- Roman Catholic Diocese of Imus
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Diocese of Imus
Dioecesis Imusensis
Diyosesis ng ImusLocation Country 
PhilippinesTerritory Cavite Ecclesiastical province Archdiocese of Manila Statistics Area 1,427.06 km2 (550.99 sq mi) Population
- Total
- Catholics(as of 2011)
3,306,000+
2,512,560+ (76%)Parishes 43 Churches 43 Information Denomination Roman Catholic Rite Roman Rite Established November 12, 1961 Cathedral Cathedral Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar(Imus Cathedral) Secular priests 189+ Current leadership Pope Benedict XVI Bishop Sede Vacante Metropolitan Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle
Archbishop of ManilaEmeritus Bishops Most Reverend Manuel C. Sobreviñas D.D. The Diocese of Imus comprises the whole province of Cavite. It was established as a separate diocese from the Archdiocese of Manila on November 12, 1961. The diocese was canonically erected on November 12, 1961. The Cathedral Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar, located along Gen. Castaneda St., Brgy. Poblacion serves as the seat of the diocese. It is also one of the 12 Cathedrals that was founded by the Order of Augustinian Recollects in the Philippines.
The Diocese includes 2,210,000 Catholics with 44 parishes, one shrine, Our Lady of La Salette Shrine- Silang, Cavite, 95 Diocesan clergies with 89 Religious clergies with the total of 184 priests in the diocese.
In 2011, the Diocese of Imus celebrates it's Golden Jubilee as diocese since their establishment in 1961. Activities will be held within the diocese to mark this momentous event. Part of the celebration was the 5th Asian Youth Day held in the diocese.
The bishops assigned in the diocese are as follows:
- Most Reverend Artemio G. Casas, D. D. (Deceased)
- Most Reverend Felix P. Perez, D. D. (Deceased)
- Most Reverend Manuel C. Sobreviñas, D. D. (Bishop-Emeritus of Imus)
- Most Reverend Luis Antonio G. Tagle, D.D., S.T.D. (Archbishop of Manila)
- Vacant
The patroness of the diocese is Nuestra Señora del Pilar. her feast day is every October 12 each year. Karakol, a religious procession-dance, is held in her honor during her feast day.
History
The Catholic faith first came to Imus in 1571. Among the religious orders that Christianized the Caviteños were the Franciscans, the Recollects, the Dominicans and the Jesuits. They established their first center of faith in Cavite (now Cavite City), then in Silang in 1581, in Kawit in 1587, in Maragondon in 1611, Indang in 1655, Ternate in 1700 and in San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) in 1758. Through the zeal of the first missionaries of faith spread fast I the area. The missionaries also helped in the founding of most of the towns in Cavite. As early as 1614 Cavite became a politico-military province.
The province of Cavite is rich with historical significance. It had been the site of many battles ad uprisings against Spain, one of which was that of 1872, which resulted in the execution of three priests: Gomez, Burgos and Zamora. Cavite is also where General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the First Philippine Republic on June 12, 1898, in Kawit.
The province is named after its shape, that of a hook – hence Kawit, meaning hook, in Tagalog. It is geographically situated at the very entrance to Manila Bay, a location which has made it, along with Bataan on the north, the scene of many battles in the past. It is bounded on the northwest by the Bay, on the northeast by the provinces of Rizal and Laguna, on the southwest by the province of Batangas. Its capital city is Trece Martires.
Early in the American regime a U.S. naval garrison was stationed at Sangley Point in Cavite after civil government was established in 1901. Because of mutual defense agreements, this base remained in Cavite long after the country was granted its independence in 1946.
The topography of the province is rather flat, so rice is an important crop. Fishing is another major industry, taking into account its coastal waters. The language spoken is Tagalog, now the national language of the country. More than 60 per cent of the inhabitants live in urbanized areas because of its proximity to Manila. Today Cavite is witnessing a more radical urbanization as factories, subdivisions, golf courses, resorts and an export processing zone (EPZA) have sprung up in the province. Tagaytay City, with its cool climate and a scenic view of Taal Law and Taal Volcano draws many tourists each year.
The Diocese of Imus was created on November 12, 1961. It comprises the civil province of Cavite and covers a land area of 1,287 square kilometers, with a population of 1,643,549 of which 76 per cent are Catholics. Its titular patron is Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Manila.
There are 5 vicariates in the diocese, with 41 parishes, 2 quasi-parishes, and 5 pastoral centers served by a total of 80 priests. Among the religious organizations are the Legion of Mary, Catholic Women's League, Adoracion Nocturna, El Shaddai, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Youth Movement and Couples for Christ.
Roman Catholic dioceses in the Philippines Province of Caceres Archdiocese of Caceres · Diocese of Daet · Diocese of Legazpi · Diocese of Masbate · Diocese of Sorsogon · Diocese of Virac · Diocese of LibmananProvince of Cagayan de Oro Province of Capiz Province of Cebu Province of Cotabato Province of Davao Province of Jaro Province of Lingayen-Dagupan Province of Lipa Archdiocese of Lipa · Diocese of Boac · Diocese of Gumaca · Diocese of Lucena · Prelature of InfantaProvince of Manila Archdiocese of Manila · Diocese of Antipolo · Diocese of Cubao · Diocese of Imus · Diocese of Caloocan · Diocese of Malolos · Diocese of Novaliches · Diocese of Parañaque · Diocese of Pasig · Diocese of San PabloProvince of Nueva Segovia Province of Ozamiz Archdiocese of Ozamiz · Diocese of Dipolog · Diocese of Iligan · Diocese of Pagadian · Prelature of MarawiProvince of Palo Province of San Fernando Province of Tuguegarao Province of Zamboanga Military Ordinariate 
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