Diocese of Ponce

---

Bishop(s) Félix Lázaro Martinez, Sch. P., Bishop Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver, Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 21 November 1924 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Puerto Rico Square Kilometers: 2,045 (830 Square Miles) Description: Comprises the south portion of the Island of Puerto Rico. Catholic Directory Abbreviation: PCE Web Site: http://www.pucpr.edu/diocesis/diocepon.html Mailing Address: Apartado 32205, Estación 6, Ponce, PR 00732-2205, Puerto Rico Telephone: (787)848-5265 Fax: 841-1778

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Edwin Vincent Byrne † (23 Jun 1925 Appointed - 8 Mar 1929 Appointed, Bishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico)
• Aloysius Joseph Willinger, C.SS.R. † (8 Mar 1929 Appointed - 12 Dec 1946 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, California)
• James Edward (Jaime Eduardo) McManus, C.SS.R. † (10 May 1947 Appointed - 18 Nov 1963 Resigned)
• Luis Aponte Martínez (18 Nov 1963 Succeeded - 4 Nov 1964 Appointed, Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico)
• Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver (4 Nov 1964 Appointed - 10 Nov 2000 Retired)
• Ricardo Antonio Suriñach Carreras † (10 Nov 2000 Appointed - 11 Jun 2003 Retired)
• Félix Lázaro Martinez, Sch. P. (11 Jun 2003 Succeeded - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
21 November 1924	Erected	Diocese of Puerto Rico (Porto Rico)	Diocese of Ponce (erected)
30 April 1960	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ponce Diocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico	Diocese of Arecibo (erected)
4 November 1964	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ponce Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico	Diocese of Caguas (erected)
1 March 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Arecibo Diocese of Ponce	Diocese of Mayagüez (erected)

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	900,000	1,000,000	90.0%	25	88	113	7,964		99	218	38	ap1951
1966	698,968	735,756	95.0%	49	113	162	4,314		113	510	38	ap1967
1970	575,470	593,562	97.0%	63	99	162	3,552		101	480	45	ap1971
1976	653,671	767,849	85.1%	45	101	146	4,477	2	152	360	49	ap1977
1980	489,000	543,000	90.1%	44	77	121	4,041	7	142	317	38	ap1981
1990	436,000	543,265	80.3%	51	67	118	3,694	41	93	285	40	ap1991
2000	443,000	552,125	80.2%	62	61	123	3,601	71	76	215	40	ap2001
2001	483,000	604,210	79.9%	63	53	116	4,163	71	63	214	40	ap2002
2002	498,736	624,080	79.9%	61	53	114	4,374	69	60	213	41	ap2003
2003	474,759	593,448	80.0%	65	57	122	3,891	69	74	203	42	ap2004
2004	474,959	593,548	80.0%	64	62	126	3,769	86	79	230	42	ap2005

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

---

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Luis Aponte Martínez (Priest: 10 Apr 1950; Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Jul 1960; Coadjutor Bishop: 16 Apr 1963; Bishop: 18 Nov 1963 to 4 Nov 1964)
• Félix Lázaro Martinez, Sch. P. (Coadjutor Bishop: 20 Mar 2002; Bishop: 11 Jun 2003)
• Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver (Priest: 10 Apr 1950; Bishop: 4 Nov 1964 to 10 Nov 2000)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Edwin Vincent Byrne † (Bishop: 23 Jun 1925 to 8 Mar 1929)
• James Edward (Jaime Eduardo) McManus, C.SS.R. † (Bishop: 10 May 1947 to 18 Nov 1963)
• Ricardo Antonio Suriñach Carreras † (Priest: 13 Apr 1957; Auxiliary Bishop: 26 May 1975; Bishop: 10 Nov 2000 to 11 Jun 2003)
• Aloysius Joseph Willinger, C.SS.R. † (Bishop: 8 Mar 1929 to 12 Dec 1946)