A. Catholic Population
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As of December 31, 2005 there were 1,899,316 people in the diocese. Some 63 percent or 1.2 million are Catholics. As of April 30, 2006, there were 40 parishes under diocesan administration and 16 parishes under Religious administration in the diocese. In 2006, there were 1,190 baptisms. |
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People in the Diocese
Baptized Catholics: 1.2 million or 63%
Members of other Christian denominations (approximate): The Iglesia ni Kristo (Church of Christ) is the biggest group among non-Catholics
Followers of other religions: There are some Muslim communities.
NOTE: No estimates available yet
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B. Diocesan and Religious Priests
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Diocesan Priests: 40
Religious Priests: 60
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C. Lay Missionaries, Catechists
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Catechists: 320 (62 salaried, 260 volunteers)
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D. Seminaries, Houses of Formation (Click here for details)
E. As of April 30, 2006, there were 40 parishes under diocesan administration and 16 parishes under Religious administration in the diocese
Diocesan Activities and Organizations
A. Major Diocesan Commissions and Organizations
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| Altar of the cathedral |
Five Main Commissions, each with ministries/councils/organizations under it:
Evangelization
Social Action (Caritas Novaliches)
Youth Affairs
Family and Life
Liturgy
Diocesan Pastoral Office
Address: Saint Peter Parish, Commonwealth Avenue, Balara, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: (+63) 2 952.44.04 / 951-8489
Father Antonio E. Labiao: Pastoral Vicar
Sister Elizabeth V. Pedernal, MSCS: Coordinating Secretary
Diocesan Commissions and Ministries
Commission on Evangelization
Father Aldrin T. Lopez: Priest Coordinator
Ms. Josie Manuel: Lay Coordinator
Social Service and Development Ministry (SSDM)
Caritas Novaliches
Ms. Ira Agustin: Lay Coordinator
Father Moteclaro Viloria: Coordinator
Diocesan Liturgical Commission
Father Mario S. Sanchez Coordinator
Biblical Apostolate
Father Gerardo Tapiador: Director
Basic Ecclesiastical Communities (BEC)
Father Aldrin Suan, CM
Ms. Cynthia Andrada: Lay Coordinator
Council of the Laity of Novaliches (CLAN)
Mrs. Estelita A. Macalaguim: President
Father Roger Positar: Spiritual Director
Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)
Father Bobong Francisco
Mr. Angel Gahol
Vocation Promotion
Father Daniel Allan D. Samonte: Director
Catechetical Ministry
Father Aldrin Lopez: Chairman
Ms. Elsa Biyo / Ms. Ophine Javier : Lay Coordinators
Youth Ministry
Father Aristeo De Leon: Director
Family and Life Ministry
Father Jaime Z. Lara: Director
Mr. and Mrs Agoy Descaller
Ministry for the Person with Disability
Father Ambrosio Nonato C. Legaspi: Coordinator
Prison Ministry
Father Bienvenido Luke D. Dobles: Director
Coordinator: Sister Zenaida Cabrera, SHE
Ministry to the Migrants and their Families
Father Leonides Laguilles: Priest Coordinator
Sister Elizabeth V. Pedernal, MSCS: Religious Coordinator
Mandated Organizations
Father John Bosco P. Abellana: Coordinator
Mission Promotion
Father Everaldo Dos Santos, SX: Director
Parochial School Association - Novaliches (PSA-Nova)
Father Albert N. Delvo School Superintendent
Jacqueline L. Sy: Secretary
Public Affairs Ministry
Father Rolyn B. Francisco: Coordinator
Mr. Greg Fabros: Lay Coordinator
Ministry for the Sick
Father Vic Amaro, DS: Priest Coordinator
Restorative Justice Ministry
Father Bienvenido Luke D. Dobles: Priest Coordinator
Sister Zenaida Cabrera, SHE: Religious Coordinator
Corazon Dumdum: Lay Coordinator
Campus ministry
Father Steven Tynan, MGL: Priest Coordinator
Pondo ng Pinoy Desk
Father Antonio E. Labiao, Jr.: Priest Coordinator
Women and Children Protection Program
Sister Adel Abamo, SDS
Religious Coordinator
Natural Family Planning
Sister Mary Magdalino Namuag, RSM: Religious Coordinator
Ecological and Environmental Concerns
Father Antonio E. Labiao, Jr.: Priest Coordinator
Sister Minela Alvares, RGS: Religious Coordinator
Other Diocesan Lay Organizations and Movements
Council of the Laity of Novaliches (CLAN)
Mrs. Estelita A. Macalaguim: Chairperson
Father Rogelio S. Positar: Spiritual Director
Mother Butler's Guild (MBG)
Ms. Leticia F. Rollan: President
Father Jesus Romulo C. Ra?ada :Spiritual Director
Catholic Women's League (CWL)
Ms. Carmencita M. Africa: President
Apostleship of Prayer (AP)
Ms. Girlie Medina: President
Couples for Christ (CfC)
Ben and Mitos Babilonia: Sector Heads, North A Sector
League of Eucharistic Guardians
Father Barth E Bracy: Coordinator
Cursillo Movement
Ms. Florinda Buenviaje
Knights of Columbus
Mr. Roberito Marasigan
Parish Renewal Experience (PREX)
Diocesan Secretariat Head: Mr. Frumen Abaya
Catholic Charismatic Movement
Ms. Rina Idago Lay Coordinator
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B. Catholic Educational Institutions (Click here for details)
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Schools |
| Pre-elementary Schools |
817 |
| Elementary Schools |
2,347 |
| High Schools |
597 |
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C. Catholic Social Welfare (Click here for details)
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Blessed Maria De Mattias Center (Orphanage)
Villa Consuelo Retreat House
Bahay Consuelo House of Elderly
Mother Ignacia National School Apostolate Center
Mother Ignacia Healing Center
Armold Janssen Spiritual Center (retreat house and spirituality center)
Christ's Holy Cross Mission Home Center
Father Monti Center Student House
Father Monti Shelter Home
Blessed Guanella Pastoral Center
Shelter-Home for Persons with Disabilities
Bukal Ng Kapayapaan, Home for the Abandoned
Oblate Missionary Center (retreat house)
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D. Social Communications
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In-charge of social communications in the diocese
Father Reynaldo Percival Flores
Address: c/o Santa Lucia Parish, JP Rizal Street
Santa Lucia, Novaliches, 1117 Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: (+63) 2 419-3645 , (+63) 2 936-0434
NOTE: No diocesan TV station, radio station, TV or radio studios, website, publications or Church-run cultural centers.
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Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes
A. Religious Institutes of Men (Click here for details)
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Pontifical Right
Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception ~ CFIC
Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ CICM
Congregation of the Mission ~ CM
Congregation of the Passion of Christ ~ CP
Sons of the Divine Providence ~ FDP
Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate ~ FFI
Little Brothers of Jesus ~ LBJ
Missionaries of Charity Brothers ~ MC
Missionaries of God's Love ~ MGL
Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette ~ MS
Congregation of the Missionaries of the Holy Family ~ MSF
Missionaries of Saint Francis De Sales ~ MSFS
Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary ~ MSsCc
Order of Augustinian Recollect ~ OAR
Order of Carmelites ~ Ocarm
Order Of Friars Minor ~ OFM
Order of Friars Minor Conventual ~ OFMConv.
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate ~ OMI
Dominican Brothers of Saint Martin De Porres ~ OP
Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine) ~ SAC
Servants of Charity (Guanellians) ~ SC
Sons of Charity ~ SC
Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ SCJ
Society of Jesus ~ SJ
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary ~ SSCC
Xaverian Missionaries of ~ SX
Diocesan Right
Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity ~ SOLT
Pious Union of Lay Faithful
Alagad ni Maria ~ AM
Disciples of Hope ~ DS
Emmanuel Servants of the Holy Trinity ~ ESHT
Franciscans of Our Lady of the Poor ~ FLP
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B. Religious Institutes of Women (Click here for details)
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Adorers of the Blood of Christ ~ ASC
Sister of Charity of Our Lady Of Good and Perpetual Succor ~ BPS
Carmelite Missionaries ~ CM
Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul ~ DC
Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood ~ DCPB
Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church ~ DM
Daughters of Street Mary of Providence ~ DSMP
Franciscan Daughters of Saint Elizabeth ~ FDSE
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate ~ FI
Franciscan Immaculatine Sisters ~ FIS
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary ~ FMM
Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth ~ FSSE
Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ ICM
Little Missionary Sister of Charity ~ LMSC - (Don Orione Sisters)
Little Sisters of Jesus ~ LSJ
Association Id, of Christ Redeemer Indente Missionaries ~ M.Id
Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz ~ MMB
Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Angels ~ MNDA
Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ MSC
Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, Scalabrinians ~MSCS
Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel ~ O.Carm
Institute of Our Lady of Carmel ~ O.Carm
Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Remedies ~ OP
Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation ~ OSA ASOLC
Roman Union of the Order of Saint Ursula ~ OSU
Religious of the Assumption ~ RA
Mercedarian Missionaries of Our Lady Of Mercy ~ RMM
Religious of the Virgin Mary ~ RVM
Sisters of the Blessed Korean Martyrs ~ SKM
Sisters of the Divine Savior ~ SDS
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi ~ SFMA
Sister of Saint Joseph of the Apparition ~ SJA
Sisters of Our Lady of Calvary ~ SOLC
Missionary Sisters of the Queen of the Apostles ~ SRA
Sisters of Saint Dorothy of Street Paula Frascinetti ~ SSD
Sisters of the Servants of the Holy Spirit ~ SSpS
Servants of the Blessed Sacrament ~ SSS
Diocesan Right
Caritas Sisters of Mizayaki ~ CSM
Merciful Sisters ~ MS
Sisters of Saint Francis Xavier Congregation ~ SFX
Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity ~ SOLT
Pious Union
Carmelite Sisters of the Holy Trinity ~ CSHT
Franciscans of Our Lady of the Poor ~ FLP
Handmaids of the Holy Trinity ~ HHT
Missionary Servants of the Holy Trinity ~ MSHT
Dominican Daughters of the Immaculate Mother ~ OP DDIM
Monastery of Benedictine Celestine ~ OSB
Rural Missionary Sisters of the Holy Trinity ~ RM
Religious Missionaries of Infant Jesus the Divine Savior Foundation, Inc. ~ RMIJ-DSFI
Servants of the Holy Eucharist ~ SHE
Trinitarian Handmaids of the Divine Word ~ THDW
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| General Characteristics of the Diocese
Geography
The diocese has a total land area of 137.74 square kilometers. It comprises the northern part of Kalookan City and the part of Quezon City that lies to the north of the main road called Tandang Sora.
Demographic data
Novaliches diocese has a total population of 1,899,316. There are no pronounced ethnic groups. Main languages used are Filipino and English.
Political structure
The area is under the city governments of Novaliches and Quezon City.
Economy
The diocesan territory is residential and highly commercial. Malls and commercial centers surround it.
Light manufacturing and warehouse establishments; small to large-scale businesses such as computer shops, machinery and repair shops, variety stores, groceries, laundry shops, food vending, pawnshops, gyms, health and beauty salons and spas, public markets and department stores also abound. Many residents are employed as factory workers in manufacturing industries like food processing.
Telecommunications
Many homes have access to radio, cable and regular television networks. Like the rest of Metro Manila, Globe, Smart, Bayantel and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company provide internet and landline connections.
Transportation
Land travel throughout Metro Manila is usually by passenger jeepneys, tricycles, buses and taxi cabs. Terminals are located in malls and commercial centers (Nova Mall, Ever Gotesco, SM Fairview) to take commuters to various parts of Metro Manila and as far as San Jose del Monte and Norzagaray in Bulacan province to the north. Farther out to other provinces, buses (air-conditioned and regular) are the public modes of transport. In general, buses take the main roads, and jeepneys, the secondary roads.
Education
Simple literacy is at 99 percent while functional literacy is at 94.6 percent in Metro Manila based on the 2003 data of the National Statistics Office, Demographic and Social Statistics Division.
Cultural dimension
Strong American influence led to present highly urbanized and Westernized state in the region. Filipino is the national language, yet English is the official language used in business and government and the medium of instruction in schools. Contemporary music is an easy mix of Filipino and Western elements. Native culture has generally been relegated to special commemorations like Philippine Independence Day and Linggo ng Wika (language week).
History of the Diocese
Date of Establishment: Dec. 7, 2002
Canonical Erection: Jan. 16, 2003
Established by: His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Dedicated to: Jesus, The Good Shepherd
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| Coat of Arms of Bishop Antonio TobiasBishop of Novaliches |
Motto: "Adveniat Regnum Tuum" - Your Kingdom Come.
1. Dexter (right): The Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Novaliches
The original settlement of Novaliches was established in 1854 when the 62nd governor-general Manuel Pavia y Lacy, Marquez de Novaliches, offered prisoners their liberty and their right of land settlement if they were to clear the wasteland in the area. When they accomplished this task, people from Polo and Morong migrated here to form what they called Hacienda Tala because the clearing of the wasteland came like a star from heaven.
The star thereby depicts this original settlement of the new Diocese. The Christmas star was specifically chosen by the clergy to signify that the diocese was born in the season when Jesus was also born. The light shining from the star represents what Fr. Horacio de la Costa, SJ, noted with their establishment of the Sacred Heart Novitiate that Novaliches was pagus novae lucis or place of the new light.
In 1856, when the first Church was founded by the Augustinians, the parish was originally dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and later to Our Lady of Mercy. The symbols of the Blessed Sacrament, namely the Chalice and the Host, were also the symbols used in the original logo of the Quezon City North Ecclesiastical District. The original village of Novaliches in Spain was found to be situated near Valencia whose cathedral now holds the original chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper.
The most important treasure also found in the original village of Novaliches was the chalice encrusted with amethysts donated by Gen. Manuel Pavia to their Chapel of San Miguel as a token of gratitude for their support of Isabela II in the Carlista war in Spain, who awarded him the title, Marquez de Novaliches.
The light blue color background is symbolic of the La Mesa Dam reservoir, main source of water for the whole Metro Manila and also represents the Marian character surrounding the presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
2. Sinister (left): The Personal Coat of Arms of Bishop Antonio R. Tobias, DD
At Sinister chief blue, green islands, a golden Moro Vinta whose mats are surmounted by the Cross and Crescent, and whose sails are drawn from traditional Southern Mindanao Art, and above it is the emblem of Our Lady. Sinister chief is a visual adaptation of the title "Our Lady, Star of the Sea." The placid blue sea represents a fervent prayer of peace for the peoples of Mindanao symbolized by the Vinta. The Cross and the Crescent represents the major faith of southern Philippines: Christianity and Islam. The green islands, Zamboanga, the bishop's first Episcopal assignment. The emblem of Our Lady is derived from the seal of the Guadalupe Minor Seminary where the bishop spent his years of priestly training and where he was subsequently assigned.
At green base, sheaves of palay surmounted by a golden Cross made of bamboo. The green fields recall San Andres Bukid, the bishop's birth place. It also alludes to Green Meadows, where the bishop, as parish priest of Christ the King Church, received his Episcopal appointment. The use of gold for the cross and sheaves recall the royal colors of Christ. The sheaves of palay has other meanings, they allude the bishop's task of binding together the Christian community made strong by the Seven Sacraments, symbolized by the seven golden leaves, and animated by the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, who by being grain buried in the ground yielded abundant fruit. The sheaves also recall the parable of the sower where the Word, preached by one sent on mission yields thirty, sixty and a hundred fold.
Vision and Mission Statement
We, the local Church of Novaliches, are a Christ-centered community of disciples, responding to the needs of the people, journeying with the Blessed Virgin Mary towards the newness and fullness of life.
Mission
promote renewed and integral evangelization
empower the laity and form servant leaders
commune with the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized, and work for their upliftment through building and developing Basic Ecclesial Communities towards total human development and social transformation
< Last updated on: July 22, 2008 >
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