The Archdiocese of Cebu (more formally the Archdiocese of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Cebu;
Latin: Archidioecesis Nominis Iesu o Caebuana;
Filipino: Arkidiyosesis ng Cebu;
Cebuano: Arkidiyosesis sa Labing Balaan nga Ngalan ni Hesus sa Sugbo;
Spanish: Arquidiocesis del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus de Cebu) is a
Latin Churcharchdiocese of the
Catholic Church in the Philippines and one of the ecclesiastical provinces of the
Catholic Church in the country. It is composed of the entire civil province of
Cebu (and the nearby islands of
Mactan,
Bantayan, and
Camotes).[4][5][6][7][8] The jurisdiction,
Cebu, is considered as the fount of Christianity in the Far East.[9]
The history of the future Archdiocese of Cebu began with the arrival of
Ferdinand Magellan in Cebu in 1521.[11] The church anchored in that year[12] by the native
Cebuanos' profession of faith in Christ,[13] baptism,[14] the daily celebration of the Mass,[15] and the chaplain of the expedition, Pedro Valderrama being the legitimate pastor for their spiritual needs.
In Cebu the first
baptism was made (April 14, 1521); hence,
Rajah Humabon and the rest of the natives became the very first
FilipinoChristians. In the island also was the first
Mass in which Filipino converts participated. Also in the territory the first resistance against the
Mohammedan advance from the south.[16] The first Philippine Christian feast dedicated to the Sto. Niño was instituted and celebrated there. The first recorded confession and the last rites of an accused inhabitant transpired.[17] The very first temples were erected (the
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and
Basilica del Santo Niño) in the Philippines.[18] The first Christian
marriage transpired with Isabel, the niece of Rajah Tupas and Andres, the Greek caulker of Legazpi, and their children baptized representing the first infant baptisms.[19]
However, immediately after its inception during the aftermath of the
Battle of Mactan, the Church of Cebu experienced decadence due to lack of shepherds to enforce and edify the natives on the faith. Most of the natives materially apostatized, while others clung unto the image of the
Santo Niño (the first Christian icon in the Philippines given as a baptismal gift by Magellan). The unintended negligence lasted for 44 years until it was re-established in 1565 by the arrival of
Miguel López de Legazpi and Fray
Andrés de Urdaneta. The remnant of the Cebuano Church in 1521, as evident in the person of
Rajah Tupas, was resuscitated by the
Augustinians as an
abbey nullius (an equivalent of a diocese)[20] when the formal evangelization of the Philippines commenced with Urdaneta as the first
prelate.[21][22][23] The oversight of the natives was then succeeded to Fray Diego de Herrera who would later re-baptized
Tupas and his servants in 1568. Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established his government in Cebu, thus the
first capital of the Philippines.
The church expanded from Cebu when the remaining missionaries led by Diego de Herrera were forced northwest temporarily due to conflict with the Portuguese and laid the foundations of the Christian community in
Panay in around 1569.[4][7] In 1570, the second batch of missionaries reached Cebu. The island became the ecclesiastical "seat" as it was the center for evangelization. A notable missionary was Alfonso Jimenez, who travelled and penetrated the Camarines region through the islands of
Masbate,
Leyte,
Samar, and
Burias and founded the church there. He was called the first apostle of the region.[4][7]
By 1571, Herrera who was assigned as chaplain of Legazpi, from Panay advanced further north and founded the local church community in Manila. There, Legazpi transferred the seat of government though Cebu remained the spiritual capital of the country.[4][7] In 1572, the Spaniards led by Juan de Salcedo marched from Manila further north with the second batch of Augustinian missionaries and pioneered the evangelization to the communities in the
Ilocos (starting with
Vigan) and the
Cagayan regions.[4][7]
On April 28, 1934,
Pope Pius XI promulgated an apostolic constitution with the incipit Romanorum Pontificum semper separating the dioceses of Cebu, Calbayog, Jaro, Bacolod, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro from the
ecclesiastical province of Manila. The same constitution elevated the diocese into an archdiocese while placing all the newly separated dioceses under a new ecclesiastical province with Cebu as the new metropolitan see.[30] The last suffragan bishop,
Gabriel M. Reyes, was promoted as its first archbishop.
On November 8, 1941, it lost territory to establish
Diocese of Tagbilaran as its suffragan.
Cebu was visited by
Pope John Paul II in February 1981. In his Homily for Families (February 19, 1981), the supreme pontiff called the island as the birthplace of the faith:
Finding myself in this important city known as the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines, I want to express my deep joy and profound thanksgiving to the Lord of history. The thought that for 450 years the light of the Gospel has shone with undimmed brightness in this land and on its people is cause for great rejoicing.[31]
Between November 10, 1985, and March 1, 1986, the archdiocese held its Fourth Diocesan Synod of Cebu at the Seminaryo Mayor de San Carlos.
Plans to divide the Archdiocese of Cebu was first laid during the pastoral leadership of Cardinal
Julio Rosales.[32] It was raised again on August 20, 2002, during the pastoral leadership of then-Archbishop Cardinal
Ricardo Vidal.[33]
The plan was revived again on December 31, 2022, when Archbishop
Jose S. Palma announced a feasibility study on the planned division of the archdiocese, during the
WatchnightVigil Mass of the
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.[34] The archdiocese coined the term "Sugbuswak", derived from "Cebu" and the Cebuano word "buswak", referring to the
flowering or
blossoming of new dioceses.[9] The plan calls for the erection of two new
suffragan dioceses in
Danao, which would cover the northern part of the civil province of Cebu; and in
Carcar, covering the southern part of the province. The territory of the metropolitan archdiocese would be reduced to the central part of the province, including
Cebu City and its neighboring towns, as well as the island of
Mactan.[33] The plan aims for better pastoral management in churches.[32]
The ecclesiastical arms of the Archdiocese of Cebu was redesigned by a professional Italian heraldic artist, Sig. Marco Foppoli, as commissioned by the priests-secretaries of the Office of the Archbishop in the first quarter of 2021, with the facilitation and benefaction of Jan Thomas V. Limchua.
The re-designed coat of arms of the archdiocese consists of a simple yet traditional shield, which is the most commonly used form in ecclesiastical heraldry. In a chapé ("mantled") ployé partition, which is formed by two arched lines drawn from the center chief to the sides, the shield itself is divided into two fields: the upper field, in red (gules); and the lower field, in blue (azure).
The upper field of red represents the Niño de Cebu (Bato Balani sa Gugma, or Magnet of Love), whose very image, which at first was a gift during the first baptism five hundred years ago, has now become the symbol of the Catohlic faith in Cebu.
On this same field are two lions: the first lion, in gold, is emblazoned with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Castile; while the other, in silver, is emblazoned with the personal coat of arms of Ferdinand Magellan—these two elements were present in the original coat of arms granted to the archdiocese. Both refer to the Hispanic origin and nascent beginning of Catholicism in Cebu, the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines.
These two lions support the stylized monogram of the Holy Name of Jesus inside a stylized image of the sun—symbolizing Christ as the light of the world. It is deliberately placed at the top center of the arm, representing the titular of the archdiocese. It also recalls the life and ministry of Jesus in the words of Paul (Letter to the Philippians): "…he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:7–11)
The field of red also honors the Visayan Proto-Martyr, Pedro Calungsod.
The lower field of blue symbolizes Our Lady and her motherly mantle of love and compassion for the Cebuano faithful as also portrayed by the monogram "Auspice Maria" (Under the Protection of Mary) with a gold crown (above), a silver crescent (below), and gold gloriole (around the monogram). This imagery specifically refers to her image and title, Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu, through whose intercession, and by God's grace flowing from above, has saved Cebu from the cholera epidemic of 1902. On 16 July 2006, Virgen de Guadalupe de Cebu was canonically crowned by the authority of Pope Benedict XVI as patroness of the archdiocese.
The upward, arrow tip-like shape of the blue field can be understood as a reminder to the Cebuano faithful that a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary inevitably leads to a greater love for her Divine Son, Our Lord. This is reminiscent of the traditional aphorism, "Ad Jesum per Mariam" (to Jesus, through Mary).
The entire shield is surmounted by the conventional heraldic elements identifying it to be the coat of arms of an archdiocese, namely a miter, and the crossed crozier and archiepiscopal cross.
Written on a scroll, below the arms, is the Motto of the Archdiocese: "Sanctum Nomen Eius," which means "Holy is His Name," taken from Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:49).[37]
Juan Bautista Gorordo (2 April 1910 Appointed – 19 June 1931 Resigned), succeeded ad former Titular Bishop of
Nilopolis (1909.04.29 – 1910.04.02) &
Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu (1909.04.29 – 1910.04.02); emeritate as Titular Bishop of Tacapæ (1931.06.19 – 1934.12.20)
Gabriel M. Reyes (29 July 1932 Appointed – 1934.04.28 see below)
List of auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese of Cebu
Bishop
Period in office
Titular see
Coat of arms
Notes
1.
Juan Durán
1680 -1681
Zenopolis in Lycia
2.
Juan Bautista Gorordo y Perfecto
1909–1910
Nilopolis
Succeeded as Bishop of Cebu
3.
Manuel Sandalo Salvador
1960–1969
Nasbinca Zarna (As Titular Archbishop)
4.
Nicolas Mollenedo Mondejar
1970–1974
Grumentum
Appointed Bishop of Romblon
5.
Jesus Armamento Dosado
1977–1979
Nabala
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cagayan de Oro, later Archbishop of Ozamis
6.
Angel Nacorda Lagdameo
1980–1986
Oreto
Appointed Bishop of Dumaguete
7.
Camilo Diaz Gregorio
1987–1989
Girus
Appointed Bishop of Bacolod
8.
Leopoldo Sumaylo Tumulak
1987–1992
Lesvi
Appointed Bishop of Tagbilaran
9.
Emilio Layon Bataclan
1990–1995; 2004–2015
Gunela (1900–1995) Septimunicia (2004–2015)
Appointed Bishop of Iligan, Reappointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu
10.
Antonio Racelis Rañola
1990–2003
Claternae
11.
Jose Serofia Palma
1997–1999
Vazari-Didda
Appointed Bishop of Calbayog, later Archbishop of Cebu
12.
Precioso Dacalos Cantillas
1995–1998
Vicus Caesaris
Appointed Bishop of Maasin
13.
John Forrosuelo Du
1997–2001
Timici
Appointed Bishop of Dumaguete; later Archbishop of Palo
14.
Antonieto Dumagan Cabajog
1999–2001
Reperi
Appointed Bishop of Surigao
15.
Julito Buhisan Cortes
2001–2013
Severiana
Appointed Bishop of Dumaguete
16.
Isabelo Caiban Abarquez
2002–2004
Talaptula
Appointed Bishop of Calbayog
17.
Oscar Jaime Llaneta Florencio
2015–2019
Lestrona
Appointed Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines
18.
Dennis Cabanada Villarojo
2015–2019
Gisipa
Appointed Bishop of Malolos
19.
Midyphil Bermejo Billones
2019–present
Tagarata
20.
Ruben Caballero Labajo
2022–present
Abbir Maius
Diocesan Seminaries
Pope John XXIII Seminary', Pope John Paul II Avenue, Barangay Luz, Cebu City
Rector: Allan Delima
San Carlos Seminary College, Pope John Paul II Avenue, Barangay Luz, Cebu City
Rector: Joseph Tan
Seminario Mayor de San Carlos, Pope John Paul II Avenue, Barangay Luz, Cebu City
Rector: Mhar Balili
Spiritual Pastoral Formation Year House, Archbishop's Residence Compound, D. Jakosalem St., Cebu City
Director: Alvin Raypan
Archdiocesan Calendar
The Calendar of the Archdiocese of Cebu is based on the
General Roman Calendar and the Philippine Standard Calendar. Below are the following additions and changes to the calendar.
^Carmelo D. F. Morelos, "'Go… Make Disciples!' – A Pastoral Letter on the Fourth Centenary of the Archdioceses of Manila, Cebu, Cáceres, Nueva Segovia," Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, January 29, 1994, accessed September 6, 2014,
http://cbcponline.net/v2/?p=8078
^Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's Voyage Around the World, vol. 1, trans. James Alexander Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1906), 159.
^Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's Voyage Around the World, vol. 1, trans. James Alexander Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1906), 151–155.
^Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's Voyage Around the World, vol. 1, trans. James Alexander Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1906), 157.
^Juan de Medina, OSA, "Historia de la Orden de San Agustin de estas Islas Filipinas," in The Philippine Islands 1493–1803, vol. 23, eds. Emma H. Blair, James A. Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1903), 185.
^Astrid Sala-Boza, "The Contested Site of the Finding of the Holy Child: Villa San Miguel or San Nicolas (Cebu El Viejo)," Philippine Quarterly of Culture Society 34, (2006): 232. www.jstor.org/stable/29792595; The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803, vol. 2, eds. Emma Helen Blair, James Alexander Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1903), 121.
^The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803, vol. 2, eds. Emma Helen Blair, James Alexander Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1903), 33, note 5.
^Bartholomé de Letona, OSF, The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803, vol. 36, eds. Emma Helen Blair, James Alexander Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1906), 210.
^Felipe Redondo y Sendino, Breve reseña de lo que fue y de lo que es la Diócesis de Cebú en las Islas Filipinas, trans. Azucena L. Pace (Cebu City: University of San Carlos Press, 2014), Breve Reseña, 74.
^Pope Pius XI, Apostolic Constitution separating some dioceses from the ecclesiastical province of Manila to form the new ecclesiastical province of Cebu Romanorum Pontificum semper (April 28, 1934), Acta Apostolicae Sedis 27 (1935), pp.263–264. PROVINCIA ECCLESIASTICA MANILANA DISMEMBRATIO ET NOVA CAEBUANA PROVINCIA ERIGITUR.
^Bartolomé de Letona, OSF (1662), "Description of the Filipinas Islands" in
The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803, vol. 34, eds. Emma H. Blair and James A. Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1906), 208. "The Order of St. Augustine entered the islands in the year [1]565; its first superior, and first prelate of all the islands was Fray Andres de Urdaneta – a Vascongado,40 and a son of the convent and province of Mexico; he was the apostle who unfurled the gospel banner, and he planted the faith in the island of Zebu' and others."
^Bibliography on Legazpi and Urdaneta, Isacio R. Rodriguez, Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints(Ateneo de Manila University:1965).
^The Philippine Islands 1493–1803, vol. 23, eds. Emma H. Blair, James A. Robertson (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1903), 209. "In April of the year 1565, there was founded in Zebu (afterward being transferred to Manila) the church and ecclesiastical community of these islands; and its ordinary jurisdiction was allotted to the superiors of the Order of St. Augustine, who were the founders and apostles of this kingdom; they held that dignity up to the year of [15]77".
Notes
^The religious superiors, in this case the
Augustinians in
Cebu, functioned as ordinaries in mission territories with no diocese through the papal bull Omnimodam auctoritatem nostram made by
Pope Adrian VI. Thus, consequently making the first Augustinian superiors as Prelates of Cebu. Their prelacy are more historical than canonical. The modern equivalent of this is a
Territorial Superior. See more in
gcatholic.org.