Diocese of Málaga-Soatá

Dioecesis Malagensis-Soatensis

Bishop(s)

Félix María Ramírez Barajas, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 7 July 1987
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bucaramanga
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 7,466 (2,883 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://diocesismalagasoata.org/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Calle 13 N. 9-11, Malaga, Santander, Colombia
Telephone: (7)660.85.12; 660.86.53
Fax: 660.77.34

Past and Present Ordinaries

Hernán Giraldo Jaramillo (7 Jul 1987 Appointed - 19 Jan 2001 Appointed, Bishop of Buga)
Darío de Jesús Monsalve Mejía (25 Jul 2001 Appointed - 3 Jun 2010 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Cali)
Víctor Manuel Ochoa Cadavid † (24 Jan 2011 Appointed - 24 Jul 2015 Appointed, Bishop of Cúcuta)
José Libardo Garcés Monsalve (29 Jun 2016 Appointed - 4 Oct 2021 Appointed, Bishop of Cúcuta)
Félix María Ramírez Barajas (16 Jul 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
7 July 1987	Erected	Archdiocese of Bucaramanga (Capitanejo, Carcasí, Cefitá, Cerrito, Concepción, Enciso, Guaca, Macaravita, Málaga, Molagavita, San Andrés, San José de Miranda, and San Miguel (all in García Rovira)) Diocese of Duitama (Boavita, Cobarachía, La Uvita, Soatá, Susacón, and Tipacoque (all in Norte) and Oliscas, El Cocuy, El Espino, Guacamayas, Güicán, Panqueva, and San Mateo (all in Gutiérrez))	Diocese of Málaga-Soatá (erected)

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

1990 225,000 227,000 99.1% 40 40 5,625 111 29 ap1991

1999 172,297 183,698 93.8% 49 49 3,516 107 30 ap2000

2000 174,513 183,698 95.0% 52 52 3,356 107 30 ap2001

2001 174,513 183,698 95.0% 51 51 3,421 107 30 ap2002

2002 174,513 183,698 95.0% 52 52 3,356 105 30 ap2003

2003 164,000 171,868 95.4% 53 53 3,094 75 31 ap2004

2004 161,133 171,110 94.2% 49 49 3,288 84 31 ap2005

2013 176,000 186,000 94.6% 65 65 2,707 7 62 31 ap2014

2016 93,216 103,249 90.3% 66 66 1,412 72 31 ap2017

2019 95,615 105,400 90.7% 171 171 559 30 31 ap2020

2021 179,350 189,675 94.6% 66 66 2,717 28 31 ap2022

2023 183,000 194,000 94.3% 78 78 2,346 28 31 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1990	225,000	227,000	99.1%	40	40	5,625		111	29	ap1991
1999	172,297	183,698	93.8%	49	49	3,516		107	30	ap2000
2000	174,513	183,698	95.0%	52	52	3,356		107	30	ap2001
2001	174,513	183,698	95.0%	51	51	3,421		107	30	ap2002
2002	174,513	183,698	95.0%	52	52	3,356		105	30	ap2003
2003	164,000	171,868	95.4%	53	53	3,094		75	31	ap2004
2004	161,133	171,110	94.2%	49	49	3,288		84	31	ap2005
2013	176,000	186,000	94.6%	65	65	2,707	7	62	31	ap2014
2016	93,216	103,249	90.3%	66	66	1,412		72	31	ap2017
2019	95,615	105,400	90.7%	171	171	559		30	31	ap2020
2021	179,350	189,675	94.6%	66	66	2,717		28	31	ap2022
2023	183,000	194,000	94.3%	78	78	2,346		28	31	ap2024