Diocese of Lucena, Philippines

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Lucena / Lucenen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Lipa

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Ferdinand III of Castile (May 30)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: May 1

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1950.03.28: Established as Diocese of Lucena / Lucenen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Lipa and became suffragan of Manila)
1972.06.20: Became suffragan of Lipa
1977.04.02: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Boac
1984.04.09: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Gumaca

Present Prelates

Bishop (2017.07.29 – ...):

Bishop Mel Rey Mingoa Uy (56)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Lucena (Roman Rite)

Bishop Mel Rey Mingoa Uy (56)
(2017.07.29 – ...)

Bishop of Lucena (Philippines)

Ut faciam voluntatem eius

Born:	1968.01.06 (San Agustin, Romblon, France)
Ordained Priest:	1994.05.24
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.11.08

Priest of Romblon (Philippines) (1994.05.24 – 2017.07.29)

Bishop of Lucena (Philippines) (2017.07.29 – ...)

Bishop Emilio Zurbano Marquez (83)
(2003.09.13 – 2017.07.29)

Bishop emeritus of Lucena (Philippines)

Nomen Domini invocabo

Born:	1941.05.28 (Lopez, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1964.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1985.01.29

Priest of Lucena (Philippines) (1964.06.06 – 1984.12.15)

Bishop of Gumaca (Philippines) (1984.12.15 – 2002.05.04)

Apostolic Administrator of Gumaca (Philippines) (2002.05.04 – 2002.06.25)

Coadjutor Bishop of Lucena (Philippines) (2002.05.04 – 2003.09.13)

Bishop of Lucena (Philippines) (2003.09.13 – 2017.07.29)

Bishop Ruben Tolentino Profugo
(1982.05.15 – 2003.09.13)

The Lord is my Shepherd

Born:	1938.04.10 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1965.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.10.18
Died:	2014.05.12 († 76)

Titular Bishop of Budua (1979.08.27 – 1982.05.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Lucena (Philippines) (1979.08.27 – 1982.05.15)

Bishop of Lucena (Philippines) (1982.05.15 – 2003.09.13)

Bishop José Tomás Sánchez (later Cardinal)
(1976.09.25 – 1982.01.12)

Doce me facere voluntatem tuam

Born:	1920.03.17 (Pandan, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1946.05.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.05.12
Created Cardinal:	1991.06.28
Died:	2012.03.09 (San Juan City, Philippines † 91)

Priest of Sorsogon (Philippines) (1946.05.12 – 1968.02.05)

Titular Bishop of Lesvi (1968.02.05 – 1972.12.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Caceres (Philippines) (1968.02.05 – 1972.12.12)

Coadjutor Bishop of Lucena (Philippines) (1972.12.12 – 1976.09.25)

Bishop of Lucena (Philippines) (1976.09.25 – 1982.01.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Segovia (Philippines) (1982.01.12 – 1986.03.22)

Secretary of Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (1985.10.30 – 1991.06.21)

Cardinal-Deacon of S. Pio V a Villa Carpegna (1991.06.28 – 2002.02.26)

President of Pontifical Commission for Preserving the Church’s Patrimony of Art and History (1991.07.01 – 1993)

Prefect of Congregation for Clergy (1991.07.01 – 1996.06.15)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Pio V a Villa Carpegna pro hac vice Title (2002.02.26 [2002.05.12] – 2012.03.09)

Venerable Bishop Alfredo Maria Obviar y Aranda
(1959.06.21 – 1976.09.25)

Faciem tuam Domine requiram

Born:	1889.08.29 (Lipa, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1919.03.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1944.06.29
Died:	1978.10.01 (Lucena, Philippines † 89)

Auxiliary Bishop of Lipa (Philippines) (1944.03.11 – 1950.11.04)

Titular Bishop of Linoë (1944.03.11 – 1959.06.21)

Apostolic Administrator of Lucena (Philippines) (1950.11.04 – 1959.06.21)

Bishop of Lucena (Philippines) (1959.06.21 – 1976.09.25)

Bishop.

Venerable Bishop Alfredo Maria Obviar y Aranda
(Apostolic Administrator 1950.11.04 – 1959.06.21)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop José Tomás Sánchez (later Cardinal) (1972.12.12 – 1976.09.25)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Emilio Zurbano Marquez (83) (2002.05.04 – 2003.09.13)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ruben Tolentino Profugo (1979.08.27 – 1982.05.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Ferdinand, Lucena, Quezon, Calabarzon
Minor Basilica: Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Tayabas, Quezon, Calabarzon
National Shrine: National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dolores, Quezon, Calabarzon
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (34)

Lipa (←), San Pablo (←), Infanta (↑), Gumaca (→), Boac (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,335 km²

Population: 939,506 Catholics (89.0% of 1,055,544 total)

Pastoral Centres: 42 parishes

Personnel: 112 priests (diocesan), 3 deacons, 369 religious (15 brothers, 354 sisters), 118 seminarians