Cruz Alta (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Nélio Domingos Zortea, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 27 May 1971
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santa Maria
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Rio Grande do Sul
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 16,790 (6,485 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Sul 3
Official Web Site: https://diocesecruzalta.com.br/
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Rua Duque de Caxias 729, 98005-200 Cruz Alta, RS, Brazil
Telephone: (055)3322-5320
Fax: 3322-5750

Past and Present Ordinaries

Walmor Battú Wichrowski † (27 May 1971 Appointed - 16 Nov 1972 Resigned)
Nei Paulo Moretto † (16 Nov 1972 Appointed - 21 Jan 1976 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul)
Jacó (Jacob) Roberto Hilgert † (19 Jul 1976 Appointed - 8 May 2002 Retired)
Frederico Heimler, S.D.B. † (8 May 2002 Appointed - 11 Jun 2014 Resigned)
Adelar Baruffi (17 Dec 2014 Appointed - 22 Sep 2021 Appointed, Archbishop of Cascavel, Parana)
Nélio Domingos Zortea (29 Mar 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
27 May 1971	Erected	Diocese of Santa Maria	Diocese of Cruz Alta (erected) (Crux Alta, Ijuí, Soledade, Espumoso, S. Barbara do Sul, Ibirubá, Chapada, Barros Cassai, Condor, Ajuncaba, Augusto Pestana, Pejuçara, Panambi, Xavier Fontoura and Viia Joia, Itauba, and Mauricio Cardoso to Tupanciretä, Arroio do Tigre and Arvorezinha)
12 December 1997	Territory Lost	Diocese of Cruz Alta (Our Lady of Lourdes (in Nova Alvorada) and Santi Michaelis Arcangeli (in Itapuca))	Diocese of Passo Fundo
13 April 2011	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Cruz Alta (from Porto Alegre)

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

1975 309,600 387,000 80.0% 13 27 40 7,740 27 26 ap1977

1976 317,600 397,000 80.0% 13 27 40 7,940 28 143 26 ap1981

1990 407,500 456,070 89.4% 14 29 43 9,476 1 33 146 31 ap1991

1999 350,000 389,000 90.0% 22 25 47 7,446 1 28 146 32 ap2000

2000 280,000 350,000 80.0% 24 23 47 5,957 1 26 146 32 ap2001

2001 356,633 396,259 90.0% 26 24 50 7,132 1 27 147 32 ap2002

2002 356,633 396,259 90.0% 25 24 49 7,278 1 27 149 32 ap2003

2003 356,633 396,259 90.0% 25 13 38 9,385 1 17 125 32 ap2004

2004 317,000 396,259 80.0% 26 15 41 7,731 1 18 125 32 ap2005

2006 291,000 399,000 72.9% 32 15 47 6,191 17 120 31 ap2007

2013 321,000 401,000 80.0% 30 2 32 10,031 5 45 33 ap2014

2016 330,000 410,000 80.5% 28 1 29 11,379 17 56 32 ap2017

2019 338,000 419,900 80.5% 27 2 29 11,655 2 50 32 ap2020

2021 254,750 376,000 67.8% 28 28 9,098 50 31 ap2022

2023 263,938 386,000 68.4% 28 12 40 6,598 9 12 41 31 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1975	309,600	387,000	80.0%	13	27	40	7,740		27		26	ap1977
1976	317,600	397,000	80.0%	13	27	40	7,940		28	143	26	ap1981
1990	407,500	456,070	89.4%	14	29	43	9,476	1	33	146	31	ap1991
1999	350,000	389,000	90.0%	22	25	47	7,446	1	28	146	32	ap2000
2000	280,000	350,000	80.0%	24	23	47	5,957	1	26	146	32	ap2001
2001	356,633	396,259	90.0%	26	24	50	7,132	1	27	147	32	ap2002
2002	356,633	396,259	90.0%	25	24	49	7,278	1	27	149	32	ap2003
2003	356,633	396,259	90.0%	25	13	38	9,385	1	17	125	32	ap2004
2004	317,000	396,259	80.0%	26	15	41	7,731	1	18	125	32	ap2005
2006	291,000	399,000	72.9%	32	15	47	6,191		17	120	31	ap2007
2013	321,000	401,000	80.0%	30	2	32	10,031		5	45	33	ap2014
2016	330,000	410,000	80.5%	28	1	29	11,379		17	56	32	ap2017
2019	338,000	419,900	80.5%	27	2	29	11,655		2	50	32	ap2020
2021	254,750	376,000	67.8%	28		28	9,098			50	31	ap2022
2023	263,938	386,000	68.4%	28	12	40	6,598	9	12	41	31	ap2024