Mercedes (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Luis Eduardo González Cedrés, Bishop
Carlos María Collazzi Irazábal, S.D.B., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 17 December 1960
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Montevideo
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Uruguay
Square Kilometers: 15,000 (5,793 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Obispado, Wilson Ferreira Aldunate 669, 75000 Mercedes, Uruguay
Telephone: (0453)22.061
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Enrico Lorenzo Cabrera Urdangarin † (31 Dec 1960 Appointed - 23 May 1974 Died)
Andrés María Rubio Garcia, S.D.B. † (22 May 1975 Appointed - 14 Feb 1995 Resigned)
Carlos María Collazzi Irazábal, S.D.B. (14 Feb 1995 Appointed - 26 Sep 2023 Retired)
Luis Eduardo González Cedrés (26 Sep 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
17 December 1960	Erected	Diocese of Salto (Soriano) Diocese of San José de Mayo (Colonia)	Diocese of Mercedes (erected)

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

1964 190,000 .0% 26 8 34 0 8 16 ap1967

1968 199,000 230,000 86.5% 22 15 37 5,378 2 21 80 19 ap1971

1976 130,000 195,000 66.7% 16 14 30 4,333 1 16 70 18 ap1977

1980 147,000 193,200 76.1% 14 12 26 5,653 2 13 65 20 ap1981

1990 157,000 200,000 78.5% 17 10 27 5,814 8 13 55 16 ap1991

1999 160,000 205,000 78.0% 23 8 31 5,161 16 9 57 16 ap2000

2000 170,000 210,000 81.0% 20 7 27 6,296 16 8 40 16 ap2001

2001 170,000 210,000 81.0% 19 7 26 6,538 16 8 33 16 ap2002

2002 170,000 210,000 81.0% 19 6 25 6,800 16 7 33 16 ap2003

2003 170,000 210,000 81.0% 19 6 25 6,800 16 7 30 16 ap2004

2004 170,000 210,000 81.0% 17 6 23 7,391 16 7 27 16 ap2005

2013 175,800 215,000 81.8% 20 8 28 6,278 17 8 35 16 ap2014

2016 177,666 217,415 81.7% 16 7 23 7,724 16 7 30 16 ap2017

2019 179,700 219,860 81.7% 12 7 19 9,457 17 7 31 16 ap2020

2021 181,000 221,450 81.7% 10 7 17 10,647 17 7 29 16 ap2022

2023 182,140 222,935 81.7% 7 7 14 13,010 15 7 27 16 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1964		190,000	.0%	26	8	34	0		8		16	ap1967
1968	199,000	230,000	86.5%	22	15	37	5,378	2	21	80	19	ap1971
1976	130,000	195,000	66.7%	16	14	30	4,333	1	16	70	18	ap1977
1980	147,000	193,200	76.1%	14	12	26	5,653	2	13	65	20	ap1981
1990	157,000	200,000	78.5%	17	10	27	5,814	8	13	55	16	ap1991
1999	160,000	205,000	78.0%	23	8	31	5,161	16	9	57	16	ap2000
2000	170,000	210,000	81.0%	20	7	27	6,296	16	8	40	16	ap2001
2001	170,000	210,000	81.0%	19	7	26	6,538	16	8	33	16	ap2002
2002	170,000	210,000	81.0%	19	6	25	6,800	16	7	33	16	ap2003
2003	170,000	210,000	81.0%	19	6	25	6,800	16	7	30	16	ap2004
2004	170,000	210,000	81.0%	17	6	23	7,391	16	7	27	16	ap2005
2013	175,800	215,000	81.8%	20	8	28	6,278	17	8	35	16	ap2014
2016	177,666	217,415	81.7%	16	7	23	7,724	16	7	30	16	ap2017
2019	179,700	219,860	81.7%	12	7	19	9,457	17	7	31	16	ap2020
2021	181,000	221,450	81.7%	10	7	17	10,647	17	7	29	16	ap2022
2023	182,140	222,935	81.7%	7	7	14	13,010	15	7	27	16	ap2024