Diocese of Bissau

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Bishop(s) José Câmnate na Bissign, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 21 March 1977 Immediately Subject to the Holy See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Guinea-Bissau Square Kilometers: 11,490 (4,438 Square Miles) Mailing Address: C.P. 20, Av. 14 de Novembro, 1001 Bissau CODEX, Guine-Bissau Telephone: 25.10.57 Fax: 25.10.58

Historical Details

• Mission "Sui Iuris" of Guinea Portoghese
  • Latin Name: Guineae Lusitanae
  • Erected: 4 September 1940
  • Country: Guinea-Bissau

• Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea Portoghese
  • Latin Name: Guineae Lusitanae
  • Elevated: 29 April 1955
  • Country: Guinea-Bissau

• Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea-Bissau
  • Latin Name: Guineae-Bissagensis
  • Name Changed: 1 January 1975
  • Country: Guinea-Bissau

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Giuseppe Ribeiro de Magalhaes, O.F.M. † (20 Jun 1941 Appointed - 1953 Died)
• Martinho da Silva Carvalhosa, O.F.M. † ( 1953 Appointed - 1963 Died)
• João Ferreira, O.F.M. † (25 Jan 1963 Appointed - 1965 Died)
• Amândio Domingues Neto, O.F.M. † (4 Apr 1966 Appointed - 1977 Resigned)
• Settimio Arturo Ferrazzetta, O.F.M. † (21 Mar 1977 Appointed - 26 Jan 1999 Died)
• José Câmnate na Bissign (15 Oct 1999 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Guinea Portoghese
4 September 1940	Erected	Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Guinea Portoghese (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea Portoghese
29 April 1955	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Guinea Portoghese	Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea Portoghese
Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea-Bissau
1 January 1975	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea Portoghese	Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea-Bissau
Diocese of Bissau
21 March 1977	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea-Bissau	Diocese of Bissau
13 March 2001	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bissau	Diocese of Bafatá (erected)

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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
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Guinea Portoghese
1950	8,139	359,124	2.3%	1	17	18	452		7	12	6	ap1951
Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea Portoghese
1970	29,007	559,560	5.2%		28	28	1,035		38	23	15	ap1971
Prefecture Apostolic of Guinea-Bissau
Diocese of Bissau
1980	45,300	560,000	8.1%		37	37	1,224		48	22	13	ap1981
1990	66,000	969,000	6.8%	2	50	52	1,269	1	67	79	27	ap1991
1999	135,252	1,040,400	13.0%	13	52	65	2,080		66	123	29	ap2000
2000	138,000	1,060,800	13.0%	12	55	67	2,059		68	129	29	ap2001
2001	105,000	650,000	16.2%	9	41	50	2,100		51	53	13	ap2002
2002	110,600	1,082,000	10.2%	10	58	68	1,626		73	110	20	ap2003
2003	120,000	1,200,000	10.0%	12	54	66	1,818		70	102	25	ap2004
2004	89,000	810,000	11.0%	7	48	55	1,618		69	101	24	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Martinho da Silva Carvalhosa, O.F.M. † (Superior: 1953; Prefect: 1 May 1955 to 1963)
• Settimio Arturo Ferrazzetta, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 21 Mar 1977 to 26 Jan 1999)
• João Ferreira, O.F.M. † (Prefect: 25 Jan 1963 to 1965)
• José Câmnate na Bissign (Bishop: 15 Oct 1999 - )
• Amândio Domingues Neto, O.F.M. † (Prefect: 4 Apr 1966 to 1977)
• Giuseppe Ribeiro de Magalhaes, O.F.M. † (Prefect: 20 Jun 1941 to 1953)