Bluefields (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Francisco José Tigerino Dávila, Bishop
Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 30 November 2017
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Managua
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nicaragua
Square Kilometers: 19,965 (7,711 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Curia Episcopal, Barrio Teodoro Martinez, contiguo al Obelisco, Apartado 8, Bluefields, RACCS, Nicaragua
Telephone: 2572.2361; 2277.1040
Fax: 2572.1068

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields
- Latin Name: Bluefieldensis
- Erected: 2 December 1913
- Vicariate
- Country: Nicaragua
- Square Kilometers: 59,674 (23,049 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Agustín José Bernaus y Serra, O.F.M. Cap. † (14 Sep 1913 Appointed - 18 Jan 1930 Died)
Juan (Matías) Solá y Farrell, O.F.M. Cap. † (24 Feb 1931 Appointed - 1942 Resigned)
Matteo Aloisio Niedhammer y Yaeckle, O.F.M. Cap. † (11 May 1943 Appointed - 25 Jun 1970 Died)
Salvador Albert Schlaefer Berg, O.F.M. Cap. † (25 Jun 1970 Appointed - 22 Oct 1993 Died)
Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap. (28 Jul 1994 Appointed - 12 Nov 2020 Retired)
Francisco José Tigerino Dávila (12 Nov 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields
2 December 1913	Erected	Diocese of Nicaragua	Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields (erected)
30 November 2017	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields (Siuna, Rosita, Bonanza, Waslala, Mulukuku, Prinzapolka, Bocana de Paiwas, La Cruz de Río Grande, Desembocadura de Río Grande, Puerto Cabezas, and Waspam)	Diocese of Siuna (erected)
Diocese of Bluefields
30 November 2017	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields	Diocese of Bluefields

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

Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields

1966 73,504 106,879 68.8% 1 32 33 2,227 6 53 ap1967*

1968 91,444 119,445 76.6% 31 31 2,949 46 51 14 ap1971

1976 201,529 266,719 75.6% 2 24 26 7,751 9 38 48 14 ap1977

1978 214,000 279,000 76.7% 2 8 10 21,400 13 30 42 15 ap1981

1990 239,000 343,000 69.7% 7 18 25 9,560 32 22 43 17 ap1991

1999 527,797 650,982 81.1% 16 12 28 18,849 28 14 62 14 ap2000

2000 536,000 661,000 81.1% 14 10 24 22,333 26 12 65 14 ap2001

2001 544,000 671,000 81.1% 13 11 24 22,666 23 13 56 14 ap2002

2002 377,000 464,968 81.1% 14 12 26 14,500 22 14 63 14 ap2003

2003 465,736 650,000 71.7% 17 15 32 14,554 19 20 68 14 ap2004

2004 475,505 662,357 71.8% 22 9 31 15,338 18 14 75 14 ap2005

2010 550,000 743,000 74.0% 20 11 31 17,741 23 12 71 14 ap2011

2014 587,000 794,000 73.9% 21 12 33 17,787 19 17 51 18 ap2015

Diocese of Bluefields

2017 260,838 457,565 57.0% 16 7 23 11,340 18 7 47 10 ap2018

2018 631,181 1,069,139 59.0% 15 9 24 26,299 8 9 57 10 ap2019

2020 644,000 1,091,145 59.0% 9 5 14 46,000 2 6 38 11 ap2021

2022 656,940 1,113,660 59.0% 12 1 13 50,533 3 2 18 14 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields
1966	73,504	106,879	68.8%	1	32	33	2,227		6	53		ap1967*
1968	91,444	119,445	76.6%		31	31	2,949		46	51	14	ap1971
1976	201,529	266,719	75.6%	2	24	26	7,751	9	38	48	14	ap1977
1978	214,000	279,000	76.7%	2	8	10	21,400	13	30	42	15	ap1981
1990	239,000	343,000	69.7%	7	18	25	9,560	32	22	43	17	ap1991
1999	527,797	650,982	81.1%	16	12	28	18,849	28	14	62	14	ap2000
2000	536,000	661,000	81.1%	14	10	24	22,333	26	12	65	14	ap2001
2001	544,000	671,000	81.1%	13	11	24	22,666	23	13	56	14	ap2002
2002	377,000	464,968	81.1%	14	12	26	14,500	22	14	63	14	ap2003
2003	465,736	650,000	71.7%	17	15	32	14,554	19	20	68	14	ap2004
2004	475,505	662,357	71.8%	22	9	31	15,338	18	14	75	14	ap2005
2010	550,000	743,000	74.0%	20	11	31	17,741	23	12	71	14	ap2011
2014	587,000	794,000	73.9%	21	12	33	17,787	19	17	51	18	ap2015
Diocese of Bluefields
2017	260,838	457,565	57.0%	16	7	23	11,340	18	7	47	10	ap2018
2018	631,181	1,069,139	59.0%	15	9	24	26,299	8	9	57	10	ap2019
2020	644,000	1,091,145	59.0%	9	5	14	46,000	2	6	38	11	ap2021
2022	656,940	1,113,660	59.0%	12	1	13	50,533	3	2	18	14	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap. (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Jun 1984; Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jul 1994; Bishop: 30 Nov 2017 to 12 Nov 2020)
Francisco José Tigerino Dávila (Bishop: 12 Nov 2020 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Agustín José Bernaus y Serra, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Sep 1913 to 18 Jan 1930)
Matteo Aloisio Niedhammer y Yaeckle, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 May 1943 to 25 Jun 1970)
Salvador Albert Schlaefer Berg, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Jun 1970 to 22 Oct 1993)
Juan (Matías) Solá y Farrell, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Feb 1931 to 1942)
David Albin Zywiec Sidor, O.F.M. Cap. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jun 2002 to 30 Nov 2017)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 5, Page 549
Diocese of Bluefields
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 110, Page 471, and Page 472

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Diocese of Bluefields

Dioecesis Bluefieldensis