Machiques (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Nicolás Gregorio Nava Rojas, Bishop
Ramiro Díaz Sánchez, O.M.I., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 9 April 2011
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Maracaibo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Venezuela
Square Kilometers: 25,300 (9,772 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Residencia Episcopal, Plaza Bolivar, Avda Santa Teresa con Calle Sucre, Machiques 4021, Edo. Zulia, Venezuela
Telephone: 412.164.92.89; 424.660.19.94

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques
- Latin Name: Machiquesensis
- Erected: 26 May 1943
- Vicariate
- Country: Venezuela

Past and Present Ordinaries

Ángel Turrado Moreno, O.F.M. Cap. † (4 Sep 1944 Appointed - Jan 1954 Resigned)
Miguel Saturnino Aurrecoechea Palacios, O.F.M. Cap. † (19 Dec 1955 Appointed - 10 Mar 1986 Retired)
Agustín Romualdo Alvarez Rodríguez, O.F.M. Cap. † (10 Mar 1986 Appointed - 7 Oct 1995 Resigned)
Ramiro Díaz Sánchez, O.M.I. (24 Jan 1997 Appointed - 9 Apr 2011 Retired)
Jesús Alfonso Guerrero Contreras, O.F.M. Cap. (9 Apr 2011 Appointed - 21 Dec 2018 Appointed, Bishop of Barinas)
Nicolás Gregorio Nava Rojas (19 Oct 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques
26 May 1943	Erected	Diocese of Zulia (Paez, Perijà, northern part of Mara, and part of Colon)	Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques (erected)
28 January 1995	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques (Páez and Northern part of Mara along with Gonzalo Antonio)	Archdiocese of Maracaibo
28 January 1995	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Maracaibo (Parts of Encontrados and Udón Pérez)	Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques
Diocese of Machiques
9 April 2011	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques	Diocese of Machiques

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

Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques

1950 44,361 47,011 94.4% 10 10 4,436 15 17 6 ap1951

1966 91,389 94,691 96.5% 3 11 14 6,527 15 46 11 ap1967

1970 92,400 98,500 93.8% 5 10 15 6,160 17 46 12 ap1971

1976 125,000 150,000 83.3% 4 18 22 5,681 27 42 13 ap1977

1980 145,000 174,000 83.3% 3 20 23 6,304 36 41 13 ap1981

1990 200,000 245,000 81.6% 2 21 23 8,695 30 40 17 ap1991

1999 225,000 250,000 90.0% 4 10 14 16,071 1 12 30 10 ap2000

2000 225,000 250,000 90.0% 4 9 13 17,307 3 19 31 10 ap2001

2001 220,000 260,000 84.6% 4 10 14 15,714 1 14 30 12 ap2002

2002 220,000 260,000 84.6% 5 13 18 12,222 1 23 33 12 ap2003

2003 230,000 275,000 83.6% 7 13 20 11,500 1 25 35 12 ap2004

2004 250,000 290,000 86.2% 9 10 19 13,157 1 18 38 14 ap2005

2010 282,000 325,000 86.8% 12 8 20 14,100 1 14 38 17 ap2011

Diocese of Machiques

2013 295,000 340,000 86.8% 14 7 21 14,047 1 11 35 17 ap2014

2016 297,500 361,100 82.4% 15 4 19 15,657 1 5 30 17 ap2017

2019 315,000 386,150 81.6% 14 2 16 19,687 1 6 25 17 ap2020

2021 314,440 387,535 81.1% 13 2 15 20,962 1 6 28 17 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques
1950	44,361	47,011	94.4%		10	10	4,436		15	17	6	ap1951
1966	91,389	94,691	96.5%	3	11	14	6,527		15	46	11	ap1967
1970	92,400	98,500	93.8%	5	10	15	6,160		17	46	12	ap1971
1976	125,000	150,000	83.3%	4	18	22	5,681		27	42	13	ap1977
1980	145,000	174,000	83.3%	3	20	23	6,304		36	41	13	ap1981
1990	200,000	245,000	81.6%	2	21	23	8,695		30	40	17	ap1991
1999	225,000	250,000	90.0%	4	10	14	16,071	1	12	30	10	ap2000
2000	225,000	250,000	90.0%	4	9	13	17,307	3	19	31	10	ap2001
2001	220,000	260,000	84.6%	4	10	14	15,714	1	14	30	12	ap2002
2002	220,000	260,000	84.6%	5	13	18	12,222	1	23	33	12	ap2003
2003	230,000	275,000	83.6%	7	13	20	11,500	1	25	35	12	ap2004
2004	250,000	290,000	86.2%	9	10	19	13,157	1	18	38	14	ap2005
2010	282,000	325,000	86.8%	12	8	20	14,100	1	14	38	17	ap2011
Diocese of Machiques
2013	295,000	340,000	86.8%	14	7	21	14,047	1	11	35	17	ap2014
2016	297,500	361,100	82.4%	15	4	19	15,657	1	5	30	17	ap2017
2019	315,000	386,150	81.6%	14	2	16	19,687	1	6	25	17	ap2020
2021	314,440	387,535	81.1%	13	2	15	20,962	1	6	28	17	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Ramiro Díaz Sánchez, O.M.I. (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Jan 1997 to 9 Apr 2011; Apostolic Administrator: 15 Mar 2019 to 14 Dec 2019)
Jesús Alfonso Guerrero Contreras, O.F.M. Cap. (Bishop: 9 Apr 2011 to 21 Dec 2018)
Nicolás Gregorio Nava Rojas (Bishop: 19 Oct 2019 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Agustín Romualdo Alvarez Rodríguez, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Mar 1986 to 7 Oct 1995)
Miguel Saturnino Aurrecoechea Palacios, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Dec 1955 to 10 Mar 1986)
Ángel Turrado Moreno, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Sep 1944 to Jan 1954)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 36, Page 41, and Page 42
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 87, Page 529, and Page 530
Diocese of Machiques
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 103, Page 435, and Page 436

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Diocese of Machiques

Dioecesis Machiquesensis