Diocese of Barra do Piraí-Volta Redonda

---

Bishop(s) João Maria Messi, O.S.M., Bishop Waldyr Calheiros Novaes (de Novais), Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 26 January 1965 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Rio de Janeiro Country: Brazil Square Kilometers: 4,768 (1,841 Square Miles) Conference Region: Leste 1 Mailing Address: C.P. 84023, Rua 25 B. n. 44 - Praca, Brazil, 27251-970 Volta Redonda, RJ, Brazil Telephone: (024) 348-1139 Fax: 348-5161

Historical Details

• Diocese of Barra do Piraí
  • Latin Name: Barrensis de Pirai
  • Erected: 4 December 1922
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
  • Country: Brazil

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Guilherme Müller † (14 Dec 1925 Appointed - 11 Dec 1935 Died)
• José André Coimbra † (26 Feb 1938 Appointed - 8 Jun 1955 Appointed, Bishop of Patos de Minas)
• Agnelo Rossi † (5 Mar 1956 Appointed - 6 Sep 1962 Appointed, Archbishop of Ribeirão Preto)
• Altivo Pacheco Ribeiro † (4 Apr 1963 Appointed - 27 Jun 1966 Appointed, Bishop of Araçuaí (Arassuaí))
• Waldyr Calheiros Novaes (de Novais) (20 Oct 1966 Appointed - 17 Nov 1999 Retired)
• João Maria Messi, O.S.M. (17 Nov 1999 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Barra do Piraí
4 December 1922	Erected	Diocese of Niterói (Nictheroy; Petrópolis)	Diocese of Barra do Piraí (erected)
27 March 1925	Territory Lost	Diocese of Barra do Piraí	Diocese of Valença (erected)
13 April 1946	Territory Lost	Diocese of Barra do Piraí Diocese of Niterói (Nictheroy; Petrópolis)	Diocese of Petrópolis (erected)
26 March 1960	Territory Lost	Diocese of Barra do Piraí Diocese of Petrópolis	Diocese of Nova Friburgo (erected)
Diocese of Barra do Piraí-Volta Redonda
26 January 1965	Name Changed	Diocese of Barra do Piraí	Diocese of Barra do Piraí-Volta Redonda
14 March 1980	Territory Lost	Diocese of Barra do Piraí-Volta Redonda Diocese of Nova Iguaçu	Diocese of Itaguaí (erected)

---

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 Barra do Piraí
1950	350,000	400,000	87.5%	31	19	50	7,000		20	71	34	ap1951
1959	650,000	800,000	81.3%	40	65	105	6,190		90	135	49	ap1960
Diocese of Barra do Piraí-Volta Redonda
1966	600,000	600,000	100.0%	23	31	54	11,111		35	62	32	ap1967
1970	300,000	500,000	60.0%	23	32	55	5,454		43	95	42	ap1971
1976	337,000	524,000	64.3%	20	28	48	7,020	3	34	153	26	ap1977
1980	375,000	608,060	61.7%	22	30	52	7,211	4	49	92	26	ap1981
1990	688,224	770,708	89.3%	27	21	48	14,338	3	51	112	26	ap1991
1999	592,605	790,140	75.0%	28	15	43	13,781	2	25	101	20	ap2000
2000	563,507	751,343	75.0%	28	19	47	11,989	2	29	95	22	ap2001
2001	556,525	742,034	75.0%	26	19	45	12,367	2	28	101	22	ap2002
2002	556,525	742,034	75.0%	26	17	43	12,942	2	18	99	22	ap2003
2003	556,525	742,034	75.0%	27	16	43	12,942	2	19	94	22	ap2004
2004	556,525	742,034	75.0%	28	15	43	12,942	3	18	84	22	ap2005

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

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Waldyr Calheiros Novaes (de Novais) (Bishop: 20 Oct 1966 to 17 Nov 1999)
• José André Coimbra † (Bishop: 26 Feb 1938 to 8 Jun 1955)
• João Maria Messi, O.S.M. (Bishop: 17 Nov 1999)
• Guilherme Müller † (Bishop: 14 Dec 1925 to 11 Dec 1935)
• Altivo Pacheco Ribeiro † (Bishop: 4 Apr 1963 to 27 Jun 1966)
• Agnelo Rossi † (Bishop: 5 Mar 1956 to 6 Sep 1962)
• Vital João Geraldo Wilderink, O. Carm. (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Jun 1978 to 21 Apr 1980)