Catholics in Cavite province celebrated the 60th anniversary of the canonical erection of the Diocese of Imus on Thursday, Nov. 25.

Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, the diocese’s fifth bishop, presided over the Mass at the Imus Cathedral.

“May we continue to thank God every day and to care for our neighbors, and may we journey together towards a life of holiness,” Evangelista said in his homily.

Just like Daniel in the Old Testament, the bishop said that the faithful should also trust God’s guidance despite uncertainties.

“It is a great challenge for us to grow closer to God as his people [but] the God who bestows us our diocese is the God who always takes care of us even in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Let us have faith in the Lord,” he added.

Pope John XXIII established the Diocese of Imus on Nov. 25, 1961, separating the entire Cavite province from the Archdiocese of Manila.

At that time, the province had a population of about 378,138 and the majority were Catholics in 23 parishes.

With Bishop Artemio Casas as its first bishop, the diocese originally had 24 diocesan priests, 4 religious, 12 mandated organizations, and 4 Catholic schools.

Nuestra Señora Del Pilar became the Patroness of the diocese since she is the patroness of the cathedral.

Sixty years after its erection, the diocese now has a population of more than 4 million, 89 parishes, 106 diocesan priests and 28 religious priests working in parishes.

There are also 26 parochial schools and 26 congregational schools, 28 religious houses for men and 78 religious houses for women.