Mar del Plata (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ernesto Giobando, S.J., Bishop
José María Baliña, Bishop Emeritus
Antonio Marino, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 11 February 1957
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of La Plata
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Argentina
Square Kilometers: 22,850 (8,825 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.iglesiamdp.org.ar/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Pasaje Catedral 1750 PB, B7600DQB Mar del Plata [Buenos Aires], Argentina
Telephone: (0223)494.42.00
Fax: 495.18.34

Past and Present Ordinaries

Enrique Rau † (13 Mar 1957 Appointed - 11 Aug 1971 Died)
Bl. Eduardo Francisco Pironio † (19 Apr 1972 Appointed - 20 Sep 1975 Appointed, Pro-Prefect of the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes)
Rómulo García † (19 Jan 1976 Appointed - 31 May 1991 Appointed, Archbishop of Bahía Blanca)
José María Arancedo (19 Nov 1991 Appointed - 13 Feb 2003 Appointed, Archbishop of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz)
Juan Alberto Puiggari (7 Jun 2003 Appointed - 4 Nov 2010 Appointed, Archbishop of Paraná)
Antonio Marino (6 Apr 2011 Appointed - 18 Jul 2017 Retired)
Gabriel Antonio Mestre (18 Jul 2017 Appointed - 28 Jul 2023 Appointed, Archbishop of La Plata)
José María Baliña (21 Nov 2023 Appointed - 13 Dec 2023 Resigned)
Gustavo Manuel Larrazábal, C.M.F. (13 Dec 2023 Appointed - 17 Jan 2024 Resigned)
Ernesto Giobando, S.J. (12 Dec 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
11 February 1957	Erected	Diocese of Bahía Blanca (Necochea and Lobería) Archdiocese of La Plata (Pueyrredon, Balcarce, General Alvarado, General Madariaga, General Lavalle, Maipú, Mar Chiquita, and Tordillo)	Diocese of Mar del Plata (erected)
27 March 1980	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (Chascomús, Coronel Brandsen, Castelli, Dolores, General Belgrano, General Guido, General Paz, Monte, and Pila) Diocese of Mar del Plata (General Conesa, General Lavalle, and Maipú)	Diocese of Chascomús (erected)

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

1966 500,000 550,000 90.9% 51 66 117 4,273 82 278 32 ap1967

1970 610,094 652,894 93.4% 49 60 109 5,597 82 280 44 ap1971

1976 529,800 600,000 88.3% 57 44 101 5,245 66 216 42 ap1977

1980 584,000 661,000 88.4% 43 38 81 7,209 57 203 40 ap1981

1990 613,000 765,000 80.1% 44 37 81 7,567 3 44 183 52 ap1991

1999 678,000 769,000 88.2% 56 41 97 6,989 5 46 164 48 ap2000

2000 635,000 775,000 81.9% 55 42 97 6,546 4 47 161 48 ap2001

2001 599,000 732,000 81.8% 49 40 89 6,730 4 45 163 52 ap2002

2002 593,000 732,000 81.0% 49 37 86 6,895 5 42 136 54 ap2003

2003 593,000 732,000 81.0% 51 37 88 6,738 5 42 136 55 ap2004

2004 662,186 827,732 80.0% 50 37 87 7,611 6 43 151 50 ap2005

2013 716,000 893,000 80.2% 57 24 81 8,839 9 27 107 51 ap2014

2016 737,972 972,107 75.9% 68 18 86 8,581 11 23 101 51 ap2017

2019 759,660 999,000 76.0% 60 18 78 9,739 8 21 107 51 ap2020

2021 774,100 1,018,000 76.0% 51 21 72 10,751 10 25 92 49 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	500,000	550,000	90.9%	51	66	117	4,273		82	278	32	ap1967
1970	610,094	652,894	93.4%	49	60	109	5,597		82	280	44	ap1971
1976	529,800	600,000	88.3%	57	44	101	5,245		66	216	42	ap1977
1980	584,000	661,000	88.4%	43	38	81	7,209		57	203	40	ap1981
1990	613,000	765,000	80.1%	44	37	81	7,567	3	44	183	52	ap1991
1999	678,000	769,000	88.2%	56	41	97	6,989	5	46	164	48	ap2000
2000	635,000	775,000	81.9%	55	42	97	6,546	4	47	161	48	ap2001
2001	599,000	732,000	81.8%	49	40	89	6,730	4	45	163	52	ap2002
2002	593,000	732,000	81.0%	49	37	86	6,895	5	42	136	54	ap2003
2003	593,000	732,000	81.0%	51	37	88	6,738	5	42	136	55	ap2004
2004	662,186	827,732	80.0%	50	37	87	7,611	6	43	151	50	ap2005
2013	716,000	893,000	80.2%	57	24	81	8,839	9	27	107	51	ap2014
2016	737,972	972,107	75.9%	68	18	86	8,581	11	23	101	51	ap2017
2019	759,660	999,000	76.0%	60	18	78	9,739	8	21	107	51	ap2020
2021	774,100	1,018,000	76.0%	51	21	72	10,751	10	25	92	49	ap2022