Pinheiro (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Elio Rama, I.M.C., Bishop
Ricardo Pedro Paglia, M.S.C., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 16 October 1979
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Maranhão
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 21,360 (8,250 Square Miles)
Description: Pinheiro, Pacas – Pinheiro, Presidente Sarney, Santa Helena, Turilândia, Turiaçu, Porto Santo – Turiaçu, Alcântara, Oitíua – Alcântara, Bequimão, Palmeirândia, Peri-Mirim, São Bento, Mirinzal, Cedral, Porto Rico do Maranhão, Guimarães, Central do Maranhão, Cururupu, Areia Branca – Cururupu, Serrano do Maranhão, Bacuri, and Apicum-Açu
Conference Region: Nordeste 5
Official Web Site: https://diocesedepinheiro.com.br
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Av. Presidente Eurico Dutra 386, 65200-000 Pinheiro, MA, Brazil
Telephone: (098)3381-1278
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro
- Latin Name: Pinerensis
- Erected: 22 July 1939
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
- State: Maranhão
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Alfonso Maria Ungarelli, M.S.C. † (13 Nov 1948 Appointed - 1 Mar 1975 Retired)
Carmelo Cassati, M.S.C. † (17 Jun 1975 Appointed - 12 Feb 1979 Appointed, Bishop of Tricarico)
Ricardo Pedro Paglia, M.S.C. (3 Jul 1979 Appointed - 17 Oct 2012 Retired)
Elio Rama, I.M.C. (17 Oct 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro
22 July 1939	Erected	Territorial Prelature of São José do Grajaú (Turiaçu and Carutapera) Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Pinheiro, Alcântara, Cururupu, Guimarães, Bequimão, and Santa Helena)	Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro (erected)
24 February 1958	Territory Added	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (São Bento and Peri-Mirim)	Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro
16 October 1961	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro (Cities of Carutapera, Turiaçu, and Candido Mendes; part of Santa Helena)	Territorial Prelature of Cândido Mendes (erected)
Diocese of Pinheiro
16 October 1979	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro	Diocese of Pinheiro
20 February 1997	Territory Added	Diocese of Zé-Doca (Turiaçu)	Diocese of Pinheiro

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

Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro

1950 140,000 140,936 99.3% 1 10 11 12,727 13 8 ap1951

1966 250,000 263,949 94.7% 20 15 35 7,142 17 49 9 ap1967

1970 250,000 300,000 83.3% 17 13 30 8,333 16 40 10 ap1971

1976 200,000 270,000 74.1% 17 9 26 7,692 12 27 12 ap1977

Diocese of Pinheiro

1980 219,000 258,000 84.9% 14 8 22 9,954 13 29 13 ap1981

1990 293,000 343,000 85.4% 14 9 23 12,739 11 48 12 ap1991

1999 349,987 422,757 82.8% 20 6 26 13,461 8 49 16 ap2000

2000 341,405 426,757 80.0% 21 5 26 13,130 7 49 17 ap2001

2001 344,819 431,024 80.0% 20 5 25 13,792 7 46 17 ap2002

2002 344,819 431,024 80.0% 21 7 28 12,314 9 41 16 ap2003

2003 348,192 435,240 80.0% 23 6 29 12,006 8 39 16 ap2004

2004 348,192 435,240 80.0% 24 7 31 11,232 9 43 16 ap2005

2013 273,000 475,000 57.5% 47 8 55 4,963 9 30 18 ap2014

2016 279,000 486,000 57.4% 25 7 32 8,718 4 8 30 22 ap2017

2019 319,214 497,000 64.2% 34 7 41 7,785 5 7 37 25 ap2020

2021 324,280 501,845 64.6% 35 7 42 7,720 7 28 25 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro
1950	140,000	140,936	99.3%	1	10	11	12,727		13		8	ap1951
1966	250,000	263,949	94.7%	20	15	35	7,142		17	49	9	ap1967
1970	250,000	300,000	83.3%	17	13	30	8,333		16	40	10	ap1971
1976	200,000	270,000	74.1%	17	9	26	7,692		12	27	12	ap1977
Diocese of Pinheiro
1980	219,000	258,000	84.9%	14	8	22	9,954		13	29	13	ap1981
1990	293,000	343,000	85.4%	14	9	23	12,739		11	48	12	ap1991
1999	349,987	422,757	82.8%	20	6	26	13,461		8	49	16	ap2000
2000	341,405	426,757	80.0%	21	5	26	13,130		7	49	17	ap2001
2001	344,819	431,024	80.0%	20	5	25	13,792		7	46	17	ap2002
2002	344,819	431,024	80.0%	21	7	28	12,314		9	41	16	ap2003
2003	348,192	435,240	80.0%	23	6	29	12,006		8	39	16	ap2004
2004	348,192	435,240	80.0%	24	7	31	11,232		9	43	16	ap2005
2013	273,000	475,000	57.5%	47	8	55	4,963		9	30	18	ap2014
2016	279,000	486,000	57.4%	25	7	32	8,718	4	8	30	22	ap2017
2019	319,214	497,000	64.2%	34	7	41	7,785	5	7	37	25	ap2020
2021	324,280	501,845	64.6%	35	7	42	7,720		7	28	25	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Carmelo Cassati, M.S.C. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Apr 1970; Prelate: 17 Jun 1975 to 12 Feb 1979)
Guido Maria Casullo † (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Feb 1963 to 20 Dec 1965)
José Maria Lemercier (Lemerder) † (Administrator: 1944 to 1946)
Alfonso Maria Ungarelli, M.S.C. † (Administrator: 1946; Prelate: 13 Nov 1948 to 1 Mar 1975)
Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcellos Motta † (Administrator: 1940 to 1944)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 32, Page 112, to Page 114
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 485, and Page 486
Diocese of Pinheiro
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 1,504, and Page 1,505
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 89, Page 308, and Page 309

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Diocese of Pinheiro

Dioecesis Pinerensis