Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jaro, Philippines

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Jaro / Iaren(sis) (Latin) / Sanctæ Elisabeth (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Bacolod, Kabankalan, San Carlos, San Jose de Antique

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (November 17), Our Lady of Candles (February 2)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: May 27

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1865.05.27: Established as Diocese of Jaro / Iaren(sis) (Latin) / Sanctæ Elisabeth (Latin) (from Diocese of Cebu and became suffragan of Manila)
1910.04.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Zamboanga and Apostolic Prefecture of Palawan
1932.07.15: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Bacolod
1936.07.02: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Mindoro
1951.01.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Capiz
1951.06.29: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jaro / Iaren(sis) (Latin) / Sanctæ Elisabeth (Latin) (with suffragan see Bacolod)
1962.03.24: Lost territory to establish Territorial Prelature of San Jose de Antique and gained suffragan see San Jose de Antique
1974.12.19: Gained suffragan see Romblon
1976.01.17: Lost suffragan see Romblon
1987.03.30: Gained suffragan sees Kabankalan and San Carlos

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1981.02)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2025.02.02 – ...):

Archbishop Midyphil Bermejo Billones (55)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Jaro (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Midyphil Bermejo Billones (55)
(2025.02.02 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines)

Domine tu omnia scis tu cognocis quia amo te

Born:	1969.07.04 (Pan-ay, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1995.10.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2019.08.27

Priest of Jaro (Philippines) (1995.10.02 – 2019.07.16)

Titular Bishop of Tagarata (2019.07.16 – 2025.02.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu (Philippines) (2019.07.16 – 2025.02.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (2025.02.02 – ...)

Archbishop Jose Romeo Juanito Orquejo Lazo (76)
(2018.02.14 – 2025.02.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Jaro (Philippines)

Vobiscum ambulæ

Born:	1949.01.23 (San Jose de Buenavista, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1975.04.01
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.12.29

Priest of San Jose de Antique (Philippines) (1975.04.01 – 2003.11.15)

Bishop of Kalibo (Philippines) (2003.11.15 – 2009.07.21)

Bishop of San Jose de Antique (Philippines) (2009.07.21 – 2018.02.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (2018.02.14 – 2025.02.02)

Archbishop Angel Nacorda Lagdameo
(2000.03.11 – 2018.02.14)

Faciem tuam Domine requiram

Born:	1940.08.02 (Lucban, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1964.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1980.08.12
Died:	2022.07.08 (Iloilo City, Philippines † 81)

Titular Bishop of Oreto (1980.06.19 – 1986.01.31)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu (Philippines) (1980.06.19 – 1986.01.31)

Coadjutor Bishop of Dumaguete (Philippines) (1986.01.31 – 1989.05.30)

Bishop of Dumaguete (Philippines) (1989.05.30 – 2000.03.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (2000.03.11 – 2018.02.14)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (C.B.C.P.) (2005.10 – 2009.12.01)

Archbishop Alberto Jover Piamonte
(1986.04.02 – 1998.12.17)

Born:	1934.11.21 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1958.03.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.02.02
Died:	1998.12.17 († 64)

Titular Bishop of Gubaliana (1974.12.28 – 1986.04.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1974.12.28 – 1986.04.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1986.04.02 – 1998.12.17)

Archbishop Artemio G. Casas
(1974.05.11 – 1985.10.25)

Ministrando

Born:	1911.10.20 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1938.03.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.02.24
Died:	1989.03.29 († 77)

Bishop of Imus (Philippines) (1961.12.11 – 1968.09.04)

Titular Bishop of Macriana minor (1968.09.04 – 1974.05.11)

Auxiliary Bishop of Manila (Philippines) (1968.09.04 – 1974.05.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1974.05.11 – 1985.10.25)

Archbishop Jaime Lachica Sin (later Cardinal)
(1972.10.08 – 1974.01.21)

Serviam

Born:	1928.08.31 (New Washington, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1954.04.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.03.18
Created Cardinal:	1976.05.24
Died:	2005.06.21 (Manila, Philippines † 76)

Priest of Jaro (Philippines) (1954.04.03 – 1967.02.10)

Titular Bishop of Obba (1967.02.10 – 1972.01.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1967.02.10 – 1972.01.15)

Titular Archbishop of Massa Lubrense (1972.01.15 – 1972.10.08)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1972.01.15 – 1972.10.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1972.10.08 – 1974.01.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila (Philippines) (1974.01.21 – 2003.09.15)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (C.B.C.P.) (1976 – 1981)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria ai Monti (1976.05.24 – 2005.06.21)

Archbishop José Maria Cuenco
(1951.06.29 – 1972.10.08)

Born:	1885.05.19 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1914.06.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1942.12.27
Died:	1972.10.08 († 87)

Titular Bishop of Hemeria (1941.11.22 – 1945.11.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1941.11.22 – 1945.11.24)

Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1945.11.24 – 1951.06.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1951.06.29 – 1972.10.08)

Bishops of Jaro (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Maria Cuenco (later Archbishop)
(1945.11.24 – 1951.06.29)

(see above)

Bishop James Paul McCloskey
(1920.03.08 – 1945.04.10)

Born:	1870.12.09 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1898.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1917.05.01
Died:	1945.04.10 († 74)

Bishop of Zamboanga (Philippines) (1917.02.05 – 1920.03.08)

Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1920.03.08 – 1945.04.10)

Bishop Maurice Patrick Foley
(1916.09.06 – 1919.08.07)

Born:	1867.03.16 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1891.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1910.12.15
Died:	1919.08.07 († 52)

Bishop of Tuguegarao (Philippines) (1910.09.01 – 1916.09.06)

Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1916.09.06 – 1919.08.07)

Bishop Dennis Joseph Dougherty (later Cardinal)
(1908.06.21 – 1915.12.09)

Crucis in signo vinces

Born:	1865.08.16 (Honesville, PA, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1890.05.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1903.06.14
Created Cardinal:	1921.03.07
Died:	1951.05.31 (Philadelphia, PA, USA † 85)

Priest of Philadelphia (USA) (1890.05.31 – 1903.06.12)

Bishop of Nueva Segovia (Philippines) (1903.06.12 – 1908.06.21)

Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1908.06.21 – 1915.12.09)

Bishop of Buffalo (USA) (1915.12.09 – 1918.05.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia (USA) (1918.05.01 – 1951.05.31)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo (1921.03.10 – 1951.05.31)

Bishop Frederick Zadok Rooker
(1903.06.12 – 1907.09.20)

Born:	1861.09.19 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1888.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1903.06.14
Died:	1907.09.20 († 46)

Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1903.06.12 – 1907.09.20)

Bishop Andrés Ferrero Malo, O.A.R.
(1898.03.24 – 1903.06.12)

Born:	1846.11.30 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1869.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1898.11.13
Died:	1909.12.22 († 63)

Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1898.03.24 – 1903.06.12)

Bishop Leandro Arrúe Agudo, O.A.R.
(1885.03.27 – 1897.10.24)

Born:	1837.03.13 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1860.09.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1885.08.30
Died:	1897.10.24 († 60)

Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1885.03.27 – 1897.10.24)

Bishop Mariano Cuartero y Medina, O.P.
(1867.09.20 – 1884.07.16)

Born:	1813.03.22 (Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1867.11.30
Died:	1884.07.16 († 71)

Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1867.09.20 – 1884.07.16)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Jaime Lachica Sin (later Cardinal) (1972.01.15 – 1972.10.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Gerardo Alimane Alminaza (65) (2008.05.29 – 2013.09.14)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Alberto Jover Piamonte (later Archbishop) (1974.12.28 – 1986.04.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jaime Lachica Sin (later Cardinal) (1967.02.10 – 1972.01.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Juan Nicolasora Nilmar (1959.02.20 – 1967.01.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Venerable Bishop Teofilo Camomot Bastida (later Archbishop) (1955.03.23 – 1958.06.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Maria Cuenco (later Archbishop) (1941.11.22 – 1945.11.24)

Special Churches

Cathedral, National Shrine: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Western Visayas
World Heritage Site: Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva, Miag-ao, Iloilo, Western Visayas
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (97)

San Jose de Antique (←), Capiz (↑), Bacolod (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 5,023 km²

Population: 3,082,540 Catholics (83.1% of 3,708,350 total)

Pastoral Centres: 95 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 158 priests (diocesan), 371 religious (25 brothers, 346 sisters), 57 seminarians