Roman Catholic Diocese of Dipolog

The Diocese of Dipolog (Latin: Dioecesis Dipologanae; Filipino: Diyosesis ng Dipolog; Cebuano: Diyosesis sa Dipolog; Spanish: Diócesis de Dipolog) is a Latin Church of the Catholic Church in the Philippines which comprises the civil province of Zamboanga del Norte. Erected in 1967 from territory in the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, the diocese is a suffragan to the Archdiocese of Ozamis.

Diocese of Dipolog Dioecesis Dipologanae Diyosesis sa Dipolog Diyosesis ng Dipolog
Catholic
Dipolog Cathedral
Coat of arms
Location
Country	Philippines
Territory	Zamboanga del Norte
Ecclesiastical province	Ozamis
Coordinates	8.5861°N 123.3455°E / 8.5861; 123.3455
Statistics
Area	7,205 km2 (2,782 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2021) 1,070,000 758,000 (70.8%)
Parishes	38
Schools	5
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	31 July 1967
Cathedral	Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Titular patrons	Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Saint Vincent Ferrer
Secular priests	93
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Severo Cagatan Caermare
Metropolitan Archbishop	Martin Jumoad
Vicar General	Joel S. Montederamos
Bishops emeritus	Jose R. Manguiran
All current statistics are based on updated data taken by Catholic-Hierarchy.org.

The seat of the diocese is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary which is located at the center of the city of Dipolog of Zamboanga del Norte. The diocese celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2017. Since its creation the diocese has had three bishops. The current bishop is Severo Cagatan Caermare, the first native of the diocese to become its bishop.

Former coat of arms of the Diocese of Dipolog used until 2014. The three roses symbolize the patroness of the diocese, and the cathedral above wavy lines connotes the origin of the name Dipolog (across the river).

History

The diocese was erected on July 31, 1967, as a diocese under the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, with Felix Zafra appointed as its first bishop. On January 24, 1983, as the former Diocese of Ozamis was elevated into an archdiocese, the Dipolog diocese was then transferred to the new archdiocese.

Ordinaries

No.		Name	From	Until	Consecrated Bishop	Coat of Arms
1		Felix Sanchez Zafra	July 31, 1967 (Appointed)	October 20, 1986 (Appointed as Bishop of Diocese of Tagbilaran)	October 22, 1967
2		Jose Ricare Manguiran	May 27, 1987 (Appointed)	July 25, 2014 (Retired)	August 19, 1987
3		Severo Cagatan Caermare	July 25, 2014 (Appointed)	Present	October 30, 2014

Timeline

Coat-of-Arms

Coat of arms of Roman Catholic Diocese of Dipolog

Notes "On top (chief), on a gold/yellow field symbolizing generosity, the monogram of the Holy Name of Jesus, IHS, in red, to symbolize the beginning of the evangelization of Zamboanga del Norte by the Society of Jesus in the 17th century. The monogram is circumscribed within the figure of a fish, also in red, representing the rich marine and mineral sources of the province. Below the fish figure, are three wavy lines in blue, the heraldic symbol for water, to symbolize the Subanens, the original Lumad settlers of the province. On base, on a blue field symbolizing truth, strength and faith, the monogram of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to symbolize Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, the principal patroness of the Diocese."

See also

• Catholic Church in the Philippines