Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga

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Diocese of Balanga Dioecesis Balangensis Diyosesis ng Balanga Diócesis de Balanga
Catholic
Balanga Cathedral
Coat of arms
Location
Country	Philippines
Territory	Bataan
Ecclesiastical province	San Fernando
Metropolitan	San Fernando
Headquarters	Balanga, Bataan
Coordinates	14°40′45″N 120°32′24″E / 14.6792°N 120.5400°E / 14.6792; 120.5400
Statistics
Area	1,373 km2 (530 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2022) 853,373 682,698[1] (80%)
Parishes	38 parishes, 5 diocesan shrines, 1 chaplaincy, 1 minor basilica, 1 quasi-parish, 1 chapel
Schools	11
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	March 17, 1975
Cathedral	Cathedral-Shrine Parish of St. Joseph
Patron saint	St. Joseph (Patron of the Diocese and City of Balanga) Our Lady of Orani (Patroness of the Province of Bataan and the Bataeño People)
Secular priests	59 (34 diocesan and 25 religious priests)
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Vacant
Metropolitan Archbishop	Florentino G. Lavarias
Apostolic Administrator	Florentino G. Lavarias
Vicar General	Josue V. Enero
Map
Website
www.facebook.com/balangadiocese/

The Diocese of Balanga is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, established on March 17, 1975, by Pope Paul VI. The diocese has jurisdiction over the whole province of Bataan, with 38 parishes, 5 diocesan shrines, one minor basilica, chaplaincy, quasi-parish, national shrine and chapel, and 4 vicariates. The Cathedral-Shrine Parish of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary in Aguire Street, Poblacion, Balanga, serves as the seat of the diocese. It is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of San Fernando, Pampanga. The titular patron of the diocese is Saint Joseph, whose feast day falls on March 19. The city fiesta is celebrated on April 28.

As of October 2015, Bishop Ruperto Santos is the longest-serving living bishop of Balanga, having served for 13 years, 3 months, and 21 days (4,860 days) as the diocese's fourth bishop from April 1, 2010 (installed or assumed office on July 8, 2010 3 months and 7 days after being appointed to the position) to July 22, 2023.

The diocese became vacant when Santos became bishop of Antipolo covering Rizal province, and the city of Marikina in Metro Manila on July 22, 2023. Pope Francis then appointed Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga Florentino Lavarias as sede vacante apostolic administrator of the diocese while awaiting for the installation of Santos' successor as the diocese's bishop, returning Bataan temporarily to the jurisdiction of Archdiocese of San Fernando after 47 years and 8 months.