The Diocese of Cabanatuan (Latin: Dioecesis Cabanatuanensis) is a Latin Catholic diocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The diocese comprises 16 towns of Nueva Ecija including the cities of Cabanatuan, Palayan, and Gapan. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lingayen–Dagupan."Dioceses in the Philippines - Diocese of Cabanatuan" Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. Retrieved on 2013-01-11.
History On February 16, 1963 Pope John XXIII, issued the apostolic letter "Exterior Ecclesiae" creating the Diocese of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija separating from the Archdiocese of Lingayen–Dagupan, and then the Diocese of San Fernando. On June 3, 1963 the Diocese of Cabanatuan was canonically erected after that on June 4, 1963 Bishop Mariano Gaviola was ordained and installed as the first bishop of Cabanatuan. The Diocese of Cabanatuan was put under the patronage of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino and the Virgin Mary under the title Divine Shepherdess (Divina Pastora) which is popularly venerated in Gapan every May 1. The seat of the diocese is the St. Nicholas of Tolentino Cathedral in Cabanatuan with a feast day of September 10.
The diocese lost territory in 1984 when the Diocese of San Jose in the Northern Part of Nueva Ecija was formed.
The current bishop emeritus of the diocese and Apostolic administrator is Sofronio Aguirre Bancud, S.S.S., D.D. He was appointed as auxiliary bishop on 2004 and installed as bishop on January 25, 2005. He officially retired on December 8, 2024 after he reached his mandatory retirement age of 76.
On December 8, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Prudencio Padilla Andaya, Jr., CICM, D.D., until now the second Apostolic Vicar of Tabuk since April 16, 2003, to be the 6th bishop of this diocese. Bishop Andaya was installed on February 3, 2025 at the Cabanatuan Cathedral.
Ordinaries + Ordinaries of the Diocese of Cabanatuan No. Portrait Name Coat of arms From Until Duration Notes Bishops of Cabanatuan (March 8, 1963 – present) 1 Mariano Gaviola y Garcés1922–1998 8 Mar 1963 31 May 1967 4 years, 2 months, 23 days First bishop; later appointed Archbishop of Lipa. 2 Vicente P. Reyes1907–1983 8 Aug 1967 7 Apr 1983 15 years, 7 months Died in office. 3 Ciceron S. Tumbocon1922–1990 7 Apr 1983 11 Nov 1990 7 years, 7 months, 4 days Died in office. 4 Sofio G. Balce1941–2004 11 Nov 1990 25 Jun 2004 13 years, 7 months, 14 days Died in office. 5 Sofronio A. Bancud, S.S.S.1948– 6 Nov 2004 8 Dec 2024 20 years, 1 month, 2 days Retired. 6 Prudencio Padilla Andaya Jr. C.I.C.M.1959– 8 Dec 2024 Incumbent ongoing Current bishop.
Coadjutor bishops No. Portrait Name From Until Duration Notes 1 Ciceron S. Tumbocon1922–1990 18 Aug 1982 7 Apr 1983 7 months, 20 days Succeeded as bishop of Cabanatuan. 2 Sofio G. Balce1941–2004 21 May 1988 11 Nov 1990 2 years, 5 months, 21 days Succeeded as bishop of Cabanatuan.
Auxiliary bishops + Auxiliary bishops of the Diocese of Cabanatuan No. Portrait Name From Until Duration Notes 1 Pedro G. Magugat, M.S.C.1925–1990 23 Apr 1979 9 Dec 1981 2 years, 7 months, 16 days Later appointed military vicar of the Philippines. 2 Sofronio A. Bancud, S.S.S.1948– 24 May 2001 6 Nov 2004 3 years, 5 months, 13 days Later appointed bishop of Cabanatuan.
Gallery
See also Catholic Church in the Philippines List of Catholic dioceses in the Philippines Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose (Nueva Ecija)
References
External links
Dioecesis Cabanatuanensis Catholic-Hierarchy.org Website of the Diocese of Cabanatuan Maria Assumpta Seminary