Machala (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vicente Horacio Saeteros Sierra, Bishop
Néstor Rafael Herrera Heredia, Bishop Emeritus
Luis Antonio Sánchez Armijos, S.D.B., Bishop Emeritus
Ángel Polivio Sánchez Loaiza, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 31 January 1969
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cuenca
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ecuador
Square Kilometers: 6,188 (2,390 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://diomachala.galeon.com/
Mailing Address: Casilla 07-01-0707, Calle Guayas 17-18 entre 25 de Junio y Rocafuerte, Machala, El Oro, Ecuador
Telephone: (07)2932.851

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of El Oro
- Latin Name: de El Oro
- Erected: 26 July 1954
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cuenca
- Country: Ecuador

Past and Present Ordinaries

Vicente Felicísimo Maya Guzmán † (29 Nov 1963 Appointed - 30 Jan 1978 Resigned)
Antonio José González Zumárraga † (30 Jan 1978 Appointed - 28 Jun 1980 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Quito)
Néstor Rafael Herrera Heredia (14 Jan 1982 Appointed - 22 Feb 2010 Retired)
Luis Antonio Sánchez Armijos, S.D.B. (22 Feb 2010 Appointed - 22 Oct 2012 Resigned)
Ángel Polivio Sánchez Loaiza (20 Jul 2013 Appointed - 27 Sep 2022 Retired)
Vicente Horacio Saeteros Sierra (27 Sep 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of El Oro
26 July 1954	Erected	Diocese of Guayaquil (Máchala) Diocese of Loja (Zaruma and Santa Rosa)	Territorial Prelature of El Oro (erected)
11 September 1961	Metropolitan Changed		Territorial Prelature of El Oro (from Quito)
Diocese of Machala
31 January 1969	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of El Oro	Diocese of Machala

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 El Oro

1966 171,600 172,000 99.8% 21 4 25 6,864 5 81 18 ap1967

Diocese of Machala

1970 218,000 220,000 99.1% 50 4 54 4,037 7 88 20 ap1971

1976 250,000 268,027 93.3% 19 6 25 10,000 10 74 21 ap1977

1980 289,000 309,000 93.5% 17 7 24 12,041 11 69 24 ap1981

1990 420,000 430,000 97.7% 13 14 27 15,555 17 65 49 ap1991

1999 462,000 485,000 95.3% 23 14 37 12,486 14 94 50 ap2000

2000 489,000 512,000 95.5% 23 15 38 12,868 15 104 50 ap2001

2001 486,400 512,000 95.0% 24 14 38 12,800 14 106 35 ap2002

2002 486,000 512,000 94.9% 21 17 38 12,789 17 106 31 ap2003

2003 485,000 512,000 94.7% 22 14 36 13,472 14 118 33 ap2004

2004 485,000 512,000 94.7% 20 13 33 14,696 26 85 35 ap2005

2013 554,000 584,000 94.9% 29 18 47 11,787 1 18 99 32 ap2014

2016 564,035 658,189 85.7% 30 15 45 12,534 1 15 93 32 ap2017

2019 575,530 661,529 87.0% 27 15 42 13,703 1 15 82 28 ap2020

2021 587,097 674,825 87.0% 23 15 38 15,449 1 15 82 28 ap2022

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 El Oro
1966	171,600	172,000	99.8%	21	4	25	6,864		5	81	18	ap1967
Diocese of Machala
1970	218,000	220,000	99.1%	50	4	54	4,037		7	88	20	ap1971
1976	250,000	268,027	93.3%	19	6	25	10,000		10	74	21	ap1977
1980	289,000	309,000	93.5%	17	7	24	12,041		11	69	24	ap1981
1990	420,000	430,000	97.7%	13	14	27	15,555		17	65	49	ap1991
1999	462,000	485,000	95.3%	23	14	37	12,486		14	94	50	ap2000
2000	489,000	512,000	95.5%	23	15	38	12,868		15	104	50	ap2001
2001	486,400	512,000	95.0%	24	14	38	12,800		14	106	35	ap2002
2002	486,000	512,000	94.9%	21	17	38	12,789		17	106	31	ap2003
2003	485,000	512,000	94.7%	22	14	36	13,472		14	118	33	ap2004
2004	485,000	512,000	94.7%	20	13	33	14,696		26	85	35	ap2005
2013	554,000	584,000	94.9%	29	18	47	11,787	1	18	99	32	ap2014
2016	564,035	658,189	85.7%	30	15	45	12,534	1	15	93	32	ap2017
2019	575,530	661,529	87.0%	27	15	42	13,703	1	15	82	28	ap2020
2021	587,097	674,825	87.0%	23	15	38	15,449	1	15	82	28	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Antonio José González Zumárraga † (Bishop: 30 Jan 1978 to 28 Jun 1980)
Vicente Felicísimo Maya Guzmán † (Apostolic Administrator: 2 May 1955; Prelate: 29 Nov 1963; Bishop: 31 Jan 1969 to 30 Jan 1978)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of El Oro
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 49, to Page 51
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 54, Page 545, and Page 546
Diocese of Machala
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 61, Page 485, and Page 486

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Diocese of Machala

Dioecesis Machalensis