Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields

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Bishop(s) Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap., Vicar Apostolic David Albin Zywiec Sidor, O.F.M. Cap., Auxiliary Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic Erected: 2 December 1913 Vicariate Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Nicaragua Square Kilometers: 59,094 (22,825 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Apartado 8, Bluefields, Zelaya Norte, Nicaragua Telephone: 822.2361 Fax: 822.1068

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Agustín José Bernaus y Serra, O.F.M. Cap. † (10 Dec 1913 Appointed - 18 Jan 1930 Died)
• Juan (Matías) Solá y Farrell, O.F.M. Cap. † (24 Feb 1931 Appointed - 1942 Resigned)
• Matteo Aloisio Niedhammer y Yaeckle, O.F.M. Cap. † (11 May 1943 Appointed - 26 Jun 1970 Died)
• Salvador Albert Schlaefer Berg, O.F.M. Cap. † (25 Jun 1970 Appointed - 22 Oct 1993 Died)
• Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap. (28 Jul 1994 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
2 December 1913	Erected	Diocese of León en Nicaragua	Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields (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
1966	73,504	106,879	68.8%	1	32	33	2,227		6	53		ap1967*
1968	91,444	119,445	76.6%		31	31	2,949		46	51	14	ap1971
1976	201,529	266,719	75.6%	2	24	26	7,751	9	38	48	14	ap1977
1978	214,000	279,000	76.7%	2	8	10	21,400	13	30	42	15	ap1981
1990	239,000	343,000	69.7%	7	18	25	9,560	32	22	43	17	ap1991
1999	527,797	650,982	81.1%	16	12	28	18,849	28	14	62	14	ap2000
2000	536,000	661,000	81.1%	14	10	24	22,333	26	12	65	14	ap2001
2001	544,000	671,000	81.1%	13	11	24	22,666	23	13	56	14	ap2002
2002	377,000	464,968	81.1%	14	12	26	14,500	22	14	63	14	ap2003
2003	465,736	650,000	71.7%	17	15	32	14,554	19	20	68	14	ap2004
2004	475,505	662,357	71.8%	22	9	31	15,338	18	14	75	14	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Agustín José Bernaus y Serra, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Dec 1913 to 18 Jan 1930)
• Matteo Aloisio Niedhammer y Yaeckle, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 May 1943 to 26 Jun 1970)
• Salvador Albert Schlaefer Berg, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Jun 1970 to 22 Oct 1993)
• Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap. (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Jun 1984; Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jul 1994)
• Juan (Matías) Solá y Farrell, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Feb 1931 to 1942)
• David Albin Zywiec Sidor, O.F.M. Cap. (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jun 2002)