Paracatu (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jorge Alves Bezerra, S.S.S., Bishop
Leonardo de Miranda Pereira, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 14 April 1962
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Montes Claros
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Minas Gerais
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 54,387 (21,006 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Leste 2
Official Web Site: https://dioceseparacatu.org.br
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Praca Caldeira Brant 147, 38600-291 Paracatu, MG, Brazil
Telephone: (038)3671-3463

Past and Present Ordinaries

Eliseu Van de Weijer, O. Carm. † (25 May 1940 Appointed - 14 Apr 1962 Retired)
Raimundo Lu�, O. Carm. † (11 Jun 1962 Appointed - 20 Jul 1977 Resigned)
Jos� Cardoso Sobrinho, O. Carm. (29 Mar 1979 Appointed - 2 Apr 1985 Appointed, Archbishop of Olinda e Recife, Pernambuco)
Leonardo de Miranda Pereira (6 May 1986 Appointed - 7 Nov 2012 Retired)
Jorge Alves Bezerra, S.S.S. (7 Nov 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Paracatu
1 March 1929	Erected	Diocese of Montes Claros Diocese of Uberaba	Territorial Prelature of Paracatu (erected) (Paracatu, Jo�o Pinheiro, and S�o Rom�o (except Afonso Arinos))
15 June 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Montes Claros (Janu�ria, Manga, S�o Francisco, Espinosa, Monte Azul, Mato Verde with Arinos in S�o Rom�o) Territorial Prelature of Paracatu (S�o Rom�o, Cap�o Redondo, and Formoso)	Diocese of Janu�ria (erected)
Diocese of Paracatu
14 April 1962	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Paracatu	Diocese of Paracatu
20 January 1964	Territory Added	Diocese of Janu�ria (Arinos and Formoso)	Diocese of Paracatu
11 October 1966	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Paracatu (from Uberaba)
25 April 2001	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Paracatu (from Brasilia)

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 Paracatu

1950 80,000 80,000 100.0% 8 8 10,000 8 4 6 ap1951

Diocese of Paracatu

1965 140,000 148,000 94.6% 14 14 10,000 14 7 7 ap1967

1970 170,000 180,000 94.4% 11 11 15,454 12 10 7 ap1971

1976 172,000 182,044 94.5% 11 11 15,636 11 18 8 ap1977

1977 188,000 225,000 83.6% 2 12 14 13,428 12 14 10 ap1981

1990 238,000 265,000 89.8% 5 8 13 18,307 8 14 9 ap1991

1999 234,000 300,000 78.0% 21 6 27 8,666 1 6 10 13 ap2000

2000 234,000 300,000 78.0% 17 7 24 9,750 9 7 7 15 ap2001

2001 234,000 300,000 78.0% 15 8 23 10,173 8 8 5 15 ap2002

2002 234,000 300,000 78.0% 19 8 27 8,666 8 8 5 15 ap2003

2003 234,000 300,000 78.0% 23 7 30 7,800 9 7 10 15 ap2004

2004 234,000 300,000 78.0% 24 7 31 7,548 9 7 8 16 ap2005

2011 264,000 338,000 78.1% 39 6 45 5,866 24 6 7 24 ap2014

2016 227,800 358,900 63.5% 45 5 50 4,556 24 5 7 28 ap2017

2019 233,200 367,600 63.4% 48 5 53 4,400 24 5 10 30 ap2020

2021 221,700 349,153 63.5% 44 4 48 4,618 25 4 6 32 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 Paracatu
1950	80,000	80,000	100.0%		8	8	10,000		8	4	6	ap1951
Diocese of Paracatu
1965	140,000	148,000	94.6%		14	14	10,000		14	7	7	ap1967
1970	170,000	180,000	94.4%		11	11	15,454		12	10	7	ap1971
1976	172,000	182,044	94.5%		11	11	15,636		11	18	8	ap1977
1977	188,000	225,000	83.6%	2	12	14	13,428		12	14	10	ap1981
1990	238,000	265,000	89.8%	5	8	13	18,307		8	14	9	ap1991
1999	234,000	300,000	78.0%	21	6	27	8,666	1	6	10	13	ap2000
2000	234,000	300,000	78.0%	17	7	24	9,750	9	7	7	15	ap2001
2001	234,000	300,000	78.0%	15	8	23	10,173	8	8	5	15	ap2002
2002	234,000	300,000	78.0%	19	8	27	8,666	8	8	5	15	ap2003
2003	234,000	300,000	78.0%	23	7	30	7,800	9	7	10	15	ap2004
2004	234,000	300,000	78.0%	24	7	31	7,548	9	7	8	16	ap2005
2011	264,000	338,000	78.1%	39	6	45	5,866	24	6	7	24	ap2014
2016	227,800	358,900	63.5%	45	5	50	4,556	24	5	7	28	ap2017
2019	233,200	367,600	63.4%	48	5	53	4,400	24	5	10	30	ap2020
2021	221,700	349,153	63.5%	44	4	48	4,618	25	4	6	32	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Raimundo Lu�, O. Carm. † (Bishop: 11 Jun 1962 to 20 Jul 1977)
Jorge Scarso, O.F.M. Cap. † (Apostolic Administrator: 20 Jul 1977 to 15 Aug 1979)
Eliseu Van de Weijer, O. Carm. † (Apostolic Administrator: 27 Apr 1929; Prelate: 25 May 1940 to 14 Apr 1962)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Paracatu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 23, Page 317, to Page 319
Diocese of Paracatu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 55, Page 382, and Page 383
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 93, Page 427, and Page 428

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Diocese of Paracatu

Dioecesis Paracatuensis

Bishop(s)

General Information

Historical Details

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Statistics

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Source(s)