Margarita (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Fernando José Castro Aguayo, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 18 July 1969
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cumaná
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Venezuela
Square Kilometers: 1,150 (444 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Calle Union 11-20, La Asuncion 6301-A, Edo. Nueva Esparta, Venezuela
Telephone: (0295)2422.740
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francisco de Guruceaga Iturriza † (18 Jun 1969 Appointed - 2 Oct 1973 Appointed, Bishop of La Guaira)
Tulio Manuel Chirivella Varela † (5 Apr 1974 Appointed - 18 Oct 1982 Appointed, Archbishop of Barquisimeto)
César Ramón Ortega Herrera † (25 Aug 1983 Appointed - 15 Jul 1998 Appointed, Bishop of Barcelona)
Rafael Ramón Conde Alfonzo † (18 Mar 1999 Appointed - 12 Feb 2008 Appointed, Bishop of Maracay)
Jorge Anibal Quintero Chacón (19 Dec 2008 Appointed - 11 Jul 2014 Appointed, Bishop of Barcelona)
Fernando José Castro Aguayo (4 Aug 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
18 July 1969	Erected	Diocese of Cumaná (Estado Nueva Esparta)	Diocese of Margarita (erected)
16 May 1992	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Margarita (from Ciudad Bolívar)

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

1970 115,000 120,000 95.8% 10 5 15 7,666 6 19 9 ap1971

1976 140,000 146,000 95.9% 15 4 19 7,368 8 30 17 ap1977

1980 143,000 155,000 92.3% 16 4 20 7,150 9 20 18 ap1981

1990 183,000 187,000 97.9% 19 3 22 8,318 7 35 21 ap1991

1999 355,000 365,000 97.3% 18 8 26 13,653 13 39 29 ap2000

2000 360,000 370,000 97.3% 20 5 25 14,400 6 27 29 ap2001

2001 365,000 375,000 97.3% 21 5 26 14,038 7 24 29 ap2002

2002 370,000 385,000 96.1% 22 5 27 13,703 7 24 29 ap2003

2003 329,217 396,647 83.0% 24 5 29 11,352 1 6 28 29 ap2004

2004 335,815 398,712 84.2% 26 5 31 10,832 1 6 32 29 ap2005

2013 387,000 457,000 84.7% 31 3 34 11,382 1 4 30 29 ap2014

2016 394,995 476,000 83.0% 34 4 38 10,394 16 5 26 29 ap2017

2019 409,000 494,800 82.7% 30 3 33 12,393 16 4 28 29 ap2020

2021 452,000 606,247 74.6% 26 3 29 15,586 13 4 26 29 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	115,000	120,000	95.8%	10	5	15	7,666		6	19	9	ap1971
1976	140,000	146,000	95.9%	15	4	19	7,368		8	30	17	ap1977
1980	143,000	155,000	92.3%	16	4	20	7,150		9	20	18	ap1981
1990	183,000	187,000	97.9%	19	3	22	8,318		7	35	21	ap1991
1999	355,000	365,000	97.3%	18	8	26	13,653		13	39	29	ap2000
2000	360,000	370,000	97.3%	20	5	25	14,400		6	27	29	ap2001
2001	365,000	375,000	97.3%	21	5	26	14,038		7	24	29	ap2002
2002	370,000	385,000	96.1%	22	5	27	13,703		7	24	29	ap2003
2003	329,217	396,647	83.0%	24	5	29	11,352	1	6	28	29	ap2004
2004	335,815	398,712	84.2%	26	5	31	10,832	1	6	32	29	ap2005
2013	387,000	457,000	84.7%	31	3	34	11,382	1	4	30	29	ap2014
2016	394,995	476,000	83.0%	34	4	38	10,394	16	5	26	29	ap2017
2019	409,000	494,800	82.7%	30	3	33	12,393	16	4	28	29	ap2020
2021	452,000	606,247	74.6%	26	3	29	15,586	13	4	26	29	ap2022