Diocese of Lorena

Dioecesis Lorenensis

Bishop(s)

Benedito Beni dos Santos, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 31 July 1937
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Aparecida
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Sao Paulo
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 5,055 (1,952 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Sul 1
Mailing Address: Rua Hepacare 59, 12600-000 Lorena, SP, Brazil
Telephone: (012) 553-1256

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francisco do Borja Pereira do Amaral † (21 Dec 1940 Appointed - 3 Oct 1944 Appointed, Bishop of Taubaté, Sao Paulo)
Luís Gonzaga Peluso † (13 Jun 1946 Appointed - 25 Jul 1959 Appointed, Bishop of Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, Espirito Santo)
José Melhado Campos † (29 May 1960 Appointed - 22 Feb 1965 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Sorocaba)
Cândido Rubens Padín, O.S.B. † (3 Jan 1966 Appointed - 27 Apr 1970 Appointed, Bishop of Bauru, Sao Paulo)
Antônio Afonso de Miranda, S.D.N. (3 Nov 1971 Appointed - 11 Jul 1977 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Campanha, Minas Gerais)
João Hipólito de Morais † (11 Jul 1977 Appointed - 10 Jan 2001 Retired)
Eduardo Benes de Sales Rodrigues (10 Jan 2001 Appointed - 4 May 2005 Appointed, Archbishop of Sorocaba, Sao Paulo)
Benedito Beni dos Santos (26 Apr 2006 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
31 July 1937	Erected	Diocese of Taubaté	Diocese of Lorena (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 23,000 14 14 1,642 90 25 13 ap1951

1966 180,000 190,000 94.7% 13 32 45 4,000 109 87 15 ap1967

1968 190,000 210,000 90.5% 11 23 34 5,588 30 61 13 ap1971

1976 180,000 200,000 90.0% 9 32 41 4,390 139 95 16 ap1977

1980 204,000 228,000 89.5% 12 27 39 5,230 90 71 15 ap1981

1990 249,000 265,000 94.0% 15 25 40 6,225 1 47 77 19 ap1991

1999 289,000 306,000 94.4% 27 16 43 6,720 18 94 36 23 ap2000

2000 195,000 254,000 76.8% 27 18 45 4,333 18 35 34 23 ap2001

2001 193,000 254,000 76.0% 27 18 45 4,288 19 38 45 23 ap2002

2002 200,000 260,911 76.7% 31 14 45 4,444 17 123 37 23 ap2003

2003 200,000 265,000 75.5% 31 14 45 4,444 17 100 37 23 ap2004

2004 198,936 263,590 75.5% 32 14 46 4,324 15 29 37 26 ap2005

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	23,000			14		14	1,642		90	25	13	ap1951
1966	180,000	190,000	94.7%	13	32	45	4,000		109	87	15	ap1967
1968	190,000	210,000	90.5%	11	23	34	5,588		30	61	13	ap1971
1976	180,000	200,000	90.0%	9	32	41	4,390		139	95	16	ap1977
1980	204,000	228,000	89.5%	12	27	39	5,230		90	71	15	ap1981
1990	249,000	265,000	94.0%	15	25	40	6,225	1	47	77	19	ap1991
1999	289,000	306,000	94.4%	27	16	43	6,720	18	94	36	23	ap2000
2000	195,000	254,000	76.8%	27	18	45	4,333	18	35	34	23	ap2001
2001	193,000	254,000	76.0%	27	18	45	4,288	19	38	45	23	ap2002
2002	200,000	260,911	76.7%	31	14	45	4,444	17	123	37	23	ap2003
2003	200,000	265,000	75.5%	31	14	45	4,444	17	100	37	23	ap2004
2004	198,936	263,590	75.5%	32	14	46	4,324	15	29	37	26	ap2005

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Antônio Afonso de Miranda, S.D.N. (Bishop: 3 Nov 1971 to 11 Jul 1977)
Benedito Beni dos Santos (Bishop: 26 Apr 2006)
Eduardo Benes de Sales Rodrigues (Bishop: 10 Jan 2001 to 4 May 2005)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

João Hipólito de Morais † (Bishop: 11 Jul 1977 to 10 Jan 2001)
José Melhado Campos † (Bishop: 29 May 1960 to 22 Feb 1965)
Cândido Rubens Padín, O.S.B. † (Bishop: 3 Jan 1966 to 27 Apr 1970)
Luís Gonzaga Peluso † (Bishop: 13 Jun 1946 to 25 Jul 1959)
Francisco do Borja Pereira do Amaral † (Bishop: 21 Dec 1940 to 3 Oct 1944)