese.

Formation of priests

The archdiocese operates San Carlos Seminary, which is responsible for the formation of future priests for the archdiocese and for its suffragan dioceses. Located in Makati City, it has collegiate- and theologate-level formation houses as well as formation houses for Chinese Filipino future priests (which is the Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Soicety) and a center for adult vocations (Holy Apostles Senior Seminary). The seminary offers civil and ecclesiastical degrees in philosophy, theology and pastoral ministry.

The archdiocese also operates Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary, a seminary for young men in the secondary school level. It is located a few blocks away from San Carlos Seminary.

Other major seminaries that serve the spiritual and pastoral needs of the archdiocese include the San Jose Seminary (under the administration of the Jesuits, located within the Ateneo de Manila University complex) and the UST Central Seminary, the Royal and Pontifical Interdiocesan Seminary of the Philippines, (under the administration of the Dominicans, located within the University of Santo Tomas campus).

Apostolic Nunciature

The official residence of the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines is located within the archdiocese, although the nuncio is not subject to the authority of the archbishop. The present papal nuncio is Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, who is also the concurrent dean of the diplomatic corps in the Philippines by virtue of local diplomatic protocol.

Vicariates

St Mary as the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Archdiocese. Consecrated by Pope Pius XII's Papal Bull Impositi Nobis in 1942, the Immaculate Conception is also honoured as Principal Patroness of the Philippine Islands.

VICARIATE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

• Mary, Mirror of Justice Parish
• Mater Dolorosa Parish
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and National Shrine
• Saint John Mary Vianney Parish
• Saint John of the Cross Parish
• Santa Teresita Parish
• Santuario de San Antonio Parish

VICARIATE OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

• Eucharistic Lord Chapel (SM Megamall)
• Mary the Queen, (San Juan - territorial/personal)
• Mary, Queen of Peace Quasi-Parish (EDSA Shrine)
• Saint Francis of Assisi Parish
• Saint John the Baptist Parish
• Santuario de San Jose Parish
• Santuario de Santo Cristo Parish

VICARIATE OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

• Holy Family Parish, Makati City
• Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Bangkal
• Saint Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish
• Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Palanan
• San Ildefonso Parish

VICARIATE OF SS. PETER AND PAUL

• Holy Cross Parish, (Dambana ng Banál na Krus)
• Nuestra Señora de Guia Parish
• Our Lady of La Paz Parish
• Sacred Heart Parish and National Shrine
• Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish
• Saint John Bosco Parish
• Saints Peter and Paul Parish
• Santo Niño de Paz Chapel

VICARIATE OF SAN FELIPE NERI

• Divine Mercy Archdiocesan Shrine
• Our Lady of Fatima Parish
• Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Welfareville
• Saint Dominic Savio Parish
• San Felipe Neri Parish
• San Roque Parish

VICARIATE OF STA. CLARA DE MONTEFALCO

• Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life Archdiocesan Shrine (SM Mall of Asia Complex)
• Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted Parish
• Our Lady of Fatima Parish
• Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
• Our Lady of the Airways Parish
• Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish
• San Isidro Parish
• San Juan Nepomuceno Parish
• San Rafael Parish
• San Roque Parish
• Santa Clara de Montefalco Parish

VICARIATE OF THE HOLY FAMILY

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (Púnta)
• Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish
• Sagrada Familia Parish (San Andrés Bukid)
• Saint Anthony of Padua Parish
• Saint Pius X Parish
• Santissima Trinidad Parish

VICARIATE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

• Holy Spirit Parish
• Immaculate Conception Parish
• Risen Christ Parish
• Saint Joseph Parish
• San José Manggagawâ Parish
• San Rafael Parish (Balut)
• San Roque Parish (Blumentritt)
• Santa Monica Parish

VICARIATE OF NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GUIA

Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the seat of the Archbishop of Manila, Primate of the Philippines.

• Immaculate Conception Cathedral-Basilica (Manila Metropolitan Cathedral)
• Immaculate Conception Parish/San Agustin Church (Our Lady of Correa Archdiocesan Shrine)
• Nuestra Señora de Guia Parish and Archdiocesan Shrine
• Our Lady of Remedies Parish (Malate)
• Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
• San Vicente de Paul Parish

VICARIATE OF OUR LADY OF LORETO

• Most Holy Trinity Parish (Balic-Balic)
• Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish
• Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Parish
• Our Lady of Fatima Parish
• Our Lady of Loreto Parish and Archdiocesan Shrine
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish
• Saint Anthony of Padua Shrine
• San Roque Parish
• Santissimo Rosario Parish (UST)

VICARIATE OF SAN FERNANDO DE DILAO

• Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish
• Saint Maria Goretti Parish
• Saint Peter the Apostle Parish
• San Fernando de Dilao Parish
• Santo Niño Parish (Pandacan)

VICARIATE OF SAN JOSÉ DE TROZO

Façade of the Basilica Minore de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila. The church enshrines the Black Nazarene, an image of Jesus which is believed to have miraculous powers, and attracts thousands of devotees on Fridays and a massive annual procession on 9 January.

• Saint John the Baptist Parish (Black Nazarene Minor Basilica - Quiapo)
• Saint Jude Parish and National Shrine
• Saints Michael and the Archangels Pro-Cathedral Parish and National Shrine
• San Sebastian Parish and Minor Basilica
• San José de Trozo Parish
• Santa Cruz Parish

VICARIATE OF STO. NIÑO

• Saint John Bosco Parish
• San Pablo Apostol Parish
• Santo Niño de Tondo Parish
• Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish
• Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (San Lorenzo Ruiz Minor Basilica - Binondo)
• Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (Personal Parish-Chinese)
• Nuestra Señora De La Soledad Parish

Suffragan dioceses

See also

• Roman Catholicism in the Philippines

Resources

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
• The Royal and Conciliar San Carlos Seminary
• The Suffragan Diocese of Pasig
• The Suffragan Diocese of Antipolo
• The Suffragan Diocese of Cubao
• The Suffragan Diocese of Malolos
•  "Archdiocese of Manila". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. 
• Gregory XIII, Pope, 1502–1585. "Bull for erection of the Diocese and Cathedral Church of Manila." In The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898. Cleveland, Ohio: A.H. Clark Company, 1903-9. Vol. 4, 1576–82. Pp. 119–124.

References