Diocese of Barrancabermeja

---

Bishop(s) Jaime Prieto Amaya, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 27 October 1962 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bucaramanga Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Colombia Square Kilometers: 15,000 (5,793 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Carrera 16 N. 48-19, Barrancabermega, Santander, Colombia Telephone: (97) 622-3499 Fax: 622-4858

Historical Details

• Territorial Prelature of Río Magdalena
  • Erected: 2 April 1928
  • Country: Colombia

• Vicariate Apostolic of Barrancabermeja
  • Latin Name: Barrancabermeiensis
  • Elevated: 18 April 1950
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Colombia

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Carlo Ilario Currea, S.J. † (8 Jan 1929 Appointed - 1932 Died)
• Raffaello Toro, S.J. † (20 Feb 1932 Appointed - 1947 Died)
• Bernardo Arango Henao, S.J. † ( 1947 Appointed - 23 Dec 1983 Retired)
• Juan Francisco Sarasti Jaramillo, C.I.M. (23 Dec 1983 Appointed - 25 Mar 1993 Appointed, Archbishop of Ibagué)
• Jaime Prieto Amaya (11 Nov 1993 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Río Magdalena
2 April 1928	Erected	Diocese of Nueva Pamplona Diocese of Socorro y San Gil	Territorial Prelature of Río Magdalena (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Barrancabermeja
18 April 1950	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Río Magdalena	Vicariate Apostolic of Barrancabermeja
Diocese of Barrancabermeja
27 October 1962	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Barrancabermeja	Diocese of Barrancabermeja
29 March 1984	Territory Lost	Diocese of Barrancabermeja Diocese of Facatativá Archdiocese of Manizales	Diocese of La Dorada-Guaduas (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
Vicariate Apostolic of Barrancabermeja
1950	68,000	68,000	100.0%		12	12	5,666		21	42	6	ap1951
Diocese of Barrancabermeja
1966	291,000	294,000	99.0%	31	16	47	6,191		26	130	24	ap1967
1970	317,000	321,000	98.8%	34	12	46	6,891		16	148	27	ap1971
1976	360,000	371,000	97.0%	35	11	46	7,826		13	125	28	ap1977
1980	396,000	409,000	96.8%	33	10	43	9,209		12	108	28	ap1981
1990	385,000	444,000	86.7%	31	11	42	9,166		12	119	27	ap1991
1999	410,000	525,000	78.1%	41	14	55	7,454		16	95	28	ap2000
2000	380,000	520,000	73.1%	44	13	57	6,666	1	13	91	28	ap2001
2001	390,000	530,000	73.6%	48	14	62	6,290	1	14	86	30	ap2002
2002	380,000	530,000	71.7%	43	14	57	6,666	1	14	85	30	ap2003
2003	350,000	530,000	66.0%	47	10	57	6,140		10	82	33	ap2004
2004	320,000	540,000	59.3%	50	10	60	5,333		10	80	33	ap2005

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

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Bernardo Arango Henao, S.J. † (Prefect: 1947; Vicar Apostolic: 18 Apr 1950; Bishop: 27 Oct 1962 to 23 Dec 1983)
• Carlo Ilario Currea, S.J. † (Prefect: 8 Jan 1929 to 1932)
• José Figueroa Gómez (Priest: 9 Sep 1972 to 8 Aug 2002)
• Jaime Prieto Amaya (Bishop: 11 Nov 1993 - )
• Juan Francisco Sarasti Jaramillo, C.I.M. (Bishop: 23 Dec 1983 to 25 Mar 1993)
• Raffaello Toro, S.J. † (Prefect: 20 Feb 1932 to 1947)