San Juan Bautista de las Misiones (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ósmar Pedro López Benítez, Bishop
Mario Melanio Medina Salinas, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 19 January 1957
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Asunción
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Paraguay
Square Kilometers: 21,703 (8,382 Square Miles)
Description: Departments of Misiones and Ñeembucú
Official Web Site: https://diocesisdesanjuanbautista.com.py
Mailing Address: Av. Monsenor Gabino Rojas 807 y Primer Intendente, San Juan Bautista de las Misiones, Paraguay
Telephone: (07)212.231
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Ramón Pastor Bogarín Argaña † (19 Jan 1957 Appointed - 3 Sep 1976 Died)
Carlos Milcíades Villalba Aquino † (25 Jul 1978 Appointed - 22 Jul 1999 Retired)
Mario Melanio Medina Salinas (22 Jul 1999 Succeeded - 16 Feb 2017 Retired)
Pedro Collar Noguera (16 Feb 2017 Appointed - 19 Dec 2023 Appointed, Bishop of Ciudad del Este)
Ósmar Pedro López Benítez (5 Apr 2025 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
19 January 1957	Erected	Archdiocese of Asunción (Villa Oliva, Alberdi, and Villa Franca (all in Neembucus)) Diocese of Villarrica (Misiones (S. Juan Bautista, Ayolas, S. Ignacio, Santa María, S. Miguel, S. Patricio, S. Rosa, Santiago, Villa Florida) and parts of Neembucú (Pilar, Cerrito, Desmochados, General Díaz, Guazucuá, Humaita, Isla Umbú, Laureles, Paso de Patria, Pedro ...)	Diocese of San Juan Bautista de las Misiones (erected)

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

1965 117,852 118,075 99.8% 10 14 24 4,910 18 15 26 ap1967

1970 121,015 121,357 99.7% 11 18 29 4,172 11 24 13 26 ap1971

1976 147,819 152,389 97.0% 12 15 27 5,474 20 16 27 ap1977

1980 151,900 157,400 96.5% 12 17 29 5,237 24 25 28 ap1981

1990 196,000 200,700 97.7% 10 14 24 8,166 19 52 29 ap1991

1999 177,000 180,000 98.3% 10 19 29 6,103 21 57 30 ap2000

2000 186,090 189,300 98.3% 12 18 30 6,203 23 45 29 ap2001

2001 192,000 197,500 97.2% 14 19 33 5,818 25 51 29 ap2002

2002 195,300 200,300 97.5% 15 18 33 5,918 23 62 29 ap2003

2003 197,000 200,300 98.4% 15 16 31 6,354 22 60 29 ap2004

2004 198,000 201,000 98.5% 15 13 28 7,071 18 54 29 ap2005

2010 214,000 218,000 98.2% 16 10 26 8,230 2 12 60 30 ap2011

2014 227,000 231,000 98.3% 19 16 35 6,485 2 18 45 30 ap2015

2017 238,540 242,400 98.4% 18 16 34 7,015 2 19 42 30 ap2018

2020 216,300 216,311 100.0% 17 16 33 6,554 2 18 41 31 ap2021

2022 213,801 219,151 97.6% 15 15 30 7,126 2 18 37 31 ap2023

2023 216,580 222,160 97.5% 15 15 30 7,219 2 17 31 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
1965	117,852	118,075	99.8%	10	14	24	4,910		18	15	26	ap1967
1970	121,015	121,357	99.7%	11	18	29	4,172	11	24	13	26	ap1971
1976	147,819	152,389	97.0%	12	15	27	5,474		20	16	27	ap1977
1980	151,900	157,400	96.5%	12	17	29	5,237		24	25	28	ap1981
1990	196,000	200,700	97.7%	10	14	24	8,166		19	52	29	ap1991
1999	177,000	180,000	98.3%	10	19	29	6,103		21	57	30	ap2000
2000	186,090	189,300	98.3%	12	18	30	6,203		23	45	29	ap2001
2001	192,000	197,500	97.2%	14	19	33	5,818		25	51	29	ap2002
2002	195,300	200,300	97.5%	15	18	33	5,918		23	62	29	ap2003
2003	197,000	200,300	98.4%	15	16	31	6,354		22	60	29	ap2004
2004	198,000	201,000	98.5%	15	13	28	7,071		18	54	29	ap2005
2010	214,000	218,000	98.2%	16	10	26	8,230	2	12	60	30	ap2011
2014	227,000	231,000	98.3%	19	16	35	6,485	2	18	45	30	ap2015
2017	238,540	242,400	98.4%	18	16	34	7,015	2	19	42	30	ap2018
2020	216,300	216,311	100.0%	17	16	33	6,554	2	18	41	31	ap2021
2022	213,801	219,151	97.6%	15	15	30	7,126	2	18	37	31	ap2023
2023	216,580	222,160	97.5%	15	15	30	7,219	2	17	31	31	ap2024