Diocese of Liepāja

Dioecesis Liepaiensis

Bishop(s)

Viktors Stulpins, Bishop
Vilhelms Toms Marija Lapelis, O.P., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 8 May 1937
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Riga
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Latvia
Square Kilometers: 13,210 (5,102 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.katedrale.lv/
Mailing Address: Peldu iela 15, LV-3401 Liepaja, Latvia
Telephone: (294)57.320

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antonijs Urbšs (Urbbs) † (29 Apr 1938 Appointed - 11 Aug 1965 Died)
Jānis Bulis (8 May 1991 Appointed - 7 Dec 1995 Appointed, Bishop of Rēzekne-Aglona)
Ārvaldis Andrejs Brumanis † (7 Dec 1995 Appointed - 12 May 2001 Retired)
Vilhelms Toms Marija Lapelis, O.P. (12 May 2001 Succeeded - 20 Jun 2012 Resigned)
Viktors Stulpins (20 Jul 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
8 May 1937	Erected	Archdiocese of Riga (Courland and Semigallia)	Diocese of Liepāja (erected)
2 December 1995	Territory Lost	Diocese of Liepāja (Griva, Ilukste, Jekabpils, Skaistkalne, and Jelgava)	Diocese of Jelgava (erected)

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

1950 89,617 592,028 15.1% 40 ap1951

1999 33,000 314,500 10.5% 7 4 11 3,000 5 4 23 ap2000

2000 33,000 314,500 10.5% 5 5 10 3,300 6 4 25 ap2001

2001 33,000 347,500 9.5% 8 4 12 2,750 5 7 27 ap2002

2002 33,000 314,500 10.5% 8 4 12 2,750 6 6 27 ap2003

2003 33,000 314,500 10.5% 8 4 12 2,750 6 6 27 ap2004

2004 33,000 314,500 10.5% 7 4 11 3,000 7 6 30 ap2005

2013 28,000 280,000 10.0% 11 5 16 1,750 5 11 33 ap2014

2016 27,400 274,200 10.0% 9 4 13 2,107 4 11 32 ap2017

2019 26,950 270,180 10.0% 9 6 15 1,796 6 17 32 ap2020

2021 26,500 253,034 10.5% 8 6 14 1,892 6 17 33 ap2022

2023 26,140 249,580 10.5% 4 6 10 2,614 6 10 31 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	89,617	592,028	15.1%							40	ap1951
1999	33,000	314,500	10.5%	7	4	11	3,000	5	4	23	ap2000
2000	33,000	314,500	10.5%	5	5	10	3,300	6	4	25	ap2001
2001	33,000	347,500	9.5%	8	4	12	2,750	5	7	27	ap2002
2002	33,000	314,500	10.5%	8	4	12	2,750	6	6	27	ap2003
2003	33,000	314,500	10.5%	8	4	12	2,750	6	6	27	ap2004
2004	33,000	314,500	10.5%	7	4	11	3,000	7	6	30	ap2005
2013	28,000	280,000	10.0%	11	5	16	1,750	5	11	33	ap2014
2016	27,400	274,200	10.0%	9	4	13	2,107	4	11	32	ap2017
2019	26,950	270,180	10.0%	9	6	15	1,796	6	17	32	ap2020
2021	26,500	253,034	10.5%	8	6	14	1,892	6	17	33	ap2022
2023	26,140	249,580	10.5%	4	6	10	2,614	6	10	31	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Jānis Bulis (Bishop: 8 May 1991 to 7 Dec 1995)
Vilhelms Toms Marija Lapelis, O.P. (Coadjutor Bishop: 25 Jan 2000; Bishop: 12 May 2001 to 20 Jun 2012)
Eduards Pavlovskis (Apostolic Administrator: 20 Jun 2012 to 7 Sep 2013)
Zbigņev Stankevičs
Viktors Stulpins (Bishop: 20 Jul 2013 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Ārvaldis Andrejs Brumanis † (Bishop: 7 Dec 1995 to 12 May 2001)
Jānis Cakuls † (Coadjutor Apostolic Administrator: 9 Nov 1982; Apostolic Administrator: 23 May 1990 to 8 May 1991)
Pēteris Strods † (Apostolic Administrator: 19 Jul 1946 to 5 Aug 1960)
Antonijs Urbšs (Urbbs) † (Bishop: 29 Apr 1938 to 11 Aug 1965)
Julijans Vaivods † (Priest: 7 Apr 1918 to 10 Nov 1964; Apostolic Administrator: 10 Nov 1964 to 24 May 1990)
Valerians Zondaks † (Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Oct 1972 to 27 Sep 1986)

Source(s)

Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 29, Page 384, to Page 386

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