Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Victor Hugo Palma Paúl, Archbishop
Mario Alberto Molina Palma, O.A.R., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 13 February 1996
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Guatemala
Square Kilometers: 3,012 (1,163 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Arzobispado, 11a Av. 6-27, Zona 1, 09001 Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Telephone: 7761.2840

Historical Details

Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos
- Latin Name: Altensis
- Erected: 27 July 1921
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santiago de Guatemala
- Country: Guatemala

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jorge García Caballeros † (30 Jun 1928 Appointed - 5 Apr 1955 Died)
Luis Manresa Formosa, S.J. † (30 Nov 1955 Appointed - 30 May 1979 Resigned)
Oscar Garcia Urizar † (4 Mar 1980 Appointed - 8 Jan 1987 Resigned)
Victor Hugo Martínez Contreras † (4 Apr 1987 Appointed - 19 Apr 2007 Retired)
Oscar Julio Vian Morales, S.D.B. † (19 Apr 2007 Appointed - 2 Oct 2010 Appointed, Archbishop of Guatemala)
Mario Alberto Molina Palma, O.A.R. (14 Jul 2011 Appointed - 10 Dec 2024 Retired)
Victor Hugo Palma Paúl (10 Dec 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos
27 July 1921	Erected	Archdiocese of Guatemala (Quezaltenango, San Marcos, Huehuetenango, Totonicapán, Quiché, and Solóla)	Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos (erected)
10 March 1951	Territory Lost	Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos (San Marcos and Huehuetenango)	Diocese of San Marcos (erected)
10 March 1951	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Guatemala (Parts of Mazatenango or Suchitepéquez) Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos (Solóla, El Quiche, and the rest of Mazatenango or Suchitepéquez)	Diocese of Sololá (erected)
10 March 1951	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Guatemala (Retalhuleu)	Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos
Archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán
13 February 1996	Elevated	Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos	Archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán (Name Changed and Diocese raised to an Archdiocese)
31 December 1996	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán (Departamento de Retalhuleu) Diocese of Sololá (Departamento de Suchitepéquez)	Diocese of Suchitepéquez-Retalhuleu (erected)

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

Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos

1949 700,000 1,018,079 68.8% 10 27 37 18,918 23 23 35 ap1951

1966 510,000 550,000 92.7% 23 38 61 8,360 30 97 26 ap1967

1968 193,494 203,677 95.0% 20 27 47 4,116 2 44 109 27 ap1971

1976 585,000 650,000 90.0% 27 30 57 10,263 36 124 29 ap1977

1980 626,000 710,000 88.2% 22 26 48 13,041 31 125 30 ap1981

1990 858,000 960,000 89.4% 26 19 45 19,066 46 161 33 ap1991

Archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán

1999 960,000 1,200,000 80.0% 23 20 43 22,325 30 126 27 ap2000

2000 975,000 1,200,000 81.3% 24 22 46 21,195 34 130 29 ap2001

2001 979,000 1,205,000 81.2% 24 24 48 20,395 34 130 28 ap2002

2002 990,000 1,260,000 78.6% 25 25 50 19,800 48 130 28 ap2003

2003 1,002,800 1,272,800 78.8% 26 22 48 20,891 51 101 28 ap2004

2004 1,016,000 1,270,000 80.0% 29 24 53 19,169 57 118 28 ap2005

2010 1,123,000 1,404,000 80.0% 30 22 52 21,596 1 66 100 34 ap2011

2013 1,208,000 1,510,000 80.0% 34 27 61 19,803 1 73 108 33 ap2014

2016 1,121,000 1,401,273 80.0% 39 27 66 16,984 1 70 85 35 ap2017

2019 1,203,000 1,506,588 79.8% 45 26 71 16,943 1 37 93 36 ap2020

2021 691,545 1,383,089 50.0% 48 25 73 9,473 1 37 86 38 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos
1949	700,000	1,018,079	68.8%	10	27	37	18,918		23	23	35	ap1951
1966	510,000	550,000	92.7%	23	38	61	8,360		30	97	26	ap1967
1968	193,494	203,677	95.0%	20	27	47	4,116	2	44	109	27	ap1971
1976	585,000	650,000	90.0%	27	30	57	10,263		36	124	29	ap1977
1980	626,000	710,000	88.2%	22	26	48	13,041		31	125	30	ap1981
1990	858,000	960,000	89.4%	26	19	45	19,066		46	161	33	ap1991
Archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán
1999	960,000	1,200,000	80.0%	23	20	43	22,325		30	126	27	ap2000
2000	975,000	1,200,000	81.3%	24	22	46	21,195		34	130	29	ap2001
2001	979,000	1,205,000	81.2%	24	24	48	20,395		34	130	28	ap2002
2002	990,000	1,260,000	78.6%	25	25	50	19,800		48	130	28	ap2003
2003	1,002,800	1,272,800	78.8%	26	22	48	20,891		51	101	28	ap2004
2004	1,016,000	1,270,000	80.0%	29	24	53	19,169		57	118	28	ap2005
2010	1,123,000	1,404,000	80.0%	30	22	52	21,596	1	66	100	34	ap2011
2013	1,208,000	1,510,000	80.0%	34	27	61	19,803	1	73	108	33	ap2014
2016	1,121,000	1,401,273	80.0%	39	27	66	16,984	1	70	85	35	ap2017
2019	1,203,000	1,506,588	79.8%	45	26	71	16,943	1	37	93	36	ap2020
2021	691,545	1,383,089	50.0%	48	25	73	9,473	1	37	86	38	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Juan Manuel Cuá Ajacum (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Mar 2021 to 15 Apr 2023)
Mario Alberto Molina Palma, O.A.R. (Archbishop: 14 Jul 2011 to 10 Dec 2024)
Victor Hugo Palma Paúl (Archbishop: 10 Dec 2024)
Rodolfo Valenzuela Núñez (Priest: 28 Jun 1980 to 19 Feb 1997)
Gonzalo de Villa y Vásquez, S.J. (Apostolic Administrator: 2 Oct 2010 to 17 Sep 2011)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Julio Amílcar Bethancourt Fioravanti † (Priest: 29 Dec 1963 to 3 Dec 1982)
Gerardo Humberto Flores Reyes † (Priest: 17 Dec 1949; Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Jul 1966 to 9 May 1969)
Jorge García Caballeros † (Bishop: 30 Jun 1928 to 5 Apr 1955)
Oscar Garcia Urizar † (Priest: 17 Dec 1949; Bishop: 4 Mar 1980 to 8 Jan 1987)
Rafael González Estrada † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 May 1944 to 1955)
Luis Manresa Formosa, S.J. † (Bishop: 30 Nov 1955 to 30 May 1979)
Victor Hugo Martínez Contreras † (Bishop: 4 Apr 1987; Archbishop: 13 Feb 1996 to 19 Apr 2007)
Oscar Julio Vian Morales, S.D.B. † (Archbishop: 19 Apr 2007 to 2 Oct 2010)

Source(s)

Diocese of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 20, Page 297, to Page 300
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 537, to Page 541
Archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 88, Page 611, and Page 612
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 91, Page 473

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.9, 15 Sep 2024; Data: 10 Dec 2024

✠

Archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán

Archidioecesis Altensis, Quetzltenanguensis-Totonicapensis