Lages (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Guilherme Antônio Werlang, M.S.F., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 17 January 1927
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Chapecó
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Santa Catarina
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 18,207 (7,032 Square Miles)
Description: Anita Garibaldi, Bocaina do Sul, Bom Jardim, Bom Retiro, Campo Belo, Capão Alto, Celso Ramos, Cerro Negro, Correia Pinto, Curitibanos, Frei Rogério, Lages, Otacílio Costa, Painel, Palmeira, Ponte Alta, Ponte Alta do Norte, Rio Rufino, São Cristóvão do Sul, São Joaquim, São José do Cerrito, Urubici, and Urupema
Conference Region: Sul 4
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesedelages.com.br
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, C.P. 20, Rua Correia Pinto 247, 88502-970 Lages, SC, Brazil
Telephone: (049)3222-1520

Past and Present Ordinaries

Daniel Henrique Hostin, O.F.M. † (2 Aug 1929 Appointed - 17 Nov 1973 Died)
Honorato Piazera, S.C.I. † (17 Nov 1973 Succeeded - 18 Feb 1987 Retired)
João Oneres Marchiori † (18 Feb 1987 Succeeded - 11 Nov 2009 Retired)
Irineu Andreassa, O.F.M. (11 Nov 2009 Appointed - 30 Nov 2016 Appointed, Bishop of Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais)
Guilherme Antônio Werlang, M.S.F. (7 Feb 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
17 January 1927	Erected	Diocese of Florianópolis (Santa Caterina) (Lages, São Joaquim, Curitibanos, Campos Novos, Canoínhas, Porto Uniäo, Cruzeiro, and Chapecó)	Diocese of Lages (erected)
9 December 1933	Territory Lost	Diocese of Lages (Chapecó) Diocese of Ponta Grossa (Palmas)	Territorial Prelature of Palmas (erected) (Cleveland)
14 January 1958	Territory Lost	Diocese of Lages (Concordia, Ita, and Seára) Territorial Prelature of Palmas (Chapecó, Descanso, Dionisio Cerqueira, Itapiranga, Mondai, Palmitos, São Carlos, São Miguel d'Oeste, Xanxerê, and Xaxim (all in St. Catherine))	Diocese of Chapecó (erected)
23 November 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Lages (Caçador, Agua Doce, Arroio Trinta, Canoínhas, Fraiburgo, Irineópolis, Lebon Régis, Monte Castelo, Papanduva, Pinheiro Prêto, Porto Uniäo, Rio das Antas, Salto Veloso, Santa Cecilia, Tres Barras, Treze Tilias , Videira, Major Vieira, and Matos Costa)	Diocese of Caçador (erected)
12 June 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Chapecó (Agua Doce) Diocese of Caçador (Concordia and Ponte Serrada) Diocese of Lages (Campos Novos, Capinzal, Castelo Branco, Catanduvas, Erval Velho, Herval do Oeste, Ibicaré, Ipira, Iraní, Jaborá, Joaçaba, Lacerdopolis, Ouro, Peritiba, Piratuba, and Tangará)	Diocese of Joaçaba (erected)
5 November 2024	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Lages (from Florianópolis)

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

1950 412,443 447,848 92.1% 24 79 103 4,004 124 286 32 ap1951

1966 620,000 650,000 95.4% 43 99 142 4,366 145 564 57 ap1967

1968 600,000 700,000 85.7% 44 97 141 4,255 127 590 57 ap1971

1976 235,000 266,810 88.1% 23 24 47 5,000 5 30 180 20 ap1977

1980 292,000 332,000 88.0% 31 29 60 4,866 5 31 185 20 ap1981

1990 368,000 390,000 94.4% 33 28 61 6,032 8 29 185 22 ap1991

1999 412,000 450,000 91.6% 42 24 66 6,242 4 25 185 23 ap2000

2000 416,000 455,000 91.4% 36 24 60 6,933 7 25 184 23 ap2001

2001 420,000 460,000 91.3% 44 8 52 8,076 6 10 184 23 ap2002

2002 315,000 350,000 90.0% 39 19 58 5,431 5 25 185 23 ap2003

2003 290,000 330,000 87.9% 34 19 53 5,471 6 20 200 24 ap2004

2004 290,000 338,301 85.7% 34 18 52 5,576 6 27 180 23 ap2005

2013 325,000 380,000 85.5% 40 16 56 5,803 6 16 147 24 ap2014

2016 332,700 389,000 85.5% 41 16 57 5,836 12 16 147 25 ap2017

2019 340,730 398,420 85.5% 31 17 48 7,098 11 17 147 25 ap2020

2021 346,130 404,740 85.5% 33 33 10,488 12 150 25 ap2022

2023 351,000 410,000 85.6% 35 35 10,028 10 8 26 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	412,443	447,848	92.1%	24	79	103	4,004		124	286	32	ap1951
1966	620,000	650,000	95.4%	43	99	142	4,366		145	564	57	ap1967
1968	600,000	700,000	85.7%	44	97	141	4,255		127	590	57	ap1971
1976	235,000	266,810	88.1%	23	24	47	5,000	5	30	180	20	ap1977
1980	292,000	332,000	88.0%	31	29	60	4,866	5	31	185	20	ap1981
1990	368,000	390,000	94.4%	33	28	61	6,032	8	29	185	22	ap1991
1999	412,000	450,000	91.6%	42	24	66	6,242	4	25	185	23	ap2000
2000	416,000	455,000	91.4%	36	24	60	6,933	7	25	184	23	ap2001
2001	420,000	460,000	91.3%	44	8	52	8,076	6	10	184	23	ap2002
2002	315,000	350,000	90.0%	39	19	58	5,431	5	25	185	23	ap2003
2003	290,000	330,000	87.9%	34	19	53	5,471	6	20	200	24	ap2004
2004	290,000	338,301	85.7%	34	18	52	5,576	6	27	180	23	ap2005
2013	325,000	380,000	85.5%	40	16	56	5,803	6	16	147	24	ap2014
2016	332,700	389,000	85.5%	41	16	57	5,836	12	16	147	25	ap2017
2019	340,730	398,420	85.5%	31	17	48	7,098	11	17	147	25	ap2020
2021	346,130	404,740	85.5%	33		33	10,488	12		150	25	ap2022
2023	351,000	410,000	85.6%	35		35	10,028	10		8	26	ap2024