Diocese of Vacaria

---

Bishop(s) Vacant Orlando Octacílio Dotti, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 18 January 1957 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Porto Alegre Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Rio Grande do Sul Country: Brazil Square Kilometers: 15,932 (6,153 Square Miles) Conference Region: Sul 3 Mailing Address: C.P. 3, Rua Borges de Medeiros 11399, 95200-000 Vacaria, RS, Brazil Telephone: (054) 231-1373 Fax: 231-3017

Historical Details

• Territorial Prelature of Vacaria
  • Latin Name: Vaccariensis
  • Erected: 8 September 1934
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Porto Alegre
  • Country: Brazil

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Cândido Julio Bampi, O.F.M. Cap. † (27 Jun 1936 Appointed - 18 Jan 1957 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Caxias)
• Augusto Petró (16 May 1958 Appointed - 12 Mar 1964 Appointed, Bishop of Uruguaiana)
• Henrique Gelain † (28 Mar 1964 Appointed - 5 Feb 1986 Retired)
• Orlando Octacílio Dotti, O.F.M. Cap. (5 Feb 1986 Succeeded - 12 Nov 2003 Resigned)
• Pedro Sbalchiero Neto, M.S. † (12 Nov 2003 Succeeded - 3 Jul 2007 Died)

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Vacaria
8 September 1934	Erected	Archdiocese of Porto Alegre	Territorial Prelature of Vacaria (erected)
Diocese of Vacaria
18 January 1957	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Vacaria	Diocese of Vacaria

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Vacaria
1966	224,000	225,600	99.3%	9	41	50	4,480		53	256	22	ap1967
1970	249,400	250,000	99.8%	14	41	55	4,534	1	45	228	24	ap1971
1976	200,240	206,908	96.8%	16	44	60	3,337	2	48	173	24	ap1977
1980	218,576	235,000	93.0%	20	48	68	3,214		53	207	24	ap1981
1990	210,000	223,000	94.2%	21	37	58	3,620	4	50	193	26	ap1991
1999	183,500	197,500	92.9%	25	39	64	2,867	1	51	192	26	ap2000
2000	185,000	200,500	92.3%	29	33	62	2,983	1	43	174	27	ap2001
2001	180,000	197,500	91.1%	29	34	63	2,857	1	44	168	27	ap2002
2002	180,000	197,500	91.1%	31	33	64	2,812	1	45	169	28	ap2003
2003	180,000	198,700	90.6%	31	34	65	2,769	1	48	163	28	ap2004
2004	181,300	199,500	90.9%	31	34	65	2,789		44	156	28	ap2005

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

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Cândido Julio Bampi, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prelate: 27 Jun 1936 to 18 Jan 1957)
• Orlando Octacílio Dotti, O.F.M. Cap. (Coadjutor Bishop: 30 May 1983; Bishop: 5 Feb 1986 to 12 Nov 2003)
• Henrique Gelain † (Bishop: 28 Mar 1964 to 5 Feb 1986)
• Augusto Petró (Bishop: 16 May 1958 to 12 Mar 1964)
• Pedro Sbalchiero Neto, M.S. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 8 Jan 2003; Bishop: 12 Nov 2003 to 3 Jul 2007)