Diocese of Balanga, Philippines

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Balanga / Balangen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: San Fernando

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: St. Joseph, Husband of Mary (March 19), Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: March 16

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1975.03.17: Established as Diocese of Balanga / Balangen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of San Fernando and became suffragan of San Fernando)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.12.03 – ...):

Bishop-elect Rufino C. Sescon (52)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Balanga (Roman Rite)

Bishop-elect Rufino C. Sescon (52)
(2024.12.03 – ...)

Bishop of Balanga (Philippines)

Born:	1972.04.20 (Manila, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1998.09.19

Priest of Manila (Philippines) (1998.09.19 – 2024.12.03)

Bishop of Balanga (Philippines) (2024.12.03 – ...)

Archbishop Florentino Galang Lavarias (67)
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.07.22 – 2024.12.03)

Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos (67)
(2010.04.01 – 2023.05.24)

Bishop of Antipolo (Philippines)

Ad seminandum

Born:	1957.10.30 (San Rafael, Bulacan, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1983.09.10
Consecrated Bishop:	2010.06.24

Priest of Manila (Philippines) (1983.09.10 – 2010.04.01)

Chaplain of His Holiness (1997 – 2010.04.01)

Bishop of Balanga (Philippines) (2010.04.01 – 2023.05.24)

Bishop of Antipolo (Philippines) (2023.05.24 – ...)

Bishop Socrates Buenaventura Villegas (64) (later Archbishop)
(2004.05.03 – 2009.09.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lingayen–Dagupan (Philippines)

Pax

Born:	1960.09.28 (Manila, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1985.10.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.08.31

Priest of Manila (Philippines) (1985.10.05 – 2001.07.25)

Titular Bishop of Nin (2001.07.25 – 2004.05.03)

Auxiliary Bishop of Manila (Philippines) (2001.07.25 – 2004.05.03)

Bishop of Balanga (Philippines) (2004.05.03 – 2009.09.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lingayen–Dagupan (Philippines) (2009.09.08 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of San Fernando de La Union (Philippines) (2011.11.17 – 2012.10.30)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (C.B.C.P.) (2013.12.01 – 2017.07.08)

Bishop Honesto Flores Ongtioco (76)
(1998.04.08 – 2003.06.28)

Bishop emeritus of Cubao (Philippines)

Major autem caritas

Born:	1948.10.17 (San Fernando, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1972.12.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.06.18

Priest of San Fernando (Philippines) (1972.12.07 – 1998.04.08)

Bishop of Balanga (Philippines) (1998.04.08 – 2003.06.28)

Bishop of Cubao (Philippines) (2003.06.28 – 2024.10.04)

Apostolic Administrator of Malolos (Philippines) (2018.05.12 – 2019.05.14)

Bishop Celso N. Guevarra
(1975.06.04 – 1998.04.08)

Born:	1923.01.09 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1949.04.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.08.28
Died:	2002.08.13 († 79)

Titular Bishop of Vannida (1972.06.20 – 1975.06.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando (Philippines) (1972.06.20 – 1975.06.04)

Bishop of Balanga (Philippines) (1975.06.04 – 1998.04.08)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Joseph, Balanga City, Bataan, Central Luzon
Minor Basilica: Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Orani, Bataan, Central Luzon
National Shrine: National Shrine of St. John Paul II, Culis, Bataan, Central Luzon
Shrines in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
Shrines in the Ordinary Jubilee 2025

Churches by City (40)

Iba (↖), San Fernando (↗), Imus (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 1,373 km²

Population: 690,890 Catholics (80.0% of 863,610 total)

Pastoral Centres: 38 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 65 priests (35 diocesan, 30 religious), 89 religious (33 brothers, 56 sisters), 14 seminarians

Diocese of

Balanga UCA 𝐖