Part 5
The Diocese of Cebu in the 1700s had jurisdiction over all the islands and provinces of the Visayas and Mindanao, even reaching to the Marianas Islands.
The parishes were administered by missionaries coming from the orders of the Augustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits, Recollects, and the secular clergy.
The list is taken from the book of Fr. Felipe Redondo in 1886:
Jose Minoves, Jesuit, Cabuntog, Surigao.
Erected as a parish by diocesan decree under the patronage of St. Thomas Villanueva, on June 19, 1861, through superior approval of February 3, 1857. Its mother church is Cacub (later Numancia).
Fr. Ramon Zueco, Recollect, Cagayan, Misamis.
Cagayan, according to Fr. Felipe Redondo quoting Cavada, was created in 1622 under the patronage of St. Augustine. Originally Misamis was only one province, then in 1929 it was divided into two; Misamis Occidental (capital is Oroquieta City, with component cities of Ozamiz and Tangub) and Misamis Oriental (capital is Cagayan de Oro formerly called Cagayan de Misamis). Cagayan became the capital of the 2nd district of Mindanao under the Diocese of Cebu.
Fr. Pedro Nolasco, Recollect, Calape, Bohol
Created as a parish in 1802 under the patronage of St. Vincent Ferrer.
Fr. Policarpio Nadador, Franciscan, Calbayog, Samar
Created in 1785 under the patronage of the Nativity of Our Lady.
Fr. Antonio Ybanez, Franciscan, Calviga, Samar.
Calviga, also spelled as Calbiga, is under the patronage of the Assumption of Our Lady. Fr. Huerta said in his “Estado Geografico” that it was separated from Umauas (Villareal). It said that the first parish priest was Fr. Miguel Baco de Jesus.
Fr. Dionisio Pueyo, Recollect, Candijay, Bohol.
Erected as a parish by diocesan decree of February 13, 1857 under the patronage of St. Joseph. It separated from its mother parishes Talibong (Talibon) and Guindulman.
Fr. Gaudencio Marquez, Recollect, Canoan, Siquijor, Bohol.
It is under the Vicariate of Siquijor. Established as a parish by diocesan decree on June 14, 1836 under the patronage of St. Vincent Ferrer. It separated from its mother parish, Siquijor.
Salvador Ferrer, Jesuit, Cantilan, Surigao.
Under the patronage of the Most Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, it was founded in 1622.
Francisco Latorre, Secular Clergy, Capul, Island.
Erected as a parish under the patronage of St. Ignatius of Loyola by Diocesan decree of November 18, 1869 through Superior approval of September 2, 1864. It separated from its mother parish, Calbayog. (To be continued)