The Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo is a Latin Catholic missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction that covers the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces in southern Philippines.
It is directly exempt to the Holy See, specifically to the Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and is not part of any ecclesiastical province. However, for the purpose of apostolic cooperation, it is sometimes grouped with the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Jolo, Sulu.
History It was established on 28 October 1953 as Apostolic Prefecture of Sulu, of territory split off from the then Territorial Prelature of Cotabato and Sulu (now the Archdiocese of Cotabato).
It was promoted and renamed after its see on 12 July 1958 as Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, led by a titular bishop.
Ordinaries
Apostolic prefect of Sulu (1954–1958) Name Period in office1.Fr. Francis Joseph McSorley, O.M.I.1954July 12, 1958
Apostolic vicars of Jolo (1958–present)
NamePeriod in officeCoat of arms1.Bishop Francis Joseph McSorley, O.M.I.July 12, 1958November 20, 1970+, died in office()2.Bishop Philip Francis Smith, O.M.I.June 26, 1972April 11, 1979, transferred to Cotabato()3.Bishop George Eli Dion, O.M.I.January 28, 1980October 11, 1991, resigned()4.Bishop Benjamin D. de Jesus, O.M.I.October 11, 1991February 04, 1997, died in office()5.Bishop Angelito R. Lampon, O.M.I.November 21, 1997November 06, 2018, transferred to Cotabato() –Fr. Romeo S. Saniel, O.M.I.December 16, 2018April 04, 2020, apostolic administrator()6.Bishop Charlie M. Inzon, O.M.I.April 04, 2020September 08, 2025, transferred to Cotabato()
References
External links Claretian Publications; Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo GCatholic with incumbent bio links Decree of 28 October 1953 - decree establishing the apostolic vicariates of Jolo and Cotabato, published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol 46 (1954), pp. 66-67 Apostolic constitution of 12 July 1958 - papal bull raising the dignity of the Apostolic Prefecture as the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol 51 (1959), pp. 319-320