Limeira (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Roberto Fortes Palau, Bishop
Vilson Dias de Oliveira, D.C., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 29 April 1976
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Campinas
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Sao Paulo
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 4,915 (1,898 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Sul 1
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesedelimeira.org.br/
Mailing Address: Rua Professora Anita Concilia B. Clemente dos Santos 260, Vila Fior, 13482-279 Limeira, SP, Brazil
Telephone: (019)3441-5329
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Aloísio Ariovaldo (Tarcísio) Amaral, C.Ss.R. † (29 Apr 1976 Appointed - 14 Apr 1984 Appointed, Bishop of Campanha, Minas Gerais)
Fernando Legal, S.D.B. † (25 Apr 1985 Appointed - 15 Mar 1989 Appointed, Bishop of São Miguel Paulista, Sao Paulo)
Ercílio Turco † (18 Nov 1989 Appointed - 24 Apr 2002 Appointed, Bishop of Osasco, Sao Paulo)
Augusto José Zini Filho † (22 Jan 2003 Appointed - 16 Nov 2006 Died)
Vilson Dias de Oliveira, D.C. (13 Jun 2007 Appointed - 17 May 2019 Resigned)
José Roberto Fortes Palau (20 Nov 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
29 April 1976	Erected	Archdiocese of Campinas (Limeira, Iracemápolis, Americana, Nova Odessa, Conchai, Artur Nogueira, Cosmópolis, Araras, Lerne, Santa Cruz da Conceicão, Pirassununga, Porto Ferreira, and Descalvado) Diocese of Piracicaba (Cordeirópolis and Analândia)	Diocese of Limeira (erected)
23 December 1997	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Campinas Diocese of Limeira	Diocese of Amparo (erected) (Amparo, Aguas de Lindóia, Holambra, Itapira, Jaguariúna, Lindóia, Mogi Mirim, Monte Alegre do Sul, Pedreira, Santo Antonio de Posse, and Serra Negra)

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

1976 356,494 455,000 78.4% 28 21 49 7,275 169 37 ap1977

1980 410,000 512,500 80.0% 28 27 55 7,454 1 35 134 38 ap1981

1990 655,000 702,000 93.3% 47 25 72 9,097 1 28 98 48 ap1991

1999 1,010,000 1,325,000 76.2% 65 24 89 11,348 31 109 53 ap2000

2000 1,010,000 1,325,000 76.2% 61 24 85 11,882 25 108 53 ap2001

2001 1,010,000 1,325,000 76.2% 63 20 83 12,168 27 133 53 ap2002

2002 1,100,000 1,135,000 96.9% 58 21 79 13,924 31 143 52 ap2003

2003 1,100,000 1,235,000 89.1% 64 21 85 12,941 33 143 52 ap2004

2004 632,706 949,059 66.7% 61 22 83 7,622 33 132 53 ap2005

2013 638,000 953,000 66.9% 99 21 120 5,316 12 28 114 78 ap2014

2016 654,000 1,190,787 54.9% 102 18 120 5,450 23 25 107 86 ap2017

2019 674,770 1,230,761 54.8% 108 14 122 5,530 23 15 88 97 ap2020

2021 715,778 1,255,752 57.0% 101 11 112 6,390 23 12 63 99 ap2022

2023 706,426 1,217,976 58.0% 91 12 103 6,858 21 15 52 99 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1976	356,494	455,000	78.4%	28	21	49	7,275			169	37	ap1977
1980	410,000	512,500	80.0%	28	27	55	7,454	1	35	134	38	ap1981
1990	655,000	702,000	93.3%	47	25	72	9,097	1	28	98	48	ap1991
1999	1,010,000	1,325,000	76.2%	65	24	89	11,348		31	109	53	ap2000
2000	1,010,000	1,325,000	76.2%	61	24	85	11,882		25	108	53	ap2001
2001	1,010,000	1,325,000	76.2%	63	20	83	12,168		27	133	53	ap2002
2002	1,100,000	1,135,000	96.9%	58	21	79	13,924		31	143	52	ap2003
2003	1,100,000	1,235,000	89.1%	64	21	85	12,941		33	143	52	ap2004
2004	632,706	949,059	66.7%	61	22	83	7,622		33	132	53	ap2005
2013	638,000	953,000	66.9%	99	21	120	5,316	12	28	114	78	ap2014
2016	654,000	1,190,787	54.9%	102	18	120	5,450	23	25	107	86	ap2017
2019	674,770	1,230,761	54.8%	108	14	122	5,530	23	15	88	97	ap2020
2021	715,778	1,255,752	57.0%	101	11	112	6,390	23	12	63	99	ap2022
2023	706,426	1,217,976	58.0%	91	12	103	6,858	21	15	52	99	ap2024