The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanatuan (Lat: Dioecesis Cabanatuanensis) is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southern Nueva Ecija province in the Philippines. The diocese comprises 16 towns of the province including the cities of Cabanatuan, Palayan and Gapan. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.
The diocese was created on June 3, 1963 from the territory of Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. It was put under the patronage of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino and the Virgin Mary under the title Divine Shepherdess (Divina Pastora). The seat of the diocese is the St. Nicholas of Tolentino Cathedral in Cabanatuan City with a feast day of September 10.
The diocese lost some territory in 1984 when the Diocese of San Jose in northern Nueva Ecija was formed. The current bishop of the diocese is Rev. Sofronio Aguirre Bancud. He was appointed in 2004 and installed as bishop on January 25, 2005.
Mariano Gaviola y Garcés † (8 Mar 1963 Appointed - 31 May 1967 Resigned)
Vicente P. Reyes † (8 Aug 1967 Appointed - 30 Apr 1983 Died)
Ciceron Santa Maria Tumbocon † (7 Apr 1983 Succeeded - 11 Nov 1990 Died)
Sofio Guinto Balce † (11 Nov 1990 Succeeded - 25 Jun 2004 Died)
Mst.Rev.Sofronio Aguirre Bancud, S.S.S. D.D (6 Nov 2004 Appointed - Present)
St. Nicholas of Tolentino Cathedral in Cabanatuan
The following are the vicariates, parishes of the diocese with the parochial priest and feast day of the diocese (as of January 2014):
Vicar Forane: Rev. Fr. Aldrin Domingo
Cathedral Of St. Nicholas Of Tolentino, Cabanatuan City under Rev. Fr. Joel G. Cariaso, September 10
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Mabini Homesite, Cabanatuan City, Fr. Dong Caleon with Rev. Fr. Edwin S. Beley (asst.)
St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Mayapyap Sur, Cabanatuan City, Rev. Fr. Venes Paulo B. Matias, April 5
St. Isidore the Worker Church, Pinagpanaan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija,Rev. Fr. Aldrin B. Domingo with Rev. Alfonso S. Saulo (asst.), May 15
St. Lorenzo Ruiz Church, Pinagpaanan, Talavera, Rev. Fr. Carlos Padilla
Vicar Forane:
Saint Rose of Lima Church in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Edwin C. Dizon, Aug. 23
St. Bartholomew Church in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Orlando M. Valino, Aug. 24
Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de las Saleras in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Robert I. dela Cruz, Apr. 26
Diocesan Shrine of St. John the Baptist Church in Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Elmer Villamayor, June 24
St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Richmond Nilo, April 5
St. Barbara Church in Sta. Barbara, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Ryan Adrian M. Aguinaldo, Dec. 4
St. John Mary Vianney Church in Adorable San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, under the fathers of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, August 4
Vicar Forane: Rev. Fr. Raymund E. Gaspar
St. John Nepomucene Church in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Jeffrey J. de la Cruz, May 16
St. Augustine Church in Jaen, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Isidro Puyat, Aug. 28
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Calaba, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Reynold H. Oliveros, JCL, Oct. 7
St. Isidore the Farmer Church in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Raymund E. Gaspar, May 15
St. Anthony Abbot Church in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija under Rev. Fr. Cesar M. Bactol (asst. Rev. Fr. Franz Joseph Aquino) January 17
Churches in the Diocese of Cabanatuan
Vicar Forane:
St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Nezelle O. Lirio, Oct. 4
St. Paul the Apostle in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Richard DJ. Castillo, Jan. 25
St. Stephen the King Church in Laur, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Benjamin M. Javier III, Aug. 16
St. Cecilia Church in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Angelo Paul M. Fernando, Nov. 22
St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Church in Bangad, Cabanatuan City, Rev. Fr. Jun Gregorio, March 19
Our Lady of Fatima Church in General Mamerto Natividad, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Ariel G. Musngi, May 13
Vicar Forane: Rev. Msgr. Felix L. Hernandez, HP
Three Kings Parish Church in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija under Rev. Fr. Mark C. Ancheta, 1st Sunday of Jan.
St. Roch Church in Baluarte, Gapan City, Rev. Fr. Victor N. Cruz, Aug 16
St. Nicholas of Tolentino Church in San Nicolas, Gapan City, Rev. Fr. Sedfrey J. Calderon, Sept. 10
St. Francis of Assisi in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija,Rev. Fr. Jessie C. Salac, October 4
Holy Cross Church in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, Rev. Fr. Antonio A. Mangahas Jr., May 13
St. Helen Church in Sta. Cruz, Gapan City under Rev. Fr. Marlou Tarcisio N. Cruz, Sept. 14
