Sorsogon (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jose Alan Verdejo Dialogo, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 29 June 1951
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Caceres (Nueva Caceres)
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Philippines
Square Kilometers: 2,141 (826 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the province of Sorsogon
Mailing Address: Diocesan Pastoral Complex Old Bishop's House Compound, Magsaysay St., Sorsogon City, 4700 Sorsogon, Philippines
Telephone: (056)211-1289

Past and Present Ordinaries

Teopisto Valderrama Alberto † (10 Jul 1952 Appointed - 7 Sep 1959 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Caceres (Nueva Caceres))
Arnulfo Surtida Arcilla † (7 Sep 1959 Appointed - 11 Dec 1979 Resigned)
Jesus Yu Varela † (27 Nov 1980 Appointed - 16 Apr 2003 Retired)
Arturo Mandin Bastes, S.V.D. † (16 Apr 2003 Succeeded - 15 Oct 2019 Retired)
Jose Alan Verdejo Dialogo (15 Oct 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
29 June 1951	Erected	Diocese of Nueva Caceres (Sorsogón and Masbate)	Diocese of Sorsogon (erected)
23 March 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Sorsogon (Masbate (St. Anthony of Padua, St. Vincent Ferrer, and Holy Cross))	Diocese of Masbate (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1970 444,142 497,786 89.2% 54 1 55 8,075 1 42 21 ap1971

1980 459,000 512,000 89.6% 41 41 11,195 46 23 ap1981

1990 564,395 606,877 93.0% 50 5 55 10,261 5 48 25 ap1991

1999 570,810 633,715 90.1% 67 10 77 7,413 110 82 26 ap2000

2000 578,437 641,320 90.2% 65 10 75 7,712 98 77 26 ap2001

2001 606,048 673,386 90.0% 67 10 77 7,870 98 62 26 ap2002

2002 631,665 664,911 95.0% 75 10 85 7,431 87 65 26 ap2003

2003 639,580 673,243 95.0% 67 14 81 7,896 115 107 26 ap2004

2004 651,930 688,903 94.6% 66 14 80 8,149 35 105 26 ap2005

2010 719,000 777,000 92.5% 62 27 89 8,078 164 101 28 ap2011

2014 776,000 838,000 92.6% 57 94 151 5,139 197 82 28 ap2015

2017 680,874 728,459 93.5% 56 103 159 4,282 206 78 30 ap2018

2020 713,400 763,230 93.5% 61 107 168 4,246 187 79 30 ap2021

2022 770,649 828,655 93.0% 71 24 95 8,112 103 84 30 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	444,142	497,786	89.2%	54	1	55	8,075	1	42	21	ap1971
1980	459,000	512,000	89.6%	41		41	11,195		46	23	ap1981
1990	564,395	606,877	93.0%	50	5	55	10,261	5	48	25	ap1991
1999	570,810	633,715	90.1%	67	10	77	7,413	110	82	26	ap2000
2000	578,437	641,320	90.2%	65	10	75	7,712	98	77	26	ap2001
2001	606,048	673,386	90.0%	67	10	77	7,870	98	62	26	ap2002
2002	631,665	664,911	95.0%	75	10	85	7,431	87	65	26	ap2003
2003	639,580	673,243	95.0%	67	14	81	7,896	115	107	26	ap2004
2004	651,930	688,903	94.6%	66	14	80	8,149	35	105	26	ap2005
2010	719,000	777,000	92.5%	62	27	89	8,078	164	101	28	ap2011
2014	776,000	838,000	92.6%	57	94	151	5,139	197	82	28	ap2015
2017	680,874	728,459	93.5%	56	103	159	4,282	206	78	30	ap2018
2020	713,400	763,230	93.5%	61	107	168	4,246	187	79	30	ap2021
2022	770,649	828,655	93.0%	71	24	95	8,112	103	84	30	ap2023