Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (Latin: Dioecesis Villaricensis Spiritus Sancti) is a Latin Rite suffragan diocese in the Ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Asunción, which cover all and only Paraguay.

Not to be confused with Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica in Chile.
Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo

Dioecesis Villaricensis Spiritus Sancti
Location
CountryParaguay
MetropolitanAsunción
Statistics
Area13,342 km2 (5,151 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)		(as of 2004)
293,500
290,140 (98.9%)
Information
RiteLatin Rite
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopRicardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios
Map

Its cathedral episcopal see is Catedral Santa Clara, dedicated to Saint Clara, in the city of Villarrica, Guairá Department. It is vacant since 29 June 2017, without an apostolic administrator.

Statistics

As per 2014, it pastorally served 342,000 Catholics (99.7% of 343,000 total) on 13,342 km² in 35 parishes, 43 priests (39 diocesan, 4 religious), 65 deacons, 89 lay religious (13 brothers, 76 sisters), 27 seminarians.

History
  • On May 1, 1929, the Diocese of Villarrica was established on territory split off from the then Roman Catholic Diocese of Paraguay
  • It lost territories thrice : on 1957.01.19 to establish Diocese of San Juan Bautista, on 1957.01.21 to establish Territorial Prelature of Encarnación y Alto Paraná (now a diocese) and on 1978.06.05 to establish Diocese of Carapeguá.
  • It enjoyed a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II in May 1988.
  • On January 13, 1990, the diocese was renamed, or more precisely given an alternative name, as Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (avoiding confusing with its Chilean namesake)

Bishops

(all Roman Rite and natives)

Episcopal Ordinaries
Suffragan Bishops of Villarrica
  • Augustin Rodríguez (October 19, 1931 – December 7, 1965), next Titular Bishop of Castellum Tingitii (1965.12.07 – 1968.12.25) as Military Vicariate of Paraguay (1965.12.07 – death 1968.12.25)
  • Felipe Santiago Benítez Avalos (December 4, 1965 – May 20, 1989), also President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1973 – 1985), First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1983 – 1987); previously Titular Bishop of Chersonesus in Europa (1961.08.10 – 1965.12.04) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción (Paraguay) (1961.08.10 – 1965.12.04); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (1989.05.20 – retired 2002.06.15), President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1989 – 1990), died 2009
Suffragan Bishops of Villarrica (del Espíritu Santo)

Auxiliary bishops
  • Angel Nicolás Acha Duarte (1975-1978), appointed Bishop of Carapeguá
  • Sebelio Peralta Alvarez (1979-1990), appointed Bishop here

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop
  • Amancio Francisco Benítez Candia, appointed Bishop of Benjamín Aceval in 2018

See also

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