Arecibo (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Alberto Arturo Figueroa Morales, Bishop
Daniel Fernández Torres, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 30 April 1960
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Puerto Rico
Square Kilometers: 2,157 (833 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the mid-northern part of the island.
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: ARE
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisdearecibo.org
Mailing Address: Obispado, Calle Dr. Salas 206, Arecibo, PR 00613-0616, Puerto Rico
Telephone: (787)878-3180; 878-3110
Fax: 880-2661

Past and Present Ordinaries

Alfredo José Isaac Cecilio Francesco Méndez-Gonzalez, C.S.C. † (23 Jul 1960 Appointed - 21 Jan 1974 Resigned)
Miguel Rodriguez Rodriguez, C.SS.R. † (21 Jan 1974 Appointed - 20 Mar 1990 Resigned)
Iñaki Mallona Txertudi, C.P. † (14 Dec 1991 Appointed - 24 Sep 2010 Retired)
Daniel Fernández Torres (24 Sep 2010 Appointed - 9 Mar 2022 Removed)
Alberto Arturo Figueroa Morales (14 Sep 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
30 April 1960	Erected	Diocese of Ponce (Aguada, Aguadilla, Jayuya, Moca, Orocovis, Rincón, and San Sebastián) Diocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Arecibo, Bareeloneta, Camuy, Ciales, Corozal, Dorado, Hatillo, Isabela, Lares, Manatí, Morovis, Quebradillas, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Utuado, Vega Alta, and Vega Baja)	Diocese of Arecibo (erected)
21 October 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Arecibo (Toa Baja)	Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico
1 March 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Arecibo Diocese of Ponce	Diocese of Mayagüez (erected) (Mayaguez, Aguadilla, Aguada, Moca, San Sebastián, Rincón, Añasco, Las Marías, Maricao, Hormiguero, San Germán, Cabo Rojo, Lajas, and Sabana Grande)
1 March 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Arecibo (Toa Alta and Dorado)	Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico
1 March 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Arecibo (Jayuya, La Milagrosa en Catañer or Bartolo-Gatañer (in Lares), and Niño de Praga or Misión Noel (in Yillalba))	Diocese of Ponce

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

1966 515,000 640,000 80.5% 43 60 103 5,000 62 146 42 ap1967

1970 522,000 595,564 87.6% 53 63 116 4,500 69 87 53 ap1971

1976 552,245 666,700 82.8% 55 59 114 4,844 83 150 57 ap1977

1980 417,000 499,000 83.6% 50 36 86 4,848 55 145 44 ap1981

1990 435,042 518,000 84.0% 69 33 102 4,265 8 40 211 58 ap1991

1999 380,000 550,000 69.1% 64 45 109 3,486 6 54 171 59 ap2000

2000 380,000 550,000 69.1% 69 50 119 3,193 6 58 178 59 ap2001

2001 380,000 604,369 62.9% 62 48 110 3,454 12 55 172 59 ap2002

2002 370,000 603,469 61.3% 58 50 108 3,425 11 55 172 59 ap2003

2003 370,000 603,469 61.3% 62 43 105 3,523 6 51 161 59 ap2004

2004 370,000 603,469 61.3% 57 39 96 3,854 6 47 174 59 ap2005

2006 372,000 607,000 61.3% 58 50 108 3,444 5 55 168 59 ap2007

2012 381,800 621,400 61.4% 50 48 98 3,895 1 54 127 59 ap2013

2015 392,900 628,900 62.5% 47 50 97 4,050 33 55 139 62 ap2016

2018 387,000 583,890 66.3% 51 37 88 4,397 24 47 115 62 ap2019

2020 371,380 570,800 65.1% 51 36 87 4,268 51 37 116 58 ap2021

2022 306,547 547,406 56.0% 49 32 81 3,784 50 39 105 58 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	515,000	640,000	80.5%	43	60	103	5,000		62	146	42	ap1967
1970	522,000	595,564	87.6%	53	63	116	4,500		69	87	53	ap1971
1976	552,245	666,700	82.8%	55	59	114	4,844		83	150	57	ap1977
1980	417,000	499,000	83.6%	50	36	86	4,848		55	145	44	ap1981
1990	435,042	518,000	84.0%	69	33	102	4,265	8	40	211	58	ap1991
1999	380,000	550,000	69.1%	64	45	109	3,486	6	54	171	59	ap2000
2000	380,000	550,000	69.1%	69	50	119	3,193	6	58	178	59	ap2001
2001	380,000	604,369	62.9%	62	48	110	3,454	12	55	172	59	ap2002
2002	370,000	603,469	61.3%	58	50	108	3,425	11	55	172	59	ap2003
2003	370,000	603,469	61.3%	62	43	105	3,523	6	51	161	59	ap2004
2004	370,000	603,469	61.3%	57	39	96	3,854	6	47	174	59	ap2005
2006	372,000	607,000	61.3%	58	50	108	3,444	5	55	168	59	ap2007
2012	381,800	621,400	61.4%	50	48	98	3,895	1	54	127	59	ap2013
2015	392,900	628,900	62.5%	47	50	97	4,050	33	55	139	62	ap2016
2018	387,000	583,890	66.3%	51	37	88	4,397	24	47	115	62	ap2019
2020	371,380	570,800	65.1%	51	36	87	4,268	51	37	116	58	ap2021
2022	306,547	547,406	56.0%	49	32	81	3,784	50	39	105	58	ap2023