Alajuela (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Bartolomé Buigues Oller, T.C., Bishop
Angel San Casimiro Fernández, O.A.R., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 16 February 1921
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San José de Costa Rica
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Costa Rica
Square Kilometers: 2,784 (1,075 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisdealajuela.org
Mailing Address: Casa Episcopal, Dulce Nombre, La Garita, Apartado 943, 4050 Alajuela, Costa Rica
Telephone: 8669.96.99
Fax: 2433.37.19

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antonio del Carmen Monestel y Zamora † (10 Mar 1921 Appointed - 8 Oct 1937 Died)
Víctor Manuel Sanabria y Martínez † (12 Mar 1938 Appointed - 7 Mar 1940 Appointed, Archbishop of San José de Costa Rica)
Vicente Juan Solís Fernández † (3 Jul 1940 Appointed - 18 Mar 1967 Retired)
Enrique Bolaños Quesada † (6 Mar 1970 Appointed - 13 Dec 1980 Retired)
José Rafael Barquero Arce † (22 Dec 1980 Appointed - 3 Jul 2007 Retired)
Angel San Casimiro Fernández, O.A.R. (3 Jul 2007 Appointed - 1 Mar 2018 Retired)
Bartolomé Buigues Oller, T.C. (1 Mar 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
16 February 1921	Erected	Diocese of San José de Costa Rica (Alajuela, Puntarenas, and Guanacaste.)	Diocese of Alajuela (erected)
19 August 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Alajuela (Aguirre, Osa, Buenos Aires, and Golfito) Archdiocese of San José de Costa Rica (Tarrazu, Dota, and Perez Zeledón)	Diocese of San Isidro de El General (erected)
22 July 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Alajuela (Province of Guanacaste; City of Puntarenas excluding that south of the river Iesus Maria; the City of Montes de Oro; and the region north of the rivers Arenai and San Carlos)	Diocese of Tilarán (erected)
16 November 1967	Territory Lost	Diocese of Alajuela (Cantón Esparta and part of Cantón Central Puntarenas)	Diocese of Tilarán
15 December 1986	Territory Lost	Diocese of Alajuela (San Pablo de Turrubares)	Archdiocese of San José de Costa Rica
15 December 1986	Territory Added	Diocese of Tilarán (Los Chiles and Monterrey)	Diocese of Alajuela
25 July 1995	Territory Lost	Diocese of Alajuela (San Carlos, Los Chiles, and Sarapiquí) Diocese of Tilarán (Upala and Guatuso)	Diocese of Ciudad Quesada (erected)

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

1948 298,160 808,138 36.9% 29 16 45 6,625 18 21 28 ap1951

1959 390,874 398,374 98.1% 36 17 53 7,374 17 82 28 ap1960

1966 258,307 267,347 96.6% 52 24 76 3,398 27 83 28 ap1967

1970 307,778 324,487 94.9% 49 15 64 4,809 16 67 29 ap1971

1976 356,108 378,840 94.0% 56 15 71 5,015 26 82 34 ap1977

1980 376,000 393,000 95.7% 55 22 77 4,883 32 108 37 ap1981

1990 416,000 470,000 88.5% 71 36 107 3,887 43 103 42 ap1991

1999 343,000 400,000 85.8% 69 20 89 3,853 1 27 80 30 ap2000

2000 391,742 435,269 90.0% 74 20 94 4,167 1 27 80 30 ap2001

2001 554,000 604,000 91.7% 74 20 94 5,893 1 27 80 30 ap2002

2002 562,000 610,000 92.1% 74 20 94 5,978 1 27 87 30 ap2003

2003 522,750 618,000 84.6% 81 20 101 5,175 1 28 87 30 ap2004

2004 529,399 623,944 84.8% 85 20 105 5,041 1 27 84 31 ap2005

2006 551,100 662,520 83.2% 83 18 101 5,456 1 23 60 31 ap2007

2012 468,438 678,896 69.0% 94 18 112 4,182 32 78 34 ap2013

2015 547,430 703,000 77.9% 88 12 100 5,474 1 19 36 35 ap2016

2018 569,720 801,425 71.1% 87 15 102 5,585 17 83 34 ap2019

2020 564,300 802,991 70.3% 93 12 105 5,374 1 14 83 34 ap2021

2022 623,746 902,732 69.1% 91 12 103 6,055 1 14 83 34 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1948	298,160	808,138	36.9%	29	16	45	6,625		18	21	28	ap1951
1959	390,874	398,374	98.1%	36	17	53	7,374		17	82	28	ap1960
1966	258,307	267,347	96.6%	52	24	76	3,398		27	83	28	ap1967
1970	307,778	324,487	94.9%	49	15	64	4,809		16	67	29	ap1971
1976	356,108	378,840	94.0%	56	15	71	5,015		26	82	34	ap1977
1980	376,000	393,000	95.7%	55	22	77	4,883		32	108	37	ap1981
1990	416,000	470,000	88.5%	71	36	107	3,887		43	103	42	ap1991
1999	343,000	400,000	85.8%	69	20	89	3,853	1	27	80	30	ap2000
2000	391,742	435,269	90.0%	74	20	94	4,167	1	27	80	30	ap2001
2001	554,000	604,000	91.7%	74	20	94	5,893	1	27	80	30	ap2002
2002	562,000	610,000	92.1%	74	20	94	5,978	1	27	87	30	ap2003
2003	522,750	618,000	84.6%	81	20	101	5,175	1	28	87	30	ap2004
2004	529,399	623,944	84.8%	85	20	105	5,041	1	27	84	31	ap2005
2006	551,100	662,520	83.2%	83	18	101	5,456	1	23	60	31	ap2007
2012	468,438	678,896	69.0%	94	18	112	4,182		32	78	34	ap2013
2015	547,430	703,000	77.9%	88	12	100	5,474	1	19	36	35	ap2016
2018	569,720	801,425	71.1%	87	15	102	5,585		17	83	34	ap2019
2020	564,300	802,991	70.3%	93	12	105	5,374	1	14	83	34	ap2021
2022	623,746	902,732	69.1%	91	12	103	6,055	1	14	83	34	ap2023