The names of two civil provinces in the Visayan group of the Philippines, which include the islands of Balicuatro, Batac, Biliran, Capul, Daram, Homonhon, Leyte (2722 sq. miles), Manicani, Panaon, Sámar (5031 sq. miles), and several smaller islands, and which make up the D IOCESE OF C ALBAYOG (C ALBAYOGANA ), suffragan of Manila. The diocesan seat is at Calbayog, a city of 22,000 inhabitants on the western side of Sámar; the cathedral is dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul. The first Jesuit missionaries reached Leyte and Sámar in 1595, the islands subsequently forming part of the Diocese of Cebú until erected into a separate diocese, 10 April, 1910. The first bishop is the Rt. Rev. Pablo Singzon de la Anunciacion, D.D., formerly Vicar-General of Cebú, consecrated in St. Francis's Church, Manila, 24 June, 1910. The Lazarist Fathers have charge of the diocesan seminary and college of St. Vincent de Paul at Calbayog. Besides training youths for the priesthood they give courses of primary instruction in seven grades, three commercial courses, a four years' high school course, and classical courses for the B. A. degree (Greek, Latin, English, Spanish, natural science, higher mathematics, and philosophy ). There are 180 students. The Sisters of Charity have charge of the girls' academy, the College of the Miraculous Medal, at Calbayog, in which there are primary, secondary, and higher courses, together with lessons in drawing, painting, music, sewing, and embroidery.

Statistics

Priests, secular, 45; regular, 22; Lazarist Fathers, 5; parishes on Sámar, 33, missions, 138; parishes on Leyte, 39, missions, 71; total parishes (including 25 small islands), 79; estimated population, 800,000, practically the whole of whom are devout and loyal Catholics.

The Catholic Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive resource on Catholic teaching, history, and information ever gathered in all of human history. This easy-to-search online version was originally printed in fifteen hardcopy volumes.

Designed to present its readers with the full body of Catholic teaching, the Encyclopedia contains not only precise statements of what the Church has defined, but also an impartial record of different views of acknowledged authority on all disputed questions, national, political or factional. In the determination of the truth the most recent and acknowledged scientific methods are employed, and the results of the latest research in theology, philosophy, history, apologetics, archaeology, and other sciences are given careful consideration.

No one who is interested in human history, past and present, can ignore the Catholic Church, either as an institution which has been the central figure in the civilized world for nearly two thousand years, decisively affecting its destinies, religious, literary, scientific, social and political, or as an existing power whose influence and activity extend to every part of the globe. In the past century the Church has grown both extensively and intensively among English-speaking peoples. Their living interests demand that they should have the means of informing themselves about this vast institution, which, whether they are Catholics or not, affects their fortunes and their destiny.

Copyright © Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company New York, NY. Volume 1: 1907; Volume 2: 1907; Volume 3: 1908; Volume 4: 1908; Volume 5: 1909; Volume 6: 1909; Volume 7: 1910; Volume 8: 1910; Volume 9: 1910; Volume 10: 1911; Volume 11: - 1911; Volume 12: - 1911; Volume 13: - 1912; Volume 14: 1912; Volume 15: 1912

Catholic Online Catholic Encyclopedia Digital version Compiled and Copyright © Catholic Online