Diocese of Legazpi, Philippines 🇵🇭

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Legazpi / Legazpien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Caceres

Neighbouring Dioceses: Caceres (↖), Virac (↗), Sorsogon (↘), Masbate (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Mother of Salvation, Saint Gregory I

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1951.06.29: Established as Diocese of Legazpi / Legazpien(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Nueva Caceres and became suffragan of Caceres)
1974.05.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Virac

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1981.02)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2009.10.01 – ...):

Bishop Joel Zamudio Baylon (72)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Legazpi (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joel Zamudio Baylon (72)
(2009.10.01 – ...)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines)

Sub tuum præsidium

Born:	1954.01.28 (Milaor, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1978.10.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.03.25

Priest of Legazpi (Philippines) (1978.10.08 – 1998.02.14)

Bishop of Masbate (Philippines) (1998.02.14 – 2009.10.01)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (2009.10.01 – ...)

Bishop Nestor Celestial Cariño
(2005.04.01 – 2007.11.07)

In luce eius

Born:	1938.09.08 (Malinao, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1961.12.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.05.31
Died:	2025.05.24 (San Juan City, Philippines † 86)

Priest of Legazpi (Philippines) (1961.12.31 – 1978.03.09)

Titular Bishop of Thibiuca (1978.03.09 – 1980.08.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (1978.03.09 – 1980.08.12)

Bishop of Borongan (Philippines) (1980.08.12 – 1986.01.31)

Titular Bishop of Acholla (2003.06.11 – 2005.04.01)

Auxiliary Bishop of Daet (Philippines) (2003.06.11 – 2005.04.01)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (2005.04.01 – 2007.11.07)

Bishop José Crisologo Sorra
(1993.03.01 – 2005.04.01)

Christi impetus pacis

Born:	1929.03.09 (Malinao, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1956.03.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.08.28
Died:	2021.01.21 (Legazpi City, Philippines † 91)

Bishop of Virac (Philippines) (1974.05.27 – 1993.03.01)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (1993.03.01 – 2005.04.01)

Bishop Concordio Maria Sarte
(1980.08.12 – 1991.11.22)

Born:	1931.01.01 (Pili, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1956.03.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.07.22
Died:	1991.11.22 († 60)

Auxiliary Bishop of Caceres (Philippines) (1973.04.25 – 1977.08.30)

Titular Bishop of Thunusuda (1973.04.25 – 1980.08.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Sorsogon (Philippines) (1977.08.30 – 1980.08.12)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (1980.08.12 – 1991.11.22)

Bishop Teotimo C. Pacis, C.M.
(1969.05.23 – 1980.06.04)

Born:	1913.04.20 (Tiwi, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1943.03.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.01.25
Died:	1984.07.08 († 71)

Bishop of Palo (Philippines) (1966.11.18 – 1969.05.23)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (1969.05.23 – 1980.06.04)

Bishop Flaviano Ariola
(1952.05.15 – 1968.11.27)

Born:	1905.07.04 (Legazpi, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1931.03.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.08.06
Died:	1981.05.31 († 75)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (1952.05.15 – 1968.11.27)

Titular Bishop of Guzabeta (1968.11.27 – 1970.12.04)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Lucilo Barrameda Quiambao (93) (1982.03.23 – 2009.12.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Nestor Celestial Cariño (1978.03.09 – 1980.08.12)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great, Legazpi City, Albay, Bicol
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (48)

Caceres (↖), Virac (↗), Sorsogon (↘), Masbate (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,575 km²

Population: 1,389,658 Catholics (92.3% of 1,505,170 total)

Pastoral Centres: 50 parishes, 5 missions

Personnel: 152 priests (111 diocesan, 41 religious), 250 religious (125 brothers, 125 sisters), 45 seminarians