Diocese of Crato

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Bishop(s) Fernando Panico, M.S.C., Bishop Newton Holanda Gurgel, Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 20 October 1914 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fortaleza Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Ceara Country: Brazil Square Kilometers: 18,645 (7,201 Square Miles) Conference Region: Nordeste 1 Mailing Address: C.P. 20, Rua Dom Quintino 808, 63100-000 Crato, CE, Brazil Telephone: (088) 521-1110 Fax: 521-2215

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Quintino Rodrigo de Oliveira e Silva † (10 Mar 1915 Appointed - 29 Dec 1929 Died)
• Francisco de Assis Pires † (11 Aug 1931 Appointed - 11 Jul 1959 Retired)
• Vicente de Paulo Araújo Matos † (28 Jan 1961 Appointed - 1 Jun 1992 Retired)
• Newton Holanda Gurgel (24 Nov 1993 Appointed - 2 May 2001 Retired)
• Fernando Panico, M.S.C. (2 May 2001 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
20 October 1914	Erected	Diocese of Ceará	Diocese of Crato (erected)
28 January 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Crato Archdiocese of Fortaleza	Diocese of Iguatú (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
1950	624,400	625,000	99.9%	47	24	71	8,794		26	71	30	ap1951
1961	500,000				29	29	17,241		34	158	21	ap1967
1970	554,520	583,705	95.0%	51	21	72	7,701		29	145	35	ap1971
1976	597,000	631,166	94.6%	43	11	54	11,055		12	105	37	ap1977
1980	758,000	801,000	94.6%	39	12	51	14,862		24	105	39	ap1981
1990	848,000	891,000	95.2%	40	13	53	16,000		15	116	40	ap1991
1999	794,000	975,000	81.4%	54	14	68	11,676		24	109	46	ap2000
2000	799,000	987,000	81.0%	54	13	67	11,925		24	105	43	ap2001
2001	750,000	920,000	81.5%	54	12	66	11,363		24	95	43	ap2002
2002	750,000	920,000	81.5%	56	12	68	11,029		21	95	44	ap2003
2003	750,270	920,000	81.6%	65	14	79	9,497	6	17	136	44	ap2004
2004	750,000	920,000	81.5%	53	13	66	11,363	6	14	113	46	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Vicente de Paulo Araújo Matos † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Apr 1955; Bishop: 28 Jan 1961 to 1 Jun 1992)
• Joaquim Ferreira de Melo † (Priest: 6 Feb 1898 to 15 Mar 1921)
• Newton Holanda Gurgel (Priest: 17 Dec 1949; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Apr 1979; Bishop: 24 Nov 1993 to 2 May 2001)
• Quintino Rodrigo de Oliveira e Silva † (Bishop: 10 Mar 1915 to 29 Dec 1929)
• Fernando Panico, M.S.C. (Bishop: 2 May 2001)
• Francisco de Assis Pires † (Bishop: 11 Aug 1931 to 11 Jul 1959)