Rafaela (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Pedro Javier Torres Aliaga, Bishop
Luis Alberto Fernández Alara, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 10 April 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Argentina
Square Kilometers: 38,320 (14,801 Square Miles)
Description: Departments of Castellano, Nueve de Julio, and San Cristóbal
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesisderafaela.org.ar/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Gral. Mariano Necochea 150, S2300IED Rafaela [Santa Fe], Argentina
Telephone: (03492)424-637

Past and Present Ordinaries

Vicente Faustino Zazpe † (12 Jun 1961 Appointed - 3 Aug 1968 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Santa Fe)
Antonio Alfredo Brasca † (30 Dec 1968 Appointed - 26 Jun 1976 Died)
Alcides Jorge Pedro Casaretto (28 Dec 1976 Appointed - 14 Mar 1983 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of San Isidro)
Héctor Gabino Romero † (7 Jan 1984 Appointed - 22 May 1999 Died)
Carlos María Franzini † (29 Apr 2000 Appointed - 10 Nov 2012 Appointed, Archbishop of Mendoza)
Luis Alberto Fernández Alara (10 Sep 2013 Appointed - 11 Nov 2022 Retired)
Pedro Javier Torres Aliaga (11 Nov 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 April 1961	Erected	Diocese of Reconquista (Department of Nueve de Julio) Archdiocese of Santa Fe (Departments of Castellano and San Cristóbal)	Diocese of Rafaela (erected)

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

1966 197,900 .0% 30 7 37 0 7 56 36 ap1967

1970 178,000 190,000 93.7% 34 8 42 4,238 8 85 33 ap1971

1976 143,000 196,007 73.0% 31 8 39 3,666 18 85 37 ap1977

1980 194,000 215,000 90.2% 31 9 40 4,850 1 16 70 31 ap1981

1990 225,000 245,000 91.8% 32 8 40 5,625 6 13 92 33 ap1991

1999 264,000 290,000 91.0% 37 5 42 6,285 6 5 66 37 ap2000

2000 268,000 295,000 90.8% 38 3 41 6,536 6 3 67 37 ap2001

2001 276,000 300,000 92.0% 41 3 44 6,272 6 3 66 37 ap2002

2002 242,250 255,008 95.0% 41 3 44 5,505 6 3 65 37 ap2003

2003 230,000 255,008 90.2% 43 2 45 5,111 7 2 59 37 ap2004

2004 230,000 255,008 90.2% 43 2 45 5,111 8 2 58 35 ap2005

2010 250,255 277,540 90.2% 39 39 6,416 14 44 36 ap2011

2014 267,000 288,877 92.4% 46 46 5,804 13 48 36 ap2015

2017 280,268 303,202 92.4% 44 44 6,369 14 44 36 ap2018

2020 289,690 318,196 91.0% 45 45 6,437 13 2 29 31 ap2021

2022 294,909 325,126 90.7% 42 42 7,021 22 2 27 36 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966		197,900	.0%	30	7	37	0		7	56	36	ap1967
1970	178,000	190,000	93.7%	34	8	42	4,238		8	85	33	ap1971
1976	143,000	196,007	73.0%	31	8	39	3,666		18	85	37	ap1977
1980	194,000	215,000	90.2%	31	9	40	4,850	1	16	70	31	ap1981
1990	225,000	245,000	91.8%	32	8	40	5,625	6	13	92	33	ap1991
1999	264,000	290,000	91.0%	37	5	42	6,285	6	5	66	37	ap2000
2000	268,000	295,000	90.8%	38	3	41	6,536	6	3	67	37	ap2001
2001	276,000	300,000	92.0%	41	3	44	6,272	6	3	66	37	ap2002
2002	242,250	255,008	95.0%	41	3	44	5,505	6	3	65	37	ap2003
2003	230,000	255,008	90.2%	43	2	45	5,111	7	2	59	37	ap2004
2004	230,000	255,008	90.2%	43	2	45	5,111	8	2	58	35	ap2005
2010	250,255	277,540	90.2%	39		39	6,416	14		44	36	ap2011
2014	267,000	288,877	92.4%	46		46	5,804	13		48	36	ap2015
2017	280,268	303,202	92.4%	44		44	6,369	14		44	36	ap2018
2020	289,690	318,196	91.0%	45		45	6,437	13	2	29	31	ap2021
2022	294,909	325,126	90.7%	42		42	7,021	22	2	27	36	ap2023