Diocese of Virac, Philippines

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Virac / Viracen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Caceres

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Joseph (March 19)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: August 27

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1974.05.27: Established as Diocese of Virac / Viracen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Legazpi and became suffragan of Caceres)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.02.29 – ...):

Bishop Luisito Audal Occiano (53)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Virac (Roman Rite)

Bishop Luisito Audal Occiano (53)
(2024.02.29 – ...)

Bishop of Virac (Philippines)

Cum gaudio prædicare

Born:	1971.06.21 (San Miguel, Camarines Sur, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1996.11.10
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.06.21

Priest of Caceres (Philippines) (1996.11.10 – 2024.02.29)

Bishop of Virac (Philippines) (2024.02.29 – ...)

Bishop Manolo Alarcon de los Santos (77)
(1994.08.12 – 2024.02.29)

Bishop emeritus of Virac (Philippines)

Pro pace

Born:	1947.08.05 (Basud, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1974.05.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.09.12

Priest of Caceres (Philippines) (1974.05.07 – 1994.08.12)

Bishop of Virac (Philippines) (1994.08.12 – 2024.02.29)

Bishop José Crisologo Sorra
(1974.05.27 – 1993.03.01)

Christi impetus pacis

Born:	1929.03.09 (Malinao, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1956.03.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.08.28
Died:	2021.01.21 (Legazpi City, Philippines † 91)

Bishop of Virac (Philippines) (1974.05.27 – 1993.03.01)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (1993.03.01 – 2005.04.01)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Virac, Catanduanes, Bicol
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (31)

Legazpi (↙), Caceres (←), Sorsogon (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 1,512 km²

Population: 265,162 Catholics (95.0% of 279,118 total)

Pastoral Centres: 45 parishes, 12 missions

Personnel: 78 priests (69 diocesan, 9 religious), 47 religious (10 brothers, 37 sisters), 24 seminarians