Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe

The Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe (in Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Bontocensis-Lagavensis) is a Latin Church missionary ecclesiastical jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe

Vicariatus Apostolicus Bontocensis-Lagavensis

Apostoliko Bikariyato ng Bontoc-Lagawe
Apostolico Vicariato de Bontoc-Lagawe
Location
CountryPhilippines
TerritoryMountain Province and Ifugao
Ecclesiastical provinceDirectly exempt to the Holy See
MetropolitanNueva Segovia
Statistics
Area4,615 km2 (1,782 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2010)
347,000
214,000 (61.7%)
Parishes21
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedJuly 6, 1992
CathedralCathedral of Sta. Rita de Cascia
Secular priests30
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Major ArchbishopMarlo Mendoza Peralta
Vicar apostolicValentin Cabbigat Dimoc
Metropolitan ArchbishopMarlo Mendoza Peralta
Map
Jurisdiction/Territory of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe.
Jurisdiction/Territory of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe.

It is directly exempt the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province, and directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope who exercises authority through the bishop-in-charge known as the Vicar Apostolic. For the purpose of apostolic cooperation, usually grouped with the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. It also has a working partnership with the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk and the Diocese of Baguio, both in the Cordilleras, to coordinate Catholic missions among the Igorot tribes. The Apostolic Vicariate operates a liaison office in the compound of the Baguio Cathedral.

On 6 May 2015, Pope Francis appointed Valentin Dimoc as its fifth bishop, after the vicariate was without bishop for three years.[1]

Territory

The apostolic vicariate comprises the two civil provinces of Ifugao and Mountain Province. Based on NSO record of 2007, there are about 190,000 Catholics in the jurisdiction. The seat of the vicariate is the town of Bontoc, where the Santa Rita of Cascia Cathedral and the vicarial chancery, known as the Teng-ab Pastoral Complex, are located. The territory is divided into 21 parishes.

History

Records from Santa Rita Parish of Bontoc reveal that the first baptism held in Bontoc was administered by Augustinian priest Jose Iglesia on 28 November 1893. Spanish missionaries however abandoned the Bontoc Mission sometime in 1898. After a lull for almost a decade, a group of Belgian CICM missionaries led by Constance Jurgens and Jules Sepulchre arrived in Bontoc in time to celebrate a midnight mass on 24 December 1907

On 10 June 1948, Pope Pius XII established the Apostolic Vicariate of the Mountain Province, formerly known as the Apostolic Prefecture of the Montañosa. Eleven days after, on 21 June, Vatican appointed the Belgian missionary, Bishop William Brasseur as its first Vicar Apostolic.

The apostolic vicariate was erected on 6 July 1992 with the apostolic constitution Ad aptius in Insulis Philippinis of Pope John Paul II.[2] Bontoc-Lagawe was one among the three vicariates created by dividing the old Vicariate of Montañosa into three: the Vicariates of Baguio (elevated into a diocese in 2004), Tabuk and Bontoc-Lagawe.

Assisting the Vicar Apostolic in the governance of pastoral welfare is the Vicariate Mission Council. All members of the presbyterium form this council which meets regularly every quarter. However, it is the prerogative of the Vicar Apostolic to convene the mission council as the need arises.

Apostolic Vicars
Apostolic Vicars Period in Office Coat of Arms
1. Brigido A. Galasgas July 6, 1992 – May 15, 1995, Died
2. Francisco F. Claver November 2, 1995 – April 15, 2004, Retired
3. Cornelio G. Wigwigan March 19, 2004 – May 16, 2005, Died
Vacant (May 17, 2005 – March 17, 2006)
4. Rodolfo F. Beltran March 18, 2006 — October 30, 2012 appointed Bishop of San Fernando de La Union
Vacant (January 2013 – May 2015)
5. Valentin C. Dimoc May 6, 2015 — present

See also

References
  1. Article Title[Usurped!]
  2. Pope Jon Paul II, Apostolic Constitution creating the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe Ad aptius in Insulis Philippinis (6 July 1992), Acta Apostolicae Sedis 85 (1993), p. 124. Ex distracto territorio a Vicariatu Apostolico Montano novus instituitur Vica riatus Apostolicus Bontocensis-Lavagensis.
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