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Military Ordinariate of the Philippines  The Military Ordinariate of the Philippines is a diocese for the
Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has jurisdiction over all military personnel, their dependents, and the civilian employees of all branches of the armed forces. Its titular
patron is the Immaculate Conception, and for secondary patrons it has St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. John Capistran.The Military Ordinariate of the Philippines was first erected as
a military vicariate on December 8 of 1950, decreed by the Sacred Congregation of the Consistory. This decree took effect on December 10, 1951, when the Most Reverend Rufino
Santos, then Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, took possession of this vicariate and became the first Military Vicar in the country. On April 12, 1986, Pope John Paul II issued the apostolic
constitution "Spirituum Militum Curae" which took effect on July 21, 1986. This constitution was unique in that it began a
new structure for all military vicariates all over the world. Elevating these vicariates to the level of "Ordinaries" actually placed them on the level of dioceses.
The military ordinariate has its own curia and exercises its pastoral ministry through 66 military chaplains assigned to the different branches of service within the armed
forces which are considered its vicariates – those of General Headquarters, the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Airforce and the Philippine
National Police. The exact number of the faithful who come under this jurisdiction is considered classified information, but it is 90 per cent Catholic.
The Military Ordinariate of the Philippines has 67 priests, mostly diocesan, who carry military officers' ranks and are assigned to defense command posts all over the
country. The Most Reverend Rufino Santos was succeeded in the military ordinariate by Most Reverend Mariano Gaviola who was installed March 2, 1974. The current
military vicar, Most Reverend Ramon Arguelles, holds the rank of Brigadier General.
Most Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, D.D.
Ordained priest: December 12, 1969
Ordained bishop: January 6, 1994
Appointed Bishop of Military Ordinariate: September 30, 1995 |
