Bacabal (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Armando Martín Gutiérrez, F.A.M., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 22 June 1968
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Maranhão
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 18,073 (6,980 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 5
Mailing Address: Rua Teixeira Mendes 45, C.P. 01, 65700-000 Bacabal, MA, Brazil
Telephone: (099)3621-1280
Fax: 3621-1000

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pascàsio Rettler, O.F.M. † (24 Jul 1968 Appointed - 1 Dec 1989 Retired)
Henrique Johannpötter, O.F.M. † (2 Dec 1989 Succeeded - 10 Apr 1997 Resigned)
José Belisário da Silva, O.F.M. (1 Dec 1999 Appointed - 21 Sep 2005 Appointed, Archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão)
Armando Martín Gutiérrez, F.A.M. (2 Nov 2006 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
22 June 1968	Erected	Territorial Prelature of São José do Grajaú (Esperantinopolis) Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Parts of Bacabal and Ipixuna along with Altamira do Maranhäo, Igarapé Grande, Lago da Pedra, Lago do Junco, Lago Verde, Lima Campos, Olho d'Água dos Cunhas, Pedreiras, Pio XII, Poçâo de Pedras, Rosinopolis, Santo Antonio dos Lopes, and Vitorino Freiré)	Diocese of Bacabal (erected)
13 January 1977	Territory Added	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Bacabal and São Luis de Gonzaga (formerly Ipixuna))	Diocese of Bacabal
19 July 2001	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bacabal (Parts of Bacabal and São Luiz Gonzaga do Maranhão now in Alto Alegre do Maranhão)	Diocese of Coroatá

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1970 536,000 600,000 89.3% 2 2 268,000 11 ap1971

1976 580,000 600,000 96.7% 5 19 24 24,166 24 30 9 ap1977

1980 430,000 450,000 95.6% 6 36 42 10,238 40 36 9 ap1981

1990 479,000 532,279 90.0% 8 17 25 19,160 20 42 17 ap1991

1999 446,000 483,995 92.1% 10 16 26 17,153 21 32 14 ap2000

2000 449,000 487,000 92.2% 10 16 26 17,269 21 33 14 ap2001

2001 451,000 490,261 92.0% 9 17 26 17,346 20 48 14 ap2002

2002 451,000 490,261 92.0% 8 17 25 18,040 20 45 14 ap2003

2003 451,000 490,261 92.0% 7 18 25 18,040 27 43 15 ap2004

2004 451,000 490,261 92.0% 6 19 25 18,040 22 41 16 ap2005

2006 461,000 502,000 91.8% 9 17 26 17,730 22 36 16 ap2007

2012 499,500 542,000 92.2% 13 21 34 14,691 28 29 16 ap2013

2015 506,000 520,704 97.2% 16 22 38 13,315 12 27 33 17 ap2016

2018 509,000 523,494 97.2% 21 21 42 12,119 13 24 28 19 ap2019

2020 518,190 533,319 97.2% 20 25 45 11,515 12 30 27 21 ap2021

2022 516,000 533,867 96.7% 20 24 44 11,727 16 31 24 24 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	536,000	600,000	89.3%	2		2	268,000				11	ap1971
1976	580,000	600,000	96.7%	5	19	24	24,166		24	30	9	ap1977
1980	430,000	450,000	95.6%	6	36	42	10,238		40	36	9	ap1981
1990	479,000	532,279	90.0%	8	17	25	19,160		20	42	17	ap1991
1999	446,000	483,995	92.1%	10	16	26	17,153		21	32	14	ap2000
2000	449,000	487,000	92.2%	10	16	26	17,269		21	33	14	ap2001
2001	451,000	490,261	92.0%	9	17	26	17,346		20	48	14	ap2002
2002	451,000	490,261	92.0%	8	17	25	18,040		20	45	14	ap2003
2003	451,000	490,261	92.0%	7	18	25	18,040		27	43	15	ap2004
2004	451,000	490,261	92.0%	6	19	25	18,040		22	41	16	ap2005
2006	461,000	502,000	91.8%	9	17	26	17,730		22	36	16	ap2007
2012	499,500	542,000	92.2%	13	21	34	14,691		28	29	16	ap2013
2015	506,000	520,704	97.2%	16	22	38	13,315	12	27	33	17	ap2016
2018	509,000	523,494	97.2%	21	21	42	12,119	13	24	28	19	ap2019
2020	518,190	533,319	97.2%	20	25	45	11,515	12	30	27	21	ap2021
2022	516,000	533,867	96.7%	20	24	44	11,727	16	31	24	24	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Henrique Johannpötter, O.F.M. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 7 Dec 1988; Bishop: 2 Dec 1989 to 10 Apr 1997)
Pascàsio Rettler, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 24 Jul 1968 to 1 Dec 1989)

Source(s)

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 61, Page 16, to Page 18
Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 69, Page 161, and Page 162

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Diocese of Bacabal

Dioecesis Bacabalensis