Territorial Prelature of Calama

Territorialis Praelatura Calamensis in Chilia

Bishop(s)

Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto, Prelate

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Territorial Prelature
Erected: 21 July 1965
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Antofagasta
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Chile
Square Kilometers: 43,000 (16,608 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.iglesiadecalama.cl/
Mailing Address: Casilla 12-D, Pasaje Better 1664, Calama, Chile
Telephone: (055) 34-2058
Fax: 34-1467

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (21 Jul 1965 Appointed - 19 May 1968 Resigned)
Orozimbo Fuenzalida y Fuenzalida (13 Mar 1968 Appointed - 26 Feb 1970 Appointed, Bishop of Los Angeles (Santa Maria de))
Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (Apr 1970 Appointed - 2 Jun 1970 Resigned)
Juan Luis Ysern de Arce (20 May 1972 Appointed - 2 Jun 1974 Resigned)
Carlos Oviedo Cavada, O. de M. † (4 May 1974 Appointed - 3 Apr 1976 Resigned)
Juan Bautista Herrada Armijo, O. de M. † (5 Mar 1982 Appointed - 30 Nov 1991 Resigned)
Cristián 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 - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
21 July 1965	Erected	Diocese of Antofagasta Diocese of Iquique	Territorial Prelature of Calama (erected)
28 June 1967	Metropolitan Changed		Territorial Prelature of Calama (from La Serena to Antofagasta)

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

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

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

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Cristián Contreras Molina, O. de M. (Prelate: 11 Jun 1992 to 19 Jul 2002)
Orozimbo Fuenzalida y Fuenzalida (Prelate: 13 Mar 1968 to 26 Feb 1970)
Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto (Priest: 1991; Prelate: 10 Apr 2003 - )
Juan Luis Ysern de Arce (Administrator: 20 May 1972 to 2 Jun 1974)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

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. † (Administrator: 4 May 1974 to 3 Apr 1976)
Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (Administrator: 21 Jul 1965 to 19 May 1968)

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