Chaco Paraguayo (Vicariate Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gabriel Narciso Escobar Ayala, S.D.B., Vicar Apostolic

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic
Erected: 11 March 1948
Vicariate
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Paraguay
Square Kilometers: 96,000 (37,080 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Casa Episcopal, Avda. Bernardino Caballero, Barrio Maria Auxiliadora, Fuerte Olimpo, Alto Paraguay, Paraguay
Telephone: (0497)281.012
Fax: (021)573.022

Past and Present Ordinaries

Ángel Muzzolón, S.D.B. † (11 Mar 1948 Appointed - 6 Mar 1969 Resigned)
Alejo del Carmen Obelar Colman, S.D.B. † (6 Mar 1969 Appointed - 13 Sep 1986 Resigned)
Zacarías Ortiz Rolón, S.D.B. † (12 Mar 1988 Appointed - 12 Jul 2003 Appointed, Bishop of Concepción (Santissima Concezione) en Paraguay)
Edmundo Ponziano Valenzuela Mellid, S.D.B. (13 Feb 2006 Appointed - 8 Nov 2011 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Asunción)
Gabriel Narciso Escobar Ayala, S.D.B. (18 Jun 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
11 March 1948	Erected	Diocese of Concepción y Chaco (Northern region)	Vicariate Apostolic of Chaco Paraguayo (erected)

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

1950 50,000 50,000 100.0% 11 11 4,545 13 4 5 ap1951

1964 35,000 40,000 87.5% 12 12 2,916 9 7 ap1967

1970 28,850 32,850 87.8% 9 9 3,205 10 7 ap1971

1976 20,200 30,300 66.7% 7 7 2,885 11 16 7 ap1977

1980 20,200 30,300 66.7% 6 6 3,366 8 16 7 ap1981

1990 18,350 20,900 87.8% 7 7 2,621 9 10 7 ap1991

1999 16,300 18,600 87.6% 1 7 8 2,037 8 11 7 ap2000

2000 16,300 18,600 87.6% 1 7 8 2,037 8 12 7 ap2001

2001 16,300 18,600 87.6% 1 7 8 2,037 8 12 7 ap2002

2002 16,300 18,600 87.6% 7 7 2,328 8 12 7 ap2003

2003 18,000 19,606 91.8% 7 7 2,571 8 12 7 ap2004

2004 18,000 19,606 91.8% 6 6 3,000 7 12 7 ap2005

2010 24,500 27,000 90.7% 1 7 8 3,062 1 8 19 10 ap2011

2014 21,000 26,500 79.2% 1 6 7 3,000 7 15 8 ap2015

2017 20,700 25,500 81.2% 1 10 11 1,881 10 15 7 ap2018

2020 22,110 27,180 81.3% 1 9 10 2,211 21 17 7 ap2021

2022 22,691 27,887 81.4% 2 10 12 1,890 1 22 16 9 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	50,000	50,000	100.0%		11	11	4,545		13	4	5	ap1951
1964	35,000	40,000	87.5%		12	12	2,916			9	7	ap1967
1970	28,850	32,850	87.8%		9	9	3,205		10	7		ap1971
1976	20,200	30,300	66.7%		7	7	2,885		11	16	7	ap1977
1980	20,200	30,300	66.7%		6	6	3,366		8	16	7	ap1981
1990	18,350	20,900	87.8%		7	7	2,621		9	10	7	ap1991
1999	16,300	18,600	87.6%	1	7	8	2,037		8	11	7	ap2000
2000	16,300	18,600	87.6%	1	7	8	2,037		8	12	7	ap2001
2001	16,300	18,600	87.6%	1	7	8	2,037		8	12	7	ap2002
2002	16,300	18,600	87.6%		7	7	2,328		8	12	7	ap2003
2003	18,000	19,606	91.8%		7	7	2,571		8	12	7	ap2004
2004	18,000	19,606	91.8%		6	6	3,000		7	12	7	ap2005
2010	24,500	27,000	90.7%	1	7	8	3,062	1	8	19	10	ap2011
2014	21,000	26,500	79.2%	1	6	7	3,000		7	15	8	ap2015
2017	20,700	25,500	81.2%	1	10	11	1,881		10	15	7	ap2018
2020	22,110	27,180	81.3%	1	9	10	2,211		21	17	7	ap2021
2022	22,691	27,887	81.4%	2	10	12	1,890	1	22	16	9	ap2023