Luz (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Aristeu Vieira, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 5 December 1960
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Minas Gerais
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 24,990 (9,652 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Leste 2
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesedeluz.org.br/
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Rua Oito de Julho 175, 35595-000 Luz, MG, Brazil
Telephone: (037)3421-9000

Historical Details

Diocese of Aterrado
- Latin Name: Aterradensis
- Erected: 18 July 1918
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Manuel Nunes Coelho † (10 Jun 1920 Appointed - 8 Jul 1967 Died)
Belchior Joaquim da Silva Neto, C.M. † (9 Jul 1967 Succeeded - 18 May 1994 Retired)
Eurico dos Santos Veloso † (18 May 1994 Succeeded - 28 Nov 2001 Appointed, Archbishop of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais)
Antônio Carlos Félix (5 Feb 2003 Appointed - 6 Mar 2014 Appointed, Bishop of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais)
José Aristeu Vieira (25 Feb 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Aterrado
18 July 1918	Erected	Archdiocese of Mariana (Formiga, Porto Real, Dores de Judaya, and Abaede and areas to the West) Diocese of Uberaba (S. Jerónimo and S. Francisco)	Diocese of Aterrado (erected) (Aterrado, Arcos, Abaede, Dores do ludaya, Formiga, Piumehy, Pimenta, Perobas, S. lodo da Gloria, S. Roqué, Bambuhy, S. Gothardo, Tiros, Morada nova, Porto Real , Arcado, S. Jerónimo, and S. Francisco)
22 February 1921	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Mariana (Bom-Despacho and Santo Antonio do Monte)	Diocese of Aterrado
1 February 1924	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Aterrado (from Mariana)
11 July 1958	Territory Lost	Diocese of Aterrado (Araujos and Perdigâo) Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Divinópolis, Carmo de Caiurú, Claudio, Itapecerica, Itauna, Mateus Lerne, Nova Serrana, Para de Minas, Pitangui, São Gonçalo de Para, and Onça of Pequi)	Diocese of Divinópolis (erected)
Diocese of Luz
5 December 1960	Name Changed	Diocese of Aterrado	Diocese of Luz
11 November 1963	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Cápela dos Alves in Bom Despacho)	Diocese of Luz
10 November 1982	Territory Lost	Diocese of Luz (Desemboque, Sacramento)	Archdiocese of Uberaba
10 January 2004	Territory Lost	Diocese of Luz (São Sebastião in Tapira)	Archdiocese of Uberaba
29 June 2007	Territory Lost	Diocese of Luz (Nossa Senhora da Abadia (in Matutina), São Sebastião (in São Gotardo), and Santo Antonio (in Tiros))	Diocese of Patos de Minas
19 August 2008	Territory Lost	Diocese of Luz (Saint John the Baptist (in São João Batista do Glória) and Divine Spiritus Sancti (in Delfinópolis))	Diocese of Guaxupé

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 Aterrado

1950 262,000 390,000 67.2% 20 100 120 2,183 32 ap1951

1957 372,530 .0% 28 14 42 0 2 ap1960

Diocese of Luz

1965 456,260 460,000 99.2% 28 17 45 10,139 19 91 39 ap1967

1970 463,329 .0% 22 22 0 1 12 31 ap1971

1976 396,410 404,500 98.0% 18 34 52 7,623 40 85 30 ap1977

1980 415,000 435,000 95.4% 21 26 47 8,829 31 74 34 ap1981

1990 430,000 460,000 93.5% 31 26 57 7,543 52 32 40 ap1991

1999 343,400 425,200 80.8% 34 18 52 6,603 19 92 32 ap2000

2000 344,350 425,960 80.8% 38 19 57 6,041 20 92 37 ap2001

2001 398,000 493,023 80.7% 38 19 57 6,982 23 92 39 ap2002

2002 344,350 425,960 80.8% 37 18 55 6,260 19 92 32 ap2003

2003 352,000 441,000 79.8% 50 19 69 5,101 20 92 37 ap2004

2004 352,800 441,000 80.0% 38 20 58 6,082 20 40 34 ap2005

2013 397,000 494,000 80.4% 62 13 75 5,293 15 32 44 ap2014

2016 407,000 506,000 80.4% 67 11 78 5,217 12 30 50 ap2017

2019 425,826 518,200 82.2% 73 15 88 4,838 15 27 52 ap2020

2021 428,617 522,091 82.1% 73 14 87 4,926 14 26 52 ap2022

2023 442,320 478,104 92.5% 66 15 81 5,460 1 16 24 52 ap2024

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 Aterrado
1950	262,000	390,000	67.2%	20	100	120	2,183				32	ap1951
1957		372,530	.0%	28	14	42	0				2	ap1960
Diocese of Luz
1965	456,260	460,000	99.2%	28	17	45	10,139		19	91	39	ap1967
1970		463,329	.0%	22		22	0	1		12	31	ap1971
1976	396,410	404,500	98.0%	18	34	52	7,623		40	85	30	ap1977
1980	415,000	435,000	95.4%	21	26	47	8,829		31	74	34	ap1981
1990	430,000	460,000	93.5%	31	26	57	7,543		52	32	40	ap1991
1999	343,400	425,200	80.8%	34	18	52	6,603		19	92	32	ap2000
2000	344,350	425,960	80.8%	38	19	57	6,041		20	92	37	ap2001
2001	398,000	493,023	80.7%	38	19	57	6,982		23	92	39	ap2002
2002	344,350	425,960	80.8%	37	18	55	6,260		19	92	32	ap2003
2003	352,000	441,000	79.8%	50	19	69	5,101		20	92	37	ap2004
2004	352,800	441,000	80.0%	38	20	58	6,082		20	40	34	ap2005
2013	397,000	494,000	80.4%	62	13	75	5,293		15	32	44	ap2014
2016	407,000	506,000	80.4%	67	11	78	5,217		12	30	50	ap2017
2019	425,826	518,200	82.2%	73	15	88	4,838		15	27	52	ap2020
2021	428,617	522,091	82.1%	73	14	87	4,926		14	26	52	ap2022
2023	442,320	478,104	92.5%	66	15	81	5,460	1	16	24	52	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

José Aristeu Vieira (Bishop: 25 Feb 2015 - )
Waldemar Chaves de Araújo (Priest: 22 Sep 1962 to 18 Nov 1989)
Antônio Carlos Félix (Bishop: 5 Feb 2003 to 6 Mar 2014)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

José Elias Chaves Júnior, C.M. †
Belchior Joaquim da Silva Neto, C.M. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 13 Feb 1960; Bishop: 9 Jul 1967 to 18 May 1994)
Manuel Nunes Coelho † (Bishop: 10 Jun 1920 to 8 Jul 1967)
Eurico dos Santos Veloso † (Coadjutor Bishop: 22 May 1991; Bishop: 18 May 1994 to 28 Nov 2001)
Vicente Joaquim Zico, C.M. †

Source(s)

Diocese of Aterrado
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 10, Page 353, to Page 356
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 13, Page 132, and Page 133
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 16, Page 264, and Page 265

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Diocese of Luz

Dioecesis Luceatina