Loja (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Walter Jehová Heras Segarra, O.F.M., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 29 December 1862
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cuenca
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ecuador
Square Kilometers: 11,066 (4,274 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://diocesisdeloja.org/
Mailing Address: Casa Episcopal, 10 de Agosto 201-32 y Bernardo Valdivieso, Loja, Ecuador
Telephone: (07)2561.039

Past and Present Ordinaries

José Ramón Silvestre Masiá y Vidiella, O.F.M. Obs. † (17 Sep 1875 Appointed - 15 Jan 1902 Died)
José Antonio Eguiguren y Escudero † (8 Mar 1907 Appointed - 18 Dec 1910 Died)
Carlos María Javier de la Torre † (30 Dec 1911 Appointed - 21 Aug 1919 Appointed, Bishop of Bolivar)
Guillermo José Harris y Morales † (7 May 1920 Appointed - 10 Feb 1944 Died)
Nicanor Roberto Aguirre Baus † (23 Oct 1945 Appointed - 10 Oct 1956 Resigned)
Juán Maria Riofrio, O.P. † (10 Oct 1956 Appointed - 24 Jun 1963 Died)
Luis Alfonso Crespo Chiriboga † (2 Nov 1963 Appointed - 21 Sep 1972 Died)
Alberto Zambrano Palacios, O.P. † (11 Dec 1972 Appointed - 2 May 1985 Resigned)
Hugolino Felix Cerasuolo Stacey, O.F.M. † (2 May 1985 Appointed - 15 Jun 2007 Retired)
Julio Parrilla Díaz (18 Apr 2008 Appointed - 12 Jan 2013 Appointed, Bishop of Riobamba)
Alfredo José Espinoza Mateus, S.D.B. (20 Dec 2013 Appointed - 5 Apr 2019 Appointed, Archbishop of Quito)
Walter Jehová Heras Segarra, O.F.M. (31 Oct 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
29 December 1862	Erected	Diocese of Cuenca	Diocese of Bolivar (erected) Diocese of Loja (erected)
26 July 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Guayaquil (Máchala) Diocese of Loja (Zaruma and Santa Rosa)	Territorial Prelature of El Oro (erected)
9 April 1957	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Loja (from Quito)
18 April 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Loja (Cantón Chinchipe (Chinchique))	Vicariate Apostolic of Zamora

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

1948 176,400 180,000 98.0% 56 14 70 2,520 27 60 46 ap1951

1966 320,000 320,000 100.0% 65 18 83 3,855 34 106 40 ap1967

1970 380,000 380,000 100.0% 55 20 75 5,066 28 167 43 ap1971

1976 440,000 450,000 97.8% 58 18 76 5,789 42 226 37 ap1977

1980 450,000 486,000 92.6% 58 58 7,758 26 230 37 ap1981

1990 420,000 430,000 97.7% 60 15 75 5,600 1 62 198 55 ap1991

1999 520,056 524,772 99.1% 83 31 114 4,561 1 82 216 65 ap2000

2000 523,556 532,031 98.4% 90 43 133 3,936 2 80 256 68 ap2001

2001 511,446 522,031 98.0% 82 28 110 4,649 2 61 255 70 ap2002

2002 511,490 522,031 98.0% 103 29 132 3,874 2 85 185 74 ap2003

2003 520,000 539,022 96.5% 98 30 128 4,062 2 64 264 74 ap2004

2004 523,442 552,031 94.8% 85 35 120 4,362 2 85 255 78 ap2005

2013 584,000 632,000 92.4% 128 37 165 3,539 106 277 86 ap2014

2016 330,131 497,235 66.4% 117 47 164 2,012 120 311 86 ap2017

2019 411,560 513,450 80.2% 122 34 156 2,638 84 350 84 ap2020

2021 447,550 457,730 97.8% 118 32 150 2,983 54 215 84 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1948	176,400	180,000	98.0%	56	14	70	2,520		27	60	46	ap1951
1966	320,000	320,000	100.0%	65	18	83	3,855		34	106	40	ap1967
1970	380,000	380,000	100.0%	55	20	75	5,066		28	167	43	ap1971
1976	440,000	450,000	97.8%	58	18	76	5,789		42	226	37	ap1977
1980	450,000	486,000	92.6%	58		58	7,758		26	230	37	ap1981
1990	420,000	430,000	97.7%	60	15	75	5,600	1	62	198	55	ap1991
1999	520,056	524,772	99.1%	83	31	114	4,561	1	82	216	65	ap2000
2000	523,556	532,031	98.4%	90	43	133	3,936	2	80	256	68	ap2001
2001	511,446	522,031	98.0%	82	28	110	4,649	2	61	255	70	ap2002
2002	511,490	522,031	98.0%	103	29	132	3,874	2	85	185	74	ap2003
2003	520,000	539,022	96.5%	98	30	128	4,062	2	64	264	74	ap2004
2004	523,442	552,031	94.8%	85	35	120	4,362	2	85	255	78	ap2005
2013	584,000	632,000	92.4%	128	37	165	3,539		106	277	86	ap2014
2016	330,131	497,235	66.4%	117	47	164	2,012		120	311	86	ap2017
2019	411,560	513,450	80.2%	122	34	156	2,638		84	350	84	ap2020
2021	447,550	457,730	97.8%	118	32	150	2,983		54	215	84	ap2022