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

Bishop(s)

Tomás Abel Carrasco Cortés, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 20 February 2010
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Antofagasta
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Chile
Square Kilometers: 43,000 (16,608 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://iglesiadecalama.cl
Mailing Address: Pasaje Mons. Juan Bautista Herrera 1664, Casilla 12/D, Calama, Chile
Telephone: (55)2650.411

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Calama
- Latin Name: Calamensis in Chilia
- Erected: 21 July 1965
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Antofagasta
- Country: Chile

Past and Present Ordinaries

Orozimbo Fuenzalida y Fuenzalida † (13 Mar 1968 Appointed - 26 Feb 1970 Appointed, Bishop of Los Angeles)
Juan Bautista Herrada Armijo, O. de M. † (5 Mar 1982 Appointed - 30 Nov 1991 Resigned)
Cristián Enrique Contreras Molina, O. de M. (11 Jun 1992 Appointed - 19 Jul 2002 Appointed, Bishop of San Felipe)
Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto (10 Apr 2003 Appointed - 22 Feb 2014 Appointed, Bishop of Iquique)
Óscar Hernán Blanco Martínez, O.M.D. (19 Mar 2016 Appointed - 13 Jul 2022 Appointed, Bishop of Punta Arenas)
Tomás Abel Carrasco Cortés (24 May 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Calama
21 July 1965	Erected	Diocese of Antofagasta Diocese of Iquique	Territorial Prelature of Calama (erected) (Departamento El Loa and Distrito de Pampa Union)
28 June 1967	Metropolitan Changed		Territorial Prelature of Calama (from La Serena to Antofagasta)
Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama
20 February 2010	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Calama	Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama

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 Calama

1965 75,000 .0% 7 4 11 0 4 ap1967

1968 91,000 95,000 95.8% 7 4 11 8,272 6 10 3 ap1971

1976 100,000 115,000 87.0% 4 4 8 12,500 10 10 4 ap1977

1980 100,000 119,000 84.0% 7 8 15 6,666 11 12 4 ap1981

1990 115,000 130,000 88.5% 6 4 10 11,500 1 4 17 8 ap1991

1999 132,411 159,532 83.0% 8 3 11 12,037 3 3 8 9 ap2000

2000 132,411 159,532 83.0% 8 3 11 12,037 3 3 8 9 ap2001

2001 132,411 159,532 83.0% 8 3 11 12,037 3 3 8 10 ap2002

2002 132,411 159,532 83.0% 10 2 12 11,034 3 2 7 10 ap2003

2003 125,702 152,649 82.3% 10 3 13 9,669 2 3 4 10 ap2004

2004 127,331 154,278 82.5% 9 2 11 11,575 2 2 4 10 ap2005

Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama

2010 132,000 161,000 82.0% 14 4 18 7,333 10 4 40 11 ap2011

2014 150,300 191,000 78.7% 18 2 20 7,515 10 3 58 11 ap2015

2017 136,161 191,000 71.3% 13 4 17 8,009 11 4 52 11 ap2018

2020 139,800 196,200 71.3% 15 3 18 7,766 11 3 45 11 ap2021

2022 143,865 201,927 71.2% 16 2 18 7,992 10 5 39 11 ap2023

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 Calama
1965		75,000	.0%	7	4	11	0				4	ap1967
1968	91,000	95,000	95.8%	7	4	11	8,272		6	10	3	ap1971
1976	100,000	115,000	87.0%	4	4	8	12,500		10	10	4	ap1977
1980	100,000	119,000	84.0%	7	8	15	6,666		11	12	4	ap1981
1990	115,000	130,000	88.5%	6	4	10	11,500	1	4	17	8	ap1991
1999	132,411	159,532	83.0%	8	3	11	12,037	3	3	8	9	ap2000
2000	132,411	159,532	83.0%	8	3	11	12,037	3	3	8	9	ap2001
2001	132,411	159,532	83.0%	8	3	11	12,037	3	3	8	10	ap2002
2002	132,411	159,532	83.0%	10	2	12	11,034	3	2	7	10	ap2003
2003	125,702	152,649	82.3%	10	3	13	9,669	2	3	4	10	ap2004
2004	127,331	154,278	82.5%	9	2	11	11,575	2	2	4	10	ap2005
Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama
2010	132,000	161,000	82.0%	14	4	18	7,333	10	4	40	11	ap2011
2014	150,300	191,000	78.7%	18	2	20	7,515	10	3	58	11	ap2015
2017	136,161	191,000	71.3%	13	4	17	8,009	11	4	52	11	ap2018
2020	139,800	196,200	71.3%	15	3	18	7,766	11	3	45	11	ap2021
2022	143,865	201,927	71.2%	16	2	18	7,992	10	5	39	11	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Óscar Hernán Blanco Martínez, O.M.D. (Bishop: 19 Mar 2016 to 13 Jul 2022)
Tomás Abel Carrasco Cortés (Bishop: 24 May 2023 - )
Cristián Enrique Contreras Molina, O. de M. (Prelate: 11 Jun 1992 to 19 Jul 2002)
Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto (Prelate: 10 Apr 2003; Bishop: 20 Feb 2010 to 22 Feb 2014)
Juan Luis Ysern de Arce (Administrator: 20 May 1972 to 2 Jun 1974)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Orozimbo Fuenzalida y Fuenzalida † (Prelate: 13 Mar 1968 to 26 Feb 1970)
Juan Bautista Herrada Armijo, O. de M. † (Apostolic Administrator: 26 Feb 1976; Prelate: 5 Mar 1982 to 30 Nov 1991)
Carlos Oviedo Cavada, O. de M. † (Apostolic Administrator: 4 May 1974 to 3 Apr 1976)
Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (Administrator: 21 Jul 1965 to 19 May 1968)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Calama
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 344, to Page 346
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 946, and Page 947
Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 102, Page 265, and Page 266

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Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama

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