Celaya (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Víctor Alejandro Aguilar Ledesma, Bishop
José Benjamín Castillo Plascencia, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 13 October 1973
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of León
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Guanajuato
Country: México
Square Kilometers: 8,768 (3,386 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Bajío
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisdecelaya.org
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Manuel Doblado 110, 38000 Celaya, Gto., México
Telephone: (461)612-48-35

Past and Present Ordinaries

Victorino Alvarez Tena † (14 Feb 1974 Appointed - 4 Nov 1987 Died)
Jesús Humberto Velázquez Garay † (28 Apr 1988 Appointed - 26 Jul 2003 Resigned)
Lázaro Pérez Jiménez † (26 Jul 2003 Appointed - 25 Oct 2009 Died)
José Benjamín Castillo Plascencia (29 Apr 2010 Appointed - 12 Jun 2021 Retired)
Víctor Alejandro Aguilar Ledesma (12 Jun 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
13 October 1973	Erected	Diocese of León (Dolores Hidalgo, S. Diego de la Unión, S. Luis de la Paz. and S. Miguel Allende) Archdiocese of Morelia (Celaya, Apaseo ei Alto, Apaseo ei Grande, Comonfort, Cortázar, Juventino Rosas, and Villagrán)	Diocese of Celaya (erected)
5 November 1988	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Celaya (From Morelia (Mexico) to San Luis Potosi (Mexico))
26 November 1988	Territory Lost	Diocese of Celaya (Vicaria Fija (San Antón de los Martínez))	Archdiocese of San Luis Potosí
25 November 2006	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Celaya (from San Luis Potos¡)

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

1976 560,000 565,000 99.1% 102 44 146 3,835 57 453 30 ap1977

1980 693,000 730,000 94.9% 101 46 147 4,714 56 453 48 ap1981

1990 976,000 1,038,000 94.0% 102 53 155 6,296 71 440 52 ap1991

1999 1,143,410 1,158,561 98.7% 140 52 192 5,955 69 485 61 ap2000

2000 1,183,429 1,195,634 99.0% 149 54 203 5,829 68 552 62 ap2001

2001 1,137,456 1,218,341 93.4% 152 59 211 5,390 79 527 62 ap2002

2002 1,130,882 1,224,454 92.4% 153 57 210 5,385 1 125 541 62 ap2003

2003 1,208,161 1,285,386 94.0% 159 49 208 5,808 1 116 538 63 ap2004

2004 1,253,888 1,417,607 88.5% 159 49 208 6,028 107 557 63 ap2005

2006 1,388,386 1,528,051 90.9% 168 69 237 5,858 107 537 65 ap2007*

2013 1,516,000 1,658,000 91.4% 167 69 236 6,423 83 377 70 ap2014

2016 1,512,581 1,671,199 90.5% 175 43 218 6,938 68 388 75 ap2017

2019 1,548,200 1,742,650 88.8% 188 46 234 6,616 74 366 79 ap2020

2021 1,665,400 1,800,855 92.5% 203 66 269 6,191 97 348 83 ap2022

2023 1,692,400 1,829,500 92.5% 206 77 283 5,980 1 101 309 85 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1976	560,000	565,000	99.1%	102	44	146	3,835		57	453	30	ap1977
1980	693,000	730,000	94.9%	101	46	147	4,714		56	453	48	ap1981
1990	976,000	1,038,000	94.0%	102	53	155	6,296		71	440	52	ap1991
1999	1,143,410	1,158,561	98.7%	140	52	192	5,955		69	485	61	ap2000
2000	1,183,429	1,195,634	99.0%	149	54	203	5,829		68	552	62	ap2001
2001	1,137,456	1,218,341	93.4%	152	59	211	5,390		79	527	62	ap2002
2002	1,130,882	1,224,454	92.4%	153	57	210	5,385	1	125	541	62	ap2003
2003	1,208,161	1,285,386	94.0%	159	49	208	5,808	1	116	538	63	ap2004
2004	1,253,888	1,417,607	88.5%	159	49	208	6,028		107	557	63	ap2005
2006	1,388,386	1,528,051	90.9%	168	69	237	5,858		107	537	65	ap2007*
2013	1,516,000	1,658,000	91.4%	167	69	236	6,423		83	377	70	ap2014
2016	1,512,581	1,671,199	90.5%	175	43	218	6,938		68	388	75	ap2017
2019	1,548,200	1,742,650	88.8%	188	46	234	6,616		74	366	79	ap2020
2021	1,665,400	1,800,855	92.5%	203	66	269	6,191		97	348	83	ap2022
2023	1,692,400	1,829,500	92.5%	206	77	283	5,980	1	101	309	85	ap2024