Limoeiro do Norte (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

André Vital Félix da Silva, S.C.I., Bishop
Manuel Edmilson da Cruz, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 7 May 1938
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fortaleza
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Ceara
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 18,440 (7,122 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 1
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesedelimoeiro.org/
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, C.P. 27, Professor Ricard 650/A, 62930-000 Limoeiro do Norte, CE, Brazil
Telephone: (088)3423-1171
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Aureliano de Matos † (30 Jan 1940 Appointed - 19 Aug 1967 Died)
José Freire Falcão † (19 Aug 1967 Succeeded - 25 Nov 1971 Appointed, Archbishop of Teresina, Piaui)
Pompeu Bezerra Bessa † (25 Jan 1973 Appointed - 18 May 1994 Resigned)
Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (18 May 1994 Appointed - 6 May 1998 Resigned)
José Haring, O.F.M. † (19 Jan 2000 Appointed - 10 May 2017 Retired)
André Vital Félix da Silva, S.C.I. (10 May 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
7 May 1938	Erected	Archdiocese of Fortaleza (Limoeiro, Aracati, Areìas, Jaguario e Mirini, Morada Nova, Pereiro, Riacho do Sangue, São Bernardo das Russas, and União)	Diocese of Limoeiro do Norte (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 260,000 295,000 88.1% 19 8 27 9,629 3 28 12 ap1951

1966 295,000 300,000 98.3% 29 7 36 8,194 41 6 20 ap1967

1970 304,000 305,443 99.5% 24 9 33 9,212 17 50 20 ap1971

1976 351,000 358,000 98.0% 18 6 24 14,625 11 48 19 ap1977

1980 403,000 411,000 98.1% 19 5 24 16,791 11 55 20 ap1981

1990 484,000 508,000 95.3% 18 3 21 23,047 1 10 66 19 ap1991

1999 531,000 563,000 94.3% 21 4 25 21,240 8 61 22 ap2000

2000 537,000 570,000 94.2% 20 4 24 22,375 8 61 22 ap2001

2001 435,699 484,111 90.0% 20 5 25 17,427 9 53 18 ap2002

2002 435,699 484,111 90.0% 20 2 22 19,804 5 59 18 ap2003

2003 435,699 484,111 90.0% 22 5 27 16,137 9 58 20 ap2004

2004 435,699 484,111 90.0% 21 5 26 16,757 1 8 58 20 ap2005

2013 485,000 537,000 90.3% 30 13 43 11,279 17 56 23 ap2014

2016 441,600 550,000 80.3% 29 11 40 11,040 14 50 27 ap2017

2019 452,300 563,285 80.3% 36 9 45 10,051 13 33 27 ap2020

2021 443,904 562,418 78.9% 30 10 40 11,097 14 23 27 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	260,000	295,000	88.1%	19	8	27	9,629		3	28	12	ap1951
1966	295,000	300,000	98.3%	29	7	36	8,194		41	6	20	ap1967
1970	304,000	305,443	99.5%	24	9	33	9,212		17	50	20	ap1971
1976	351,000	358,000	98.0%	18	6	24	14,625		11	48	19	ap1977
1980	403,000	411,000	98.1%	19	5	24	16,791		11	55	20	ap1981
1990	484,000	508,000	95.3%	18	3	21	23,047	1	10	66	19	ap1991
1999	531,000	563,000	94.3%	21	4	25	21,240		8	61	22	ap2000
2000	537,000	570,000	94.2%	20	4	24	22,375		8	61	22	ap2001
2001	435,699	484,111	90.0%	20	5	25	17,427		9	53	18	ap2002
2002	435,699	484,111	90.0%	20	2	22	19,804		5	59	18	ap2003
2003	435,699	484,111	90.0%	22	5	27	16,137		9	58	20	ap2004
2004	435,699	484,111	90.0%	21	5	26	16,757	1	8	58	20	ap2005
2013	485,000	537,000	90.3%	30	13	43	11,279		17	56	23	ap2014
2016	441,600	550,000	80.3%	29	11	40	11,040		14	50	27	ap2017
2019	452,300	563,285	80.3%	36	9	45	10,051		13	33	27	ap2020
2021	443,904	562,418	78.9%	30	10	40	11,097		14	23	27	ap2022