Is it time to elevate the Prelature of Infanta to a diocese?
By Mila Glodava
Ambassador Rudy Arizala and his good friend, Ambassador Johnny Ona, have exchanged email asking the above question. Ambassador Ona wonders why the prelature has not been elevated to the level of a diocese. Up to now no one has really asked that quesiton. As far as I know Infantahins have just accepted the fact that we have a prelature, not a diocese. Personally, I prefer that it is a prelature, because it sounds special, at least for me.
Now that the question has been raised, we are definitely curious. Thus, we have forwarded the question to Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona and we are now awaiting his response. Of course, if a change is in the offing, we will do anything possible to assist if we were asked to do so.
For the record, there are five other prelatures in the Philippines -- Batanes-Babuyanes, Ipil (Zamboanga del Sur), Isabela (Basilan), Libmanan (Camarines Sur), Marawi (Lanao de Sur) and there are 49 prelatures in Latin America. As far as I know, the Prelature of Infanta is no longer considered a mission region, compared to the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro. Thus, it no longer receives any regular subsidy from Rome. I'm sure Bishop Tirona can give more details on this one too.
The Prelature of Infanta includes the northern part of Quezon Province, the archipelago of Polillo, island of Jomalig and Patnanungan and the province of Aurora. Indeed the prelature stretches from one end of Luzon to another and takes hours upon hours to reach either by boat or by motor vehicle. Often clergy meetings are held in Manila because it offers a more centralized location for their gatherings.
Ambassador Ona seems to think that Should Bishop Tria Tirona and the Infantahins now think it is time for Infanta to be elevated to the status of a diocese, they only have to address an appeal to the Holy Father through the Apostolic Nuncio. He further states, “I do not see any reason why the Holy Father will not grant this request.”
For now, we will see what Bishop Tirona has to say.