Diocese of Humaitá

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Bishop(s) Franz Josef Meinrad Merkel, C.S.Sp., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 16 October 1979 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Porto Velho Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Amazonas Country: Brazil Square Kilometers: 109,000 (42,101 Square Miles) Conference Region: Norte 1 Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Praca da Matriz s/n, 69800-000 Humaita, AM, Brazil Telephone: (097)3373-1356 Fax: 3373-2055

Historical Details

• Territorial Prelature of Humaitá
  • Latin Name: Humaitanensis
  • Erected: 26 June 1961
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Manaus
  • State: Amazonas
  • Country: Brazil

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• José Domitrovitsch, S.D.B. † (5 Aug 1961 Appointed - 27 Feb 1962 Died)
• Miguel d’Aversa, S.D.B. † (21 May 1962 Appointed - 6 Mar 1991 Retired)
• José Jovêncio Balestieri, S.D.B. (6 Mar 1991 Appointed - 29 Jul 1998 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina)
• Franz Josef Meinrad Merkel, C.S.Sp. (26 Jul 2000 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Humaitá
26 June 1961	Erected	Archdiocese of Manaus Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho	Territorial Prelature of Humaitá (erected)
Diocese of Humaitá
16 October 1979	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Humaitá	Diocese of Humaitá

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of Humaitá
1966	12,500	43,000	29.1%		6	6	2,083		6	12	2	ap1967
1970	45,000	45,500	98.9%		6	6	7,500		7	12	2	ap1971
1976	51,340	53,600	95.8%	1	4	5	10,268		5	17	4	ap1977
Diocese of Humaitá
1980	39,200	43,100	91.0%	1	10	11	3,563		12	16	4	ap1981
1990	77,200	91,500	84.4%		7	7	11,028		8	19	7	ap1991
1999	38,000	50,600	75.1%	1	7	8	4,750		7	12	7	ap2000
2000	38,500	51,200	75.2%	1	6	7	5,500		6	15	5	ap2001
2001	40,000	50,000	80.0%		6	6	6,666		7	15	5	ap2002
2002	40,000	50,000	80.0%		6	6	6,666		7	19	5	ap2003
2003	40,000	50,000	80.0%		7	7	5,714		8	19	5	ap2004
2004	65,000	95,000	68.4%	1	9	10	6,500		12	26	7	ap2005
2006	70,000	100,000	70.0%	3	11	14	5,000		13	20	7	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• José Jovêncio Balestieri, S.D.B. (Bishop: 6 Mar 1991 to 29 Jul 1998)
• Franz Josef Meinrad Merkel, C.S.Sp. (Bishop: 26 Jul 2000 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Miguel d’Aversa, S.D.B. † (Prelate: 21 May 1962; Bishop: 16 Oct 1979 to 6 Mar 1991)
• José Domitrovitsch, S.D.B. † (Prelate: 5 Aug 1961 to 27 Feb 1962)