Brejo (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Valdeci Santos Mendes, Bishop
Valter Carrijo, S.D.S., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 14 September 1971
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Maranhão
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 21,218 (8,195 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 5
Mailing Address: Residencia Episcopal, Praca Benedito Leite 166, 65520-000 Brejo, MA, Brazil
Telephone: (098)3472-1151

Past and Present Ordinaries

Afonso de Oliveira Lima, S.D.S. † (29 Nov 1971 Appointed - 25 Sep 1991 Retired)
Valter Carrijo, S.D.S. (25 Sep 1991 Succeeded - 5 May 2010 Retired)
José Valdeci Santos Mendes (5 May 2010 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
14 September 1971	Erected	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Afonso Cunha, Anapurus, Araioses, Barreirinhas, Brejo, Buriti, Chapadinha, Coelho Neto, Duque Bacelar, Magalhaes da Almeida, Mata Roma, Santa Quiteira do Maranhao, Sâo Benedito do Rio Prêto, Sâo Bernardo do Parnaiba, Tutoia, and Urbano Santos)	Diocese of Brejo (erected)

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

1971 282,597 316,110 89.4% 20 20 14,129 10 ap1977

1980 330,000 351,000 94.0% 9 2 11 30,000 2 24 16 ap1981

1990 355,000 376,000 94.4% 10 4 14 25,357 4 20 17 ap1991

1999 400,000 420,000 95.2% 15 6 21 19,047 7 23 16 ap2000

2000 400,000 420,000 95.2% 9 6 15 26,666 7 20 16 ap2001

2001 400,000 425,000 94.1% 15 7 22 18,181 8 22 16 ap2002

2002 400,000 440,000 90.9% 10 9 19 21,052 10 17 16 ap2003

2003 408,000 444,000 91.9% 9 7 16 25,500 8 18 16 ap2004

2004 410,000 448,000 91.5% 11 7 18 22,777 8 18 19 ap2005

2006 421,000 456,000 92.3% 12 7 19 22,157 8 15 16 ap2007

2012 458,000 488,000 93.9% 15 11 26 17,615 12 16 16 ap2013

2015 470,000 500,000 94.0% 26 8 34 13,823 8 17 16 ap2016

2018 481,665 512,250 94.0% 21 13 34 14,166 14 22 18 ap2019

2020 493,820 520,260 94.9% 21 8 29 17,028 2 9 26 18 ap2021

2022 493,850 691,000 71.5% 24 5 29 17,029 1 7 32 21 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1971	282,597	316,110	89.4%	20		20	14,129				10	ap1977
1980	330,000	351,000	94.0%	9	2	11	30,000		2	24	16	ap1981
1990	355,000	376,000	94.4%	10	4	14	25,357		4	20	17	ap1991
1999	400,000	420,000	95.2%	15	6	21	19,047		7	23	16	ap2000
2000	400,000	420,000	95.2%	9	6	15	26,666		7	20	16	ap2001
2001	400,000	425,000	94.1%	15	7	22	18,181		8	22	16	ap2002
2002	400,000	440,000	90.9%	10	9	19	21,052		10	17	16	ap2003
2003	408,000	444,000	91.9%	9	7	16	25,500		8	18	16	ap2004
2004	410,000	448,000	91.5%	11	7	18	22,777		8	18	19	ap2005
2006	421,000	456,000	92.3%	12	7	19	22,157		8	15	16	ap2007
2012	458,000	488,000	93.9%	15	11	26	17,615		12	16	16	ap2013
2015	470,000	500,000	94.0%	26	8	34	13,823		8	17	16	ap2016
2018	481,665	512,250	94.0%	21	13	34	14,166		14	22	18	ap2019
2020	493,820	520,260	94.9%	21	8	29	17,028	2	9	26	18	ap2021
2022	493,850	691,000	71.5%	24	5	29	17,029	1	7	32	21	ap2023