Santiago de María (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

William Ernesto Iraheta Rivera, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 2 December 1954
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San Salvador
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: El Salvador
Square Kilometers: 2,868 (1,107 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Obispado, 4a Av. Sur y Calle Bolivar, Santiago de Maria, Depto. de Usulután, El Salvador
Telephone: 2663-0282
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francisco José Castro y Ramírez † (15 Nov 1956 Appointed - 29 May 1974 Died)
St. Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez † (15 Oct 1974 Appointed - 3 Feb 1977 Appointed, Archbishop of San Salvador)
Arturo Rivera Damas, S.D.B. † (19 Sep 1977 Appointed - 28 Feb 1983 Appointed, Archbishop of San Salvador)
Rodrigo Orlando Cabrera Cuéllar † (23 Dec 1983 Appointed - 4 Jan 2016 Retired)
William Ernesto Iraheta Rivera (4 Jan 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
2 December 1954	Erected	Diocese of San Miguel (Usulután, Sesori, along with Ciudad Barrios, Chapeltique, and Lolotique)	Diocese of Santiago de María (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 300,000 310,000 96.8% 15 14 29 10,344 14 13 19 ap1967

1970 311,099 327,473 95.0% 14 14 22,221 19 ap1971

1976 353,990 389,000 91.0% 15 9 24 14,749 11 12 20 ap1977

1980 463,125 487,500 95.0% 14 13 27 17,152 14 30 22 ap1981

1990 587,000 617,000 95.1% 23 7 30 19,566 7 50 24 ap1991

1999 587,000 734,000 80.0% 39 6 45 13,044 8 68 32 ap2000

2000 597,000 747,000 79.9% 45 4 49 12,183 6 68 34 ap2001

2001 400,000 500,000 80.0% 48 4 52 7,692 6 67 36 ap2002

2002 400,000 500,000 80.0% 48 5 53 7,547 7 67 37 ap2003

2003 400,000 500,000 80.0% 52 5 57 7,017 7 67 37 ap2004

2004 400,000 500,000 80.0% 52 5 57 7,017 8 70 38 ap2005

2010 440,000 551,000 79.9% 61 4 65 6,769 5 77 39 ap2011

2014 449,700 563,000 79.9% 80 5 85 5,290 7 81 40 ap2015

2017 459,000 574,000 80.0% 86 5 91 5,043 7 81 40 ap2018

2020 325,400 504,200 64.5% 75 5 80 4,067 36 64 42 ap2021

2022 330,000 510,000 64.7% 83 5 88 3,750 36 64 42 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	300,000	310,000	96.8%	15	14	29	10,344	14	13	19	ap1967
1970	311,099	327,473	95.0%	14		14	22,221			19	ap1971
1976	353,990	389,000	91.0%	15	9	24	14,749	11	12	20	ap1977
1980	463,125	487,500	95.0%	14	13	27	17,152	14	30	22	ap1981
1990	587,000	617,000	95.1%	23	7	30	19,566	7	50	24	ap1991
1999	587,000	734,000	80.0%	39	6	45	13,044	8	68	32	ap2000
2000	597,000	747,000	79.9%	45	4	49	12,183	6	68	34	ap2001
2001	400,000	500,000	80.0%	48	4	52	7,692	6	67	36	ap2002
2002	400,000	500,000	80.0%	48	5	53	7,547	7	67	37	ap2003
2003	400,000	500,000	80.0%	52	5	57	7,017	7	67	37	ap2004
2004	400,000	500,000	80.0%	52	5	57	7,017	8	70	38	ap2005
2010	440,000	551,000	79.9%	61	4	65	6,769	5	77	39	ap2011
2014	449,700	563,000	79.9%	80	5	85	5,290	7	81	40	ap2015
2017	459,000	574,000	80.0%	86	5	91	5,043	7	81	40	ap2018
2020	325,400	504,200	64.5%	75	5	80	4,067	36	64	42	ap2021
2022	330,000	510,000	64.7%	83	5	88	3,750	36	64	42	ap2023