Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo
- Not to be confused with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica in Chile
Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo Dioecesis Villaricensis Spiritus Sancti | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Paraguay |
| Metropolitan | Asunción |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 13,342 km2 (5,151 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2004) 293,500 290,140 (98.9%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios |
| Map | |
 | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (Latin: Dioecesis Villaricensis Spiritus Sancti) is a Latin Rite suffragan diocese in the Ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Asunción, which cover all and only Paraguay.
Its cathedral episcopal see is Catedral Santa Clara, dedicated to Saint Clara, in the city of Villarrica, Guairá Department. It is vacant since 29 June 2017, without an apostolic administrator.
Statistics
As per 2014, it pastorally served 342,000 Catholics (99.7% of 343,000 total) on 13,342 km² in 35 parishes, 43 priests (39 diocesan, 4 religious), 65 deacons, 89 lay religious (13 brothers, 76 sisters), 27 seminarians.
History
- On May 1, 1929, the Diocese of Villarrica was established on territory split off from the then Roman Catholic Diocese of Paraguay
- It lost territories thrice : on 1957.01.19 to establish Diocese of San Juan Bautista, on 1957.01.21 to establish Territorial Prelature of Encarnación y Alto Paraná (now a diocese) and on 1978.06.05 to establish Diocese of Carapeguá.
- It enjoyed a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II in May 1988.
- On January 13, 1990, the diocese was renamed, or more precisely given an alternative name, as Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (avoiding confusing with its Chilean namesake)
Episcopal Ordinaries
(all Roman Rite and natives)
- Suffragan Bishops of Villarrica
- Augustin Rodríguez (October 19, 1931 – December 7, 1965), next Titular Bishop of Castellum Tingitii (1965.12.07 – 1968.12.25) as Military Vicariate of Paraguay (1965.12.07 – death 1968.12.25)
- Felipe Santiago Benítez Avalos (December 4, 1965 – May 20, 1989), also President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1973 – 1985), First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1983 – 1987); previously Titular Bishop of Chersonesus in Europa (1961.08.10 – 1965.12.04) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción (Paraguay) (1961.08.10 – 1965.12.04); latet Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (1989.05.20 – retired 2002.06.15), President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1989 – 1990), died 2009
- Auxiliary Bishop : Angel Nicolás Acha Duarte (1975.12.22 – 1978.06.05), Titular Bishop of Lamdia (1975.12.22 – 1978.06.05); later Bishop of Carapeguá (Paraguay) (1978.06.05 – death 1982.06.24)
- Suffragan Bishops of Villarrica (del Espíritu Santo)
- Sebelio Peralta Álvarez (April 19, 1990 – December 27, 2008), previously Titular Bishop of Iunca in Mauretania (1979.03.05 – 1990.04.19) as Auxiliary Bishop of Villarrica (1979.03.05 – succession 1990.04.19); later Bishop of San Lorenzo (Paraguay) (2008.12.27 – death 2014.11.19)
- Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios (25 June 2010 – 29 June 2017), also Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) (2014.09.25 – 2014.11.15), Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2015.11.03 – ...); previously Titular Bishop of Casæ Calanæ (1993.11.27 – 2003.05.24) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción (Paraguay) (1993.11.27 – 2003.05.24), Military Ordinary of Paraguay (2003.05.24 – 2010.06.25); later Bishop of Caacupé (Paraguay) (2017.06.29 – ...).
See also
Sources and external links
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