Araçuaí (Arassuaí) (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Geraldo dos Reis Maia, Bishop
Esmeraldo Barreto de Farias, Ist. del Prado, Bishop Emeritus
Marcello Romano, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 25 August 1913
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Diamantina
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Minas Gerais
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 23,526 (9,086 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Leste 2
Official Web Site: https://diocesedearacuai.com.br
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Rua Goias 339, Alto Santuario, 39600-000 Aracuai, MG, Brazil
Telephone: (033)3731-3159

Past and Present Ordinaries

Serafim Gomes Jardim † (12 Mar 1914 Appointed - 26 May 1934 Appointed, Archbishop of Diamantina, Minas Gerais)
José de Haas, O.F.M. † (20 Mar 1937 Appointed - 1 Aug 1956 Died)
José Maria Pires † (25 May 1957 Appointed - 2 Dec 1965 Appointed, Archbishop of Paraíba)
Altivo Pacheco Ribeiro † (27 Jun 1966 Appointed - 10 Nov 1973 Resigned)
Silvestre Luís Scandián, S.V.D. † (4 Jan 1975 Appointed - 18 Aug 1981 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Vitória, Espirito Santo)
Crescênzio Rinaldini † (10 May 1982 Appointed - 8 Aug 2001 Retired)
Dario Campos, O.F.M. (8 Aug 2001 Succeeded - 23 Jun 2004 Appointed, Bishop of Leopoldina, Minas Gerais)
Severino Clasen, O.F.M. (11 May 2005 Appointed - 6 Jul 2011 Appointed, Bishop of Caçador, Santa Catarina)
Marcello Romano (13 Jun 2012 Appointed - 25 Mar 2020 Resigned)
Esmeraldo Barreto de Farias, Ist. del Prado (18 Nov 2020 Appointed - 30 Apr 2024 Retired)
Geraldo dos Reis Maia (30 Apr 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
25 August 1913	Erected	Diocese of Diamantina (Mucuri Valley and upper Jequitinhonha)	Diocese of Araçuaí (Arassuaí) (erected)
2 April 1914	Territory Added	Diocese of Montes Claros (Fortaleza and Aqua Vermelha (in Salinas) along with Arassuahyensis and S. Michaelis de Jequitinhonha)	Diocese of Araçuaí (Arassuaí)
28 June 1917	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Araçuaí (Arassuaí) (from Mariana)
1 February 1956	Territory Lost	Diocese of Araçuaí (Arassuaí) (Galilee and part of Governador Valadares, and part of Aimorés, Conselheiro Pena, Itueta, and Resplendor) Diocese of Caratinga (Itanhoni, Mutum, Pocrane, and Tumiritinga along with part of Governador Valadares, and parts of Aimorés, Conselheiro Pena, Itueta, and Resplendor) Archdiocese of Diamantina (Açucena, Coroací, Virginópolis, and Virgoländia, and part of Governador Valadares)	Diocese of Governador Valadares (erected)
27 November 1960	Territory Lost	Diocese of Araçuaí (Arassuaí) (Teófilo Otoni, Aguas Formosas, Carlos Chagas, Itambacuri, Ladainha, Machacalis, Malacacheta, Nanuque, and Poté)	Diocese of Teófilo Otoni (erected)
28 March 1981	Territory Lost	Diocese of Araçuaí (Arassuaí) (Cities of Almenara, Bandeira, Felisburgo, Jacinto, Jequitinhonha, Joaima, Jordania, Rio do Pardo, Rubim, Salto da Divisa, Santa Maria do Salto, and Santo Antonio do Jacinto) Diocese of Teófilo Otoni (Fronteira dos Vales)	Diocese of Almenara (erected)

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

1950 780,000 800,000 97.5% 19 34 53 14,716 34 60 29 ap1951

1959 1,000,000 1,030,000 97.1% 21 42 63 15,873 56 85 36 ap1960

1965 547,500 550,000 99.5% 16 8 24 22,812 4 21 23 ap1967

1970 610,000 670,000 91.0% 27 11 38 16,052 11 33 26 ap1971

1976 490,000 550,000 89.1% 15 11 26 18,846 15 27 26 ap1977

1980 540,605 603,810 89.5% 18 13 31 17,438 18 44 35 ap1981

1990 375,000 416,000 90.1% 15 6 21 17,857 7 33 21 ap1991

1999 457,000 483,000 94.6% 24 6 30 15,233 6 29 21 ap2000

2000 462,000 489,000 94.5% 18 7 25 18,480 7 32 22 ap2001

2001 375,000 400,000 93.8% 17 7 24 15,625 8 25 23 ap2002

2002 380,000 495,000 76.8% 17 8 25 15,200 10 29 24 ap2003

2003 251,121 383,840 65.4% 26 11 37 6,787 14 27 24 ap2004

2004 252,221 383,841 65.7% 17 8 25 10,088 11 22 24 ap2005

2006 256,850 390,000 65.9% 20 5 25 10,274 8 18 24 ap2007

2012 280,000 420,000 66.7% 25 7 32 8,750 8 20 25 ap2013

2015 301,500 430,000 70.1% 21 10 31 9,725 1 11 27 27 ap2016

2018 296,445 422,715 70.1% 35 1 36 8,234 1 2 17 29 ap2019

2020 301,000 429,375 70.1% 31 7 38 7,921 1 9 24 29 ap2021

2022 306,000 436,000 70.2% 31 10 41 7,463 1 11 25 30 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	780,000	800,000	97.5%	19	34	53	14,716		34	60	29	ap1951
1959	1,000,000	1,030,000	97.1%	21	42	63	15,873		56	85	36	ap1960
1965	547,500	550,000	99.5%	16	8	24	22,812		4	21	23	ap1967
1970	610,000	670,000	91.0%	27	11	38	16,052		11	33	26	ap1971
1976	490,000	550,000	89.1%	15	11	26	18,846		15	27	26	ap1977
1980	540,605	603,810	89.5%	18	13	31	17,438		18	44	35	ap1981
1990	375,000	416,000	90.1%	15	6	21	17,857		7	33	21	ap1991
1999	457,000	483,000	94.6%	24	6	30	15,233		6	29	21	ap2000
2000	462,000	489,000	94.5%	18	7	25	18,480		7	32	22	ap2001
2001	375,000	400,000	93.8%	17	7	24	15,625		8	25	23	ap2002
2002	380,000	495,000	76.8%	17	8	25	15,200		10	29	24	ap2003
2003	251,121	383,840	65.4%	26	11	37	6,787		14	27	24	ap2004
2004	252,221	383,841	65.7%	17	8	25	10,088		11	22	24	ap2005
2006	256,850	390,000	65.9%	20	5	25	10,274		8	18	24	ap2007
2012	280,000	420,000	66.7%	25	7	32	8,750		8	20	25	ap2013
2015	301,500	430,000	70.1%	21	10	31	9,725	1	11	27	27	ap2016
2018	296,445	422,715	70.1%	35	1	36	8,234	1	2	17	29	ap2019
2020	301,000	429,375	70.1%	31	7	38	7,921	1	9	24	29	ap2021
2022	306,000	436,000	70.2%	31	10	41	7,463	1	11	25	30	ap2023