Diocese of El Vigia-San Carlos del Zulia

Dioecesis Vigilantis-Sancti Caroli Zuliensis

Bishop(s)

Juan de Dios Peña Rojas, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 7 July 1994
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Maracaibo
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Venezuela
Square Kilometers: 8,057 (3,112 Square Miles)
Description: Alberto Adriani, Bishop Ramos de Lora, Caracciolo Parra y Olmedo, Tulio Febres Cordero, Justo Briceño, Julio César Salas (in Mérida) and Colón, Francisco Javier Pulgar, and Sucre (in Zulia)
Mailing Address: Calle 7, Barrio La Inmaculada, destras de la Catedral, El Vigia, Edo. Merida, Venezuela
Telephone: (0275)881.24.29

Past and Present Ordinaries

William Enrique Delgado Silva (14 Apr 1999 Appointed - 26 Jul 2005 Appointed, Bishop of Cabimas)
José Luis Azuaje Ayala (15 Jul 2006 Appointed - 30 Aug 2013 Appointed, Bishop of Barinas)
Juan de Dios Peña Rojas (17 Apr 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
7 July 1994	Erected	Diocese of Cabimas (Sucre) Archdiocese of Maracaibo (Colón) Archdiocese of Mérida (Alberto Adriani, Obispo Ramos de Lora, Caracciolo Parra y Olmedo, Tulio Febres Cordero, Justo Briceño, and Julio César Salas)	Diocese of El Vigia-San Carlos del Zulia (erected)

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

1999 323,000 340,000 95.0% 17 3 20 16,150 3 35 18 ap2000

2000 323,000 340,000 95.0% 17 3 20 16,150 3 35 18 ap2001

2001 411,740 457,489 90.0% 22 22 18,715 35 17 ap2002

2002 353,596 364,532 97.0% 27 27 13,096 38 21 ap2004

2004 357,130 368,176 97.0% 30 30 11,904 38 22 ap2005

2006 369,263 381,000 96.9% 33 33 11,189 24 26 ap2007

2013 420,000 426,000 98.6% 30 30 14,000 3 15 28 ap2014

2016 438,000 462,267 94.8% 32 32 13,687 17 28 ap2017

2019 424,138 546,405 77.6% 41 41 10,344 19 30 ap2020

2021 434,350 559,840 77.6% 37 37 11,739 15 32 ap2022

2023 438,800 561,000 78.2% 37 37 11,859 14 33 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1999	323,000	340,000	95.0%	17	3	20	16,150	3	35	18	ap2000
2000	323,000	340,000	95.0%	17	3	20	16,150	3	35	18	ap2001
2001	411,740	457,489	90.0%	22		22	18,715		35	17	ap2002
2002	353,596	364,532	97.0%	27		27	13,096		38	21	ap2004
2004	357,130	368,176	97.0%	30		30	11,904		38	22	ap2005
2006	369,263	381,000	96.9%	33		33	11,189		24	26	ap2007
2013	420,000	426,000	98.6%	30		30	14,000	3	15	28	ap2014
2016	438,000	462,267	94.8%	32		32	13,687		17	28	ap2017
2019	424,138	546,405	77.6%	41		41	10,344		19	30	ap2020
2021	434,350	559,840	77.6%	37		37	11,739		15	32	ap2022
2023	438,800	561,000	78.2%	37		37	11,859		14	33	ap2024