Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques

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Bishop(s) Ramiro Díaz Sánchez, O.M.I., Vicar Apostolic Agustín Romualdo Alvarez Rodríguez, O.F.M. Cap., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic Erected: 26 May 1943 Vicariate Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Venezuela Square Kilometers: 25,500 (9,849 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Plaza Bolivar, Machiques 4021, Est. Zulia, Venezuela Telephone: (063)73-0437; 73-4390 Fax: 73-4041

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Ángel Turrado Moreno, O.F.M. Cap. † (4 Sep 1944 Appointed - Jan 1954 Resigned)
• Miguel Saturnino Aurrecoechea Palacios, O.F.M. Cap. † (19 Dec 1955 Appointed - 10 Mar 1986 Retired)
• Agustín Romualdo Alvarez Rodríguez, O.F.M. Cap. (10 Mar 1986 Appointed - 7 Oct 1995 Resigned)
• Ramiro Díaz Sánchez, O.M.I. (24 Jan 1997 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
26 May 1943	Erected	Diocese of Zulia	Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques (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	44,361	47,011	94.4%		10	10	4,436		15	17	6	ap1951
1966	91,389	94,691	96.5%	3	11	14	6,527		15	46	11	ap1967
1970	92,400	98,500	93.8%	5	10	15	6,160		17	46	12	ap1971
1976	125,000	150,000	83.3%	4	18	22	5,681		27	42	13	ap1977
1980	145,000	174,000	83.3%	3	20	23	6,304		36	41	13	ap1981
1990	200,000	245,000	81.6%	2	21	23	8,695		30	40	17	ap1991
1999	225,000	250,000	90.0%	4	10	14	16,071	1	12	30	10	ap2000
2000	225,000	250,000	90.0%	4	9	13	17,307	3	19	31	10	ap2001
2001	220,000	260,000	84.6%	4	10	14	15,714	1	14	30	12	ap2002
2002	220,000	260,000	84.6%	5	13	18	12,222	1	23	33	12	ap2003
2003	230,000	275,000	83.6%	7	13	20	11,500	1	25	35	12	ap2004
2004	250,000	290,000	86.2%	9	10	19	13,157	1	18	38	14	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Agustín Romualdo Alvarez Rodríguez, O.F.M. Cap. (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Mar 1986 to 7 Oct 1995)
• Miguel Saturnino Aurrecoechea Palacios, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Dec 1955 to 10 Mar 1986)
• Ramiro Díaz Sánchez, O.M.I. (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Jan 1997)
• Ángel Turrado Moreno, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Sep 1944 to Jan 1954)