Diocese of Colima

Dioecesis Colimensis

Bishop(s)

José Luis Amezcua Melgoza, Bishop
Rogelio Sánchez González, Bishop Emeritus
Gilberto Valbuena Sánchez, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 11 December 1881
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Guadalajara
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Colima
Country: México
Square Kilometers: 11,391 (4,399 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Occidente
Mailing Address: Palacio Episcopal, Hidalgo 135, Apdo. 1, 28000 Colima, Col., México
Telephone: (312)312-02-62
Fax: 312-43-44

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francisco Melitón Vargas y Gutiérrez † (15 Mar 1883 Appointed - 1 Jun 1888 Appointed, Bishop of Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala)
Francisco de Paula Díaz y Montes † (27 May 1889 Appointed - 14 Apr 1891 Died)
Atenógenes Silva y Álvarez Tostado † (11 Jul 1892 Appointed - 21 Aug 1900 Appointed, Archbishop of Michoacán, Michoacán)
José Amador Velasco y Peña † (17 Jul 1903 Appointed - 30 Jun 1949 Died)
Ignacio de Alba y Hernández † (30 Jun 1949 Succeeded - 25 Jul 1967 Retired)
Leonardo Viera Contreras † (25 Jul 1967 Appointed - 25 Mar 1972 Appointed, Bishop of Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco)
Rogelio Sánchez González (23 Jul 1972 Appointed - 8 Feb 1980 Resigned)
José Fernández Arteaga (8 Feb 1980 Appointed - 20 Dec 1988 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Chihuahua, Chihuahua)
Gilberto Valbuena Sánchez (8 Jul 1989 Appointed - 9 Jun 2005 Retired)
José Luis Amezcua Melgoza (9 Jun 2005 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
11 December 1881	Erected	Archdiocese of Guadalajara	Diocese of Colima (erected)
28 January 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Colima Archdiocese of Guadalajara	Diocese of Autlán (erected)
13 January 1962	Territory Lost	Diocese of Colima Archdiocese of Durango Diocese of Zacatecas	Territorial Prelature of Jesús María (del Nayar) (erected)
30 April 1962	Territory Lost	Diocese of Colima Diocese of Tacámbaro	Diocese of Apatzingan (erected)
25 March 1972	Territory Lost	Diocese of Colima Archdiocese of Guadalajara	Diocese of Ciudad Guzmán (erected)
25 March 1972	Territory Lost	Diocese of Colima Archdiocese of Guadalajara	Diocese of San Juan de los Lagos (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1950 280,000 281,000 99.6% 92 92 3,043 151 30 ap1951

1966 375,745 387,262 97.0% 160 2 162 2,319 6 221 33 ap1967

1970 449,768 .0% 131 3 134 0 5 291 35 ap1971

1976 380,504 422,784 90.0% 112 5 117 3,252 12 200 39 ap1977

1980 466,500 490,000 95.2% 106 6 112 4,165 6 193 41 ap1981

1990 563,171 672,473 83.7% 101 7 108 5,214 7 173 45 ap1991

1999 549,534 676,965 81.2% 129 9 138 3,982 15 232 51 ap2000

2000 608,972 676,636 90.0% 125 9 134 4,544 14 209 52 ap2001

2001 621,152 690,168 90.0% 124 9 133 4,670 14 212 52 ap2002

2002 633,636 697,069 90.9% 123 9 132 4,800 14 211 52 ap2003

2003 639,338 704,039 90.8% 122 8 130 4,917 18 248 52 ap2004

2004 645,092 711,079 90.7% 124 7 131 4,924 12 238 52 ap2005

2006 591,262 649,739 91.0% 128 7 135 4,379 14 229 52 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	280,000	281,000	99.6%	92		92	3,043		151	30	ap1951
1966	375,745	387,262	97.0%	160	2	162	2,319	6	221	33	ap1967
1970		449,768	.0%	131	3	134	0	5	291	35	ap1971
1976	380,504	422,784	90.0%	112	5	117	3,252	12	200	39	ap1977
1980	466,500	490,000	95.2%	106	6	112	4,165	6	193	41	ap1981
1990	563,171	672,473	83.7%	101	7	108	5,214	7	173	45	ap1991
1999	549,534	676,965	81.2%	129	9	138	3,982	15	232	51	ap2000
2000	608,972	676,636	90.0%	125	9	134	4,544	14	209	52	ap2001
2001	621,152	690,168	90.0%	124	9	133	4,670	14	212	52	ap2002
2002	633,636	697,069	90.9%	123	9	132	4,800	14	211	52	ap2003
2003	639,338	704,039	90.8%	122	8	130	4,917	18	248	52	ap2004
2004	645,092	711,079	90.7%	124	7	131	4,924	12	238	52	ap2005
2006	591,262	649,739	91.0%	128	7	135	4,379	14	229	52	ap2007

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

José Luis Amezcua Melgoza (Bishop: 9 Jun 2005)
José Fernández Arteaga (Bishop: 8 Feb 1980 to 20 Dec 1988)
Rogelio Sánchez González (Bishop: 23 Jul 1972 to 8 Feb 1980)
Gilberto Valbuena Sánchez (Bishop: 8 Jul 1989 to 9 Jun 2005)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Ignacio de Alba y Hernández † (Coadjutor Bishop: 29 Apr 1939; Bishop: 30 Jun 1949 to 25 Jul 1967)
Francisco de Paula Díaz y Montes † (Bishop: 27 May 1889 to 14 Apr 1891)
Atenógenes Silva y Álvarez Tostado † (Bishop: 11 Jul 1892 to 21 Aug 1900)
Francisco Melitón Vargas y Gutiérrez † (Bishop: 15 Mar 1883 to 1 Jun 1888)
José Amador Velasco y Peña † (Bishop: 17 Jul 1903 to 30 Jun 1949)
Leonardo Viera Contreras † (Priest: 30 May 1931; Bishop: 25 Jul 1967 to 25 Mar 1972)

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