Villavicencio (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Oscar Urbina Ortega, Archbishop
Alfonso Cabezas Aristizábal, C.M., Bishop Emeritus
Gregorio Garavito Jiménez, S.M.M., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 3 July 2004
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 65,470 (25,287 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Carrera 39 N. 34-19, Apartado aereo 2401, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia
Telephone: (98)6630.337
Fax: 6653.200

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Intendencias Orientales
- Erected: 23 June 1903
- Country: Colombia
Vicariate Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Piani di San Martino)
- Latin Name: Sancti Martini
- Elevated: 16 March 1908
- Vicariate
- Country: Colombia
Vicariate Apostolic of Villavicencio
- Latin Name: Villavicentiensis
- Name Changed: 9 June 1949
- Vicariate
- Country: Colombia
Diocese of Villavicencio
- Latin Name: Villavicentiensis
- Elevated: 11 February 1964
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bogotá
- Country: Colombia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph-Marie-Désiré Guiot, S.M.M. † (4 Apr 1908 Appointed - 24 Jun 1939 Retired)
Frans Joseph Bruls Canisius, S.M.M. † (27 Jun 1939 Succeeded - 26 Apr 1969 Resigned)
Gregorio Garavito Jiménez, S.M.M. (26 Apr 1969 Appointed - 3 May 1994 Retired)
Alfonso Cabezas Aristizábal, C.M. (3 May 1994 Succeeded - 16 Jun 2001 Resigned)
José Octavio Ruiz Arenas (16 Jul 2002 Appointed - 31 May 2007 Appointed, Vice President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America)
Oscar Urbina Ortega (30 Nov 2007 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Intendencias Orientales
23 June 1903	Erected	Archdiocese of Bogotá	Territorial Prelature of Intendencias Orientales (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Piani di San Martino)
16 March 1908	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Intendencias Orientales	Vicariate Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Piani di San Martino)
9 June 1949	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Piani di San Martino)	Prefecture Apostolic of Mitú (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Villavicencio
9 June 1949	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Piani di San Martino)	Vicariate Apostolic of Villavicencio
16 January 1964	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Villavicencio	Prefecture Apostolic of Ariari (erected)
Diocese of Villavicencio
11 February 1964	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Villavicencio	Diocese of Villavicencio
Archdiocese of Villavicencio
3 July 2004	Elevated	Diocese of Villavicencio	Archdiocese of Villavicencio

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

Vicariate Apostolic of Villavicencio

1950 62,000 70,000 88.6% 25 25 2,480 41 26 10 ap1951

Diocese of Villavicencio

1966 160,000 161,000 99.4% 1 36 37 4,324 16 84 22 ap1967

1970 195,000 200,000 97.5% 4 35 39 5,000 44 88 32 ap1971

1976 275,500 290,000 95.0% 9 37 46 5,989 51 44 31 ap1977

1980 341,999 370,000 92.4% 13 33 46 7,434 4 49 60 32 ap1981

1990 498,000 525,000 94.9% 36 21 57 8,736 6 30 47 48 ap1991

1999 518,000 595,000 87.1% 96 28 124 4,177 10 78 52 86 ap2000

2000 468,000 520,000 90.0% 138 34 172 2,720 10 92 54 96 ap2001

2001 491,217 512,320 95.9% 120 20 140 3,508 13 84 33 117 ap2002

2002 525,000 540,000 97.2% 117 20 137 3,832 13 29 33 111 ap2003

2003 465,000 480,000 96.9% 125 16 141 3,297 13 25 30 115 ap2004

Archdiocese of Villavicencio

2004 506,000 540,000 93.7% 142 21 163 3,104 13 30 46 118 ap2005

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Villavicencio
1950	62,000	70,000	88.6%		25	25	2,480		41	26	10	ap1951
Diocese of Villavicencio
1966	160,000	161,000	99.4%	1	36	37	4,324		16	84	22	ap1967
1970	195,000	200,000	97.5%	4	35	39	5,000		44	88	32	ap1971
1976	275,500	290,000	95.0%	9	37	46	5,989		51	44	31	ap1977
1980	341,999	370,000	92.4%	13	33	46	7,434	4	49	60	32	ap1981
1990	498,000	525,000	94.9%	36	21	57	8,736	6	30	47	48	ap1991
1999	518,000	595,000	87.1%	96	28	124	4,177	10	78	52	86	ap2000
2000	468,000	520,000	90.0%	138	34	172	2,720	10	92	54	96	ap2001
2001	491,217	512,320	95.9%	120	20	140	3,508	13	84	33	117	ap2002
2002	525,000	540,000	97.2%	117	20	137	3,832	13	29	33	111	ap2003
2003	465,000	480,000	96.9%	125	16	141	3,297	13	25	30	115	ap2004
Archdiocese of Villavicencio
2004	506,000	540,000	93.7%	142	21	163	3,104	13	30	46	118	ap2005

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Alfonso Cabezas Aristizábal, C.M. (Coadjutor Bishop: 13 May 1992; Bishop: 3 May 1994 to 16 Jun 2001)
Gregorio Garavito Jiménez, S.M.M. (Auxiliary Bishop: 4 Dec 1961; Bishop: 26 Apr 1969 to 3 May 1994)
José Octavio Ruiz Arenas (Bishop: 16 Jul 2002; Archbishop: 3 Jul 2004 to 31 May 2007)
Oscar Urbina Ortega (Archbishop: 30 Nov 2007 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Frans Joseph Bruls Canisius, S.M.M. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 7 Jan 1939; Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jun 1939; Bishop: 11 Feb 1964 to 26 Apr 1969)
Joseph-Marie-Désiré Guiot, S.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Apr 1908 to 24 Jun 1939)

Archdiocese of Villavicencio

Archidioecesis Villavicentiensis