Ponce (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ruben Antonio González Medina, C.M.F., Bishop
Félix Lázaro Martinez, Sch. P., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 21 November 1924
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Puerto Rico
Square Kilometers: 830 (320 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the south portion of the Island of Puerto Rico.
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: PCE
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisdeponce.org
Mailing Address: Obispado, Apartado 32205, Estación 6, Ponce, PR 00732-2205, Puerto Rico
Telephone: (787)848-5265
Fax: 844-6127

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edwin Vincent Byrne † (23 Jun 1925 Appointed - 8 Mar 1929 Appointed, Bishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico)
Aloysius Joseph Willinger, C.SS.R. † (8 Mar 1929 Appointed - 12 Dec 1946 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, California)
James Edward (Jaime Eduardo) McManus, C.SS.R. † (10 May 1947 Appointed - 18 Nov 1963 Resigned)
Luis Aponte Martínez † (18 Nov 1963 Succeeded - 4 Nov 1964 Appointed, Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico)
Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver † (4 Nov 1964 Appointed - 10 Nov 2000 Retired)
Ricardo Antonio Suriñach Carreras † (10 Nov 2000 Appointed - 11 Jun 2003 Retired)
Félix Lázaro Martinez, Sch. P. (11 Jun 2003 Succeeded - 22 Dec 2015 Retired)
Ruben Antonio González Medina, C.M.F. (22 Dec 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
21 November 1924	Erected	Diocese of Puerto Rico (Porto Rico) (Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aibonito, Añasco, Arroyo, Guànica, Barranquitas, Cabo Bojo, Coamo, Guayama, Guayanilla, Hormigueros, Las Marias, Jayuya, Juana Diaz , Lajas, Maricao, Manuabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Patillas, Peñuelas, Ponce, Rincón, Sabana Grande...)	Diocese of Ponce (erected)
30 April 1960	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ponce (Aguada, Aguadilla, Jayuya, Moca, Orocovis, Rincón, and San Sebastián) Diocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Arecibo, Bareeloneta, Camuy, Ciales, Corozal, Dorado, Hatillo, Isabela, Lares, Manatí, Morovis, Quebradillas, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Utuado, Vega Alta, and Vega Baja)	Diocese of Arecibo (erected)
30 April 1960	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Ponce (from Immediately Subject)
4 November 1964	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ponce (Aibonito, Arroyo, Barranquitas, Guayama, Maunabo, and Patillas) Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Caguas, Gurabo, Juncos, Las Piedras, Humacao, Fajardo, Vieques, Yabucoa, Aguas Buenas, Comerio, Cidra, Cayey, San Lorenzo, Maranjito, Ceiba, Naguabo, Sdo. Cor. Cidra, N. S. Fatima, and San José Caguas)	Diocese of Caguas (erected)
1 March 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Arecibo Diocese of Ponce	Diocese of Mayagüez (erected) (Mayaguez, Aguadilla, Aguada, Moca, San Sebastián, Rincón, Añasco, Las Marías, Maricao, Hormiguero, San Germán, Cabo Rojo, Lajas, and Sabana Grande)
1 March 1976	Territory Added	Diocese of Arecibo (Jayuya, La Milagrosa en Catañer or Bartolo-Gatañer (in Lares), and Niño de Praga or Misión Noel (in Yillalba))	Diocese of Ponce
1 March 1976	Territory Added	Diocese of Caguas (Guayama, Arroyo, and Patillas)	Diocese of Ponce

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

1949 900,000 1,000,000 90.0% 25 88 113 7,964 99 218 38 ap1951

1966 698,968 735,756 95.0% 49 113 162 4,314 113 510 38 ap1967

1970 575,470 593,562 97.0% 63 99 162 3,552 101 480 45 ap1971

1976 653,671 767,849 85.1% 45 101 146 4,477 2 152 360 49 ap1977

1980 489,000 543,000 90.1% 44 77 121 4,041 7 142 317 38 ap1981

1990 436,000 543,265 80.3% 51 67 118 3,694 41 93 285 40 ap1991

2000 443,000 552,125 80.2% 62 61 123 3,601 71 76 215 40 ap2001

2001 483,000 604,210 79.9% 63 53 116 4,163 71 63 214 40 ap2002

2002 498,736 624,080 79.9% 61 53 114 4,374 69 60 213 41 ap2003

2003 474,759 593,448 80.0% 65 57 122 3,891 69 74 203 42 ap2004

2004 474,959 593,548 80.0% 64 62 126 3,769 86 79 230 42 ap2005

2013 489,500 628,300 77.9% 66 46 112 4,370 102 61 196 43 ap2014

2016 483,000 621,700 77.7% 68 40 108 4,472 97 54 179 43 ap2017

2019 378,792 505,520 74.9% 55 28 83 4,563 94 53 163 43 ap2020

2021 378,520 505,190 74.9% 49 25 74 5,115 91 37 202 43 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	900,000	1,000,000	90.0%	25	88	113	7,964		99	218	38	ap1951
1966	698,968	735,756	95.0%	49	113	162	4,314		113	510	38	ap1967
1970	575,470	593,562	97.0%	63	99	162	3,552		101	480	45	ap1971
1976	653,671	767,849	85.1%	45	101	146	4,477	2	152	360	49	ap1977
1980	489,000	543,000	90.1%	44	77	121	4,041	7	142	317	38	ap1981
1990	436,000	543,265	80.3%	51	67	118	3,694	41	93	285	40	ap1991
2000	443,000	552,125	80.2%	62	61	123	3,601	71	76	215	40	ap2001
2001	483,000	604,210	79.9%	63	53	116	4,163	71	63	214	40	ap2002
2002	498,736	624,080	79.9%	61	53	114	4,374	69	60	213	41	ap2003
2003	474,759	593,448	80.0%	65	57	122	3,891	69	74	203	42	ap2004
2004	474,959	593,548	80.0%	64	62	126	3,769	86	79	230	42	ap2005
2013	489,500	628,300	77.9%	66	46	112	4,370	102	61	196	43	ap2014
2016	483,000	621,700	77.7%	68	40	108	4,472	97	54	179	43	ap2017
2019	378,792	505,520	74.9%	55	28	83	4,563	94	53	163	43	ap2020
2021	378,520	505,190	74.9%	49	25	74	5,115	91	37	202	43	ap2022