Sobral (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Luiz Gomes de Vasconcelos, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 10 November 1915
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fortaleza
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Ceara
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 17,635 (6,811 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 1
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Rua Maestro Jose Pedro 70, 62010-260 Sobral; C.P. 106, 62010-970 Sobral, CE, Brazil
Telephone: (088)3611-0545

Past and Present Ordinaries

José Tupinambá da Frota † (24 Jan 1916 Appointed - 6 Apr 1923 Appointed, Bishop of Uberaba)
José Tupinambá da Frota † (10 Mar 1924 Appointed - 25 Sep 1959 Died)
João José da Mota e Albuquerque † (28 Feb 1961 Appointed - 28 Apr 1964 Appointed, Archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão)
Walfrido Teixeira Vieira † (6 Jan 1965 Appointed - 18 Mar 1998 Retired)
Aldo di Cillo Pagotto, S.S.S. † (18 Mar 1998 Succeeded - 5 May 2004 Appointed, Archbishop of Paraíba)
Fernando Antônio Saburido, O.S.B. (18 May 2005 Appointed - 1 Jul 2009 Appointed, Archbishop of Olinda e Recife, Pernambuco)
Odelir José Magri, M.C.C.I. (11 Oct 2010 Appointed - 3 Dec 2014 Appointed, Bishop of Chapecó, Santa Catarina)
José Luiz Gomes de Vasconcelos (8 Jul 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 November 1915	Erected	Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará) (Western part)	Diocese of Sobral (erected)
28 September 1963	Territory Lost	Diocese of Iguatu Diocese of Sobral	Diocese of Crateús (erected)
13 March 1971	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Fortaleza (Apuiarés, General Sampaio, Irauçaba, Itapagé, Itapipoca, Paracuru, Pentecoste, Sao Luís do Cura, Trairi, and Uruburetama) Diocese of Sobral (Itarema of Acaran)	Diocese of Itapipoca (erected)
13 March 1971	Territory Lost	Diocese of Sobral (Camocim, Carnaubal, Chaval, Granja, Gnaraciaba do Norte, Ibiapina, Sao Benedito, Tianguá, Ubajara, and Viçosa do Ceará)	Diocese of Tianguá (erected)

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

1950 1,000,000 1,140,000 87.7% 53 6 59 16,949 6 40 31 ap1951

1965 800,000 800,000 100.0% 62 10 72 11,111 26 215 32 ap1967

1970 750,000 800,000 93.8% 51 7 58 12,931 11 32 ap1971

1976 533,900 536,966 99.4% 34 2 36 14,830 4 125 21 ap1977

1980 496,000 606,000 81.8% 32 2 34 14,588 2 162 21 ap1981

1990 670,000 685,000 97.8% 39 2 41 16,341 3 89 23 ap1991

1998 712,344 818,293 87.1% 40 3 43 16,566 4 91 26 ap2001

1999 712,344 818,293 87.1% 40 3 43 16,566 4 91 26 ap2000

2001 723,856 843,004 85.9% 41 6 47 15,401 16 100 28 ap2002

2002 719,467 826,475 87.1% 38 4 42 17,130 12 92 26 ap2003

2003 719,481 863,713 83.3% 44 6 50 14,389 10 104 26 ap2004

2004 731,554 863,713 84.7% 48 6 54 13,547 15 110 26 ap2005

2010 777,000 917,000 84.7% 57 4 61 12,737 15 102 37 ap2011

2014 815,000 962,000 84.7% 67 4 71 11,478 9 105 38 ap2015

2017 835,860 986,445 84.7% 71 5 76 10,998 5 121 40 ap2018

2020 855,400 1,009,500 84.7% 73 4 77 11,109 4 122 44 ap2021

2022 868,000 1,025,000 84.7% 70 4 74 11,729 4 122 45 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	1,000,000	1,140,000	87.7%	53	6	59	16,949	6	40	31	ap1951
1965	800,000	800,000	100.0%	62	10	72	11,111	26	215	32	ap1967
1970	750,000	800,000	93.8%	51	7	58	12,931	11		32	ap1971
1976	533,900	536,966	99.4%	34	2	36	14,830	4	125	21	ap1977
1980	496,000	606,000	81.8%	32	2	34	14,588	2	162	21	ap1981
1990	670,000	685,000	97.8%	39	2	41	16,341	3	89	23	ap1991
1998	712,344	818,293	87.1%	40	3	43	16,566	4	91	26	ap2001
1999	712,344	818,293	87.1%	40	3	43	16,566	4	91	26	ap2000
2001	723,856	843,004	85.9%	41	6	47	15,401	16	100	28	ap2002
2002	719,467	826,475	87.1%	38	4	42	17,130	12	92	26	ap2003
2003	719,481	863,713	83.3%	44	6	50	14,389	10	104	26	ap2004
2004	731,554	863,713	84.7%	48	6	54	13,547	15	110	26	ap2005
2010	777,000	917,000	84.7%	57	4	61	12,737	15	102	37	ap2011
2014	815,000	962,000	84.7%	67	4	71	11,478	9	105	38	ap2015
2017	835,860	986,445	84.7%	71	5	76	10,998	5	121	40	ap2018
2020	855,400	1,009,500	84.7%	73	4	77	11,109	4	122	44	ap2021
2022	868,000	1,025,000	84.7%	70	4	74	11,729	4	122	45	ap2023