Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca

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Bishop(s) Guillermo José Garlatti, Archbishop Pedro María Laxague, Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Mayer, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Alto Valle del Río Negro Comodoro Rivadavia Río Gallegos San Carlos de Bariloche Santa Rosa Viedma

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 11 February 1957 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Argentina Square Kilometers: 82,624 (31,913 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Arzobispado, Avenida Colon 164, B8000FTO Bahia Blanca [Buenos Aires], Argentina Telephone: (0291)455.07.07 Fax: (same)

Historical Details

• Diocese of Bahía Blanca
  • Latin Name: Sinus Albi
  • Erected: 20 April 1934
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of La Plata
  • Country: Argentina

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Leandro Bautista Astelarra † (13 Sep 1934 Appointed - 24 Aug 1943 Died)
• Germiniano Esorto † (2 Nov 1946 Appointed - 31 May 1972 Retired)
• Jorge Mayer (31 May 1972 Appointed - 31 May 1991 Retired)
• Rómulo García † (31 May 1991 Appointed - 15 Jun 2002 Retired)
• Guillermo José Garlatti (11 Mar 2003 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Bahía Blanca
20 April 1934	Erected	Diocese of La Plata	Diocese of Bahía Blanca (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bahía Blanca Archdiocese of La Plata	Diocese of Mar del Plata (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bahía Blanca Diocese of Mercedes	Diocese of Santa Rosa (erected)
Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca
11 February 1957	Elevated	Diocese of Bahía Blanca	Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca

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Statistics

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 Bahía Blanca
1950	500,000	560,000	89.3%	51	46	97	5,154		73	280	47	ap1951
Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca
1959	460,000	485,000	94.8%	51	86	137	3,357		61	374	44	ap1960
1966	460,000	500,000	92.0%	62	87	149	3,087		65	368	50	ap1967
1970	460,000	500,000	92.0%	54	94	148	3,108		94	404	48	ap1971
1976	540,000	600,000	90.0%	46	90	136	3,970		115	385	46	ap1977
1980	608,000	675,000	90.1%	43	86	129	4,713		111	377	59	ap1981
1990	703,000	780,000	90.1%	45	69	114	6,166		92	272	60	ap1991
1999	616,000	725,000	85.0%	52	61	113	5,451	2	90	216	57	ap2000
2000	624,000	734,000	85.0%	48	62	110	5,672	2	92	230	58	ap2001
2001	595,000	700,000	85.0%	48	72	120	4,958	7	91	204	56	ap2002
2002	595,000	700,000	85.0%	50	69	119	5,000	16	87	187	56	ap2003
2003	595,000	700,000	85.0%	51	67	118	5,042	16	82	201	56	ap2004
2004	595,000	700,000	85.0%	50	61	111	5,360	16	78	204	46	ap2005
2006	595,000	700,000	85.0%	54	49	103	5,776	15	58	253	56	ap2007

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Leandro Bautista Astelarra † (Bishop: 13 Sep 1934 to 24 Aug 1943)
• Germiniano Esorto † (Bishop: 2 Nov 1946; Archbishop: 13 Mar 1957 to 31 May 1972)
• Rómulo García † (Archbishop: 31 May 1991 to 15 Jun 2002)
• Guillermo José Garlatti (Archbishop: 11 Mar 2003 - )
• Pedro María Laxague (Priest: 15 Jul 1989; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Nov 2006)
• Jorge Mayer (Archbishop: 31 May 1972 to 31 May 1991)
• Néstor Hugo Navarro (Priest: 21 Dec 1968; Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Apr 1998 to 19 Mar 2003)
• Emilio Ogñénovich (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Oct 1979 to 8 Jun 1982)
• José Vittorio Tommasí † (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Nov 1984 to 28 Aug 1991)