Trivia about the Diocese of Lucena
On this Great Jubilee Year 2000 the Diocese of Lucena celebrates her Golden Anniversary. This festivity is certainly a great opportunity for the Diocesan community to thank the Lord for the many blessings and favors she received during her fifty years of existence. Looking back to the history of the Diocese, on September 8, 1950, the Papal Bull Quo Aeternae Dominici Gregis by Pope Pius XII was read before a huge crowd gathered in front of St. Ferdinand Cathedral, Lucena City, and the Diocese of Lucena was canonically erected and Bishop Rufino J. Santos was proclaimed Apostolic Administrator.
This Local Church, endowed which skills and experiences has engaged actively in modern economic, and social progress and in the struggle for justice and peace. Through her parishes all over the region, she became the living agent of the Gospel and the leading promoter of changes and developments through her social, educational and livelihood projects. Indeed, the Diocese of Lucena has become not only one of the signs of our times but also one of the center of humanitarian activities.
Originally, the Diocese of Lucena was largely composed of the central and southern parts of the Province of Quezon and the Parishes of Marinduque. As time went by, the need for new ecclesiastical jurisdictions was becoming more pronounced. Thus,this vast ecclesiastical territory was subdivided into three distinct areas giving birth to two other Dioceses namely the Diocese of Boac in 1978 and the Diocese of Gumaca in 1985. Gifted with many priests and religious, the Diocese of Lucena contributed eight Bishops in the life of the Church of the whole Philippines. They are Ricardo Cardinal Vidal from Marinduque, Bishop Godofredo Pedernal from Marinduque, Bishop Raphael Lim from Marinduque, Bishop Ruben T. Profugo from Lucena, Bishop Angel Lagdameo from Lucban, Quezon, Bishop Emilio Z. Marquez from Lopez, Quezon, Bishop Antonio Ranola from Lucban, Quezon, Bishop Jose Oliveros from Alabat, Quezon.
Moreover, following the golden teaching of Christ, the Diocese of Lucena has intervened in many negotiations which concern peace and order situations among the different ideological and political groups present in the local region. Therefore, the message of the Gospel, which epitomizes the highest ideals and aspirations of mankind, shines anew in our times when it proclaims that the advocates of peace are blessed “for they shall be called sons of God” (Gaudium et Spes, n.77).
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