Carolina (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Francisco Lima Soares, Bishop
José Soares Filho, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 16 October 1979
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Maranhão
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 17,514 (6,764 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 5
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, C.P. 15, Av. Getulio Vargas 23, 65980-000 Carolina, MA, Brazil
Telephone: (099)3531-3820

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Carolina
- Latin Name: Carolinensis in Brasilia
- Erected: 14 January 1958
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
- State: Maranhão
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Cesário Alexandre Minali, O.F.M. Cap. † (9 Apr 1958 Appointed - 13 Jun 1969 Died)
Marcelino Sérgio Bicego, O.F.M. Cap. † (6 Aug 1971 Appointed - 22 Jan 1980 Died)
Evangelista Alcimar Caldas Magalhães, O.F.M. Cap. † (3 Sep 1981 Appointed - 12 Sep 1990 Appointed, Prelate of Alto Solimões, Amazonas)
Marcelino Correr, O.F.M. Cap. † (13 Mar 1991 Appointed - 15 Oct 2003 Resigned)
José Soares Filho, O.F.M. Cap. (15 Oct 2003 Succeeded - 5 Jul 2017 Resigned)
Francisco Lima Soares (19 Sep 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Carolina
14 January 1958	Erected	Territorial Prelature of São José do Grajaú (Carolina, Amarante, Imperatriz, Montes Altos, Porto Franco, and Presidente Vargas)	Territorial Prelature of Carolina (erected)
10 October 1969	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of Carolina (Gandido Rodrigues, Taquaritinga, Santa Ernestina, and Dobrada) Diocese of Rio Preto (Palmares, Ariranha, and Santa Adélia)	Diocese of Jaboticabal
Diocese of Carolina
16 October 1979	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Carolina	Diocese of Carolina
27 June 1987	Territory Lost	Diocese of Carolina (Imperatriz, Açailândia, Amarante do Maranhão, and João Lisboa)	Diocese of Imperatriz (erected)

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

Territorial Prelature of Carolina

1966 120,000 150,000 80.0% 15 15 8,000 15 25 6 ap1967

1970 72,160 81,750 88.3% 15 15 4,810 15 14 7 ap1971

1976 270,000 286,423 94.3% 1 15 16 16,875 15 27 14 ap1977

Diocese of Carolina

1980 235,000 251,000 93.6% 4 12 16 14,687 12 28 16 ap1981

1990 107,200 135,000 79.4% 4 5 9 11,911 5 7 6 ap1991

1999 120,980 150,000 80.7% 7 2 9 13,442 1 2 9 7 ap2000

2000 121,980 152,000 80.3% 6 1 7 17,425 1 1 12 8 ap2001

2001 115,000 148,000 77.7% 7 1 8 14,375 1 1 12 8 ap2002

2002 120,000 148,000 81.1% 8 1 9 13,333 1 1 12 8 ap2003

2003 116,000 145,000 80.0% 8 1 9 12,888 1 12 8 ap2004

2004 121,000 150,000 80.7% 8 1 9 13,444 1 11 8 ap2005

2006 136,000 156,000 87.2% 10 1 11 12,363 1 9 9 ap2007

2013 154,200 171,400 90.0% 13 2 15 10,280 2 8 11 ap2014

2016 158,100 175,800 89.9% 12 12 13,175 2 11 ap2017

2019 162,037 183,000 88.5% 14 1 15 10,802 2 6 12 ap2020

2021 154,900 197,300 78.5% 14 14 11,064 5 2 12 ap2022

2023 157,284 205,078 76.7% 14 14 11,234 9 5 2 14 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of Carolina
1966	120,000	150,000	80.0%		15	15	8,000		15	25	6	ap1967
1970	72,160	81,750	88.3%		15	15	4,810		15	14	7	ap1971
1976	270,000	286,423	94.3%	1	15	16	16,875		15	27	14	ap1977
Diocese of Carolina
1980	235,000	251,000	93.6%	4	12	16	14,687		12	28	16	ap1981
1990	107,200	135,000	79.4%	4	5	9	11,911		5	7	6	ap1991
1999	120,980	150,000	80.7%	7	2	9	13,442	1	2	9	7	ap2000
2000	121,980	152,000	80.3%	6	1	7	17,425	1	1	12	8	ap2001
2001	115,000	148,000	77.7%	7	1	8	14,375	1	1	12	8	ap2002
2002	120,000	148,000	81.1%	8	1	9	13,333	1	1	12	8	ap2003
2003	116,000	145,000	80.0%	8	1	9	12,888		1	12	8	ap2004
2004	121,000	150,000	80.7%	8	1	9	13,444		1	11	8	ap2005
2006	136,000	156,000	87.2%	10	1	11	12,363		1	9	9	ap2007
2013	154,200	171,400	90.0%	13	2	15	10,280		2	8	11	ap2014
2016	158,100	175,800	89.9%	12		12	13,175			2	11	ap2017
2019	162,037	183,000	88.5%	14	1	15	10,802		2	6	12	ap2020
2021	154,900	197,300	78.5%	14		14	11,064		5	2	12	ap2022
2023	157,284	205,078	76.7%	14		14	11,234	9	5	2	14	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Marcelino Sérgio Bicego, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prelate: 6 Aug 1971; Bishop: 16 Oct 1979 to 22 Jan 1980)
Evangelista Alcimar Caldas Magalhães, O.F.M. Cap. † (Bishop: 3 Sep 1981 to 12 Sep 1990)
Marcelino Correr, O.F.M. Cap. † (Bishop: 13 Mar 1991 to 15 Oct 2003)
Cesário Alexandre Minali, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prelate: 9 Apr 1958 to 13 Jun 1969)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Carolina
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 615, to Page 617
Diocese of Carolina
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 1,504, and Page 1,505

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Diocese of Carolina

Dioecesis Carolinensis in Brasilia