Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jesús Castro Marte, Bishop
Gregorio Nicanor Peña Rodríguez, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 1 April 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santo Domingo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Dominican Republic
Square Kilometers: 5,451 (2,105 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Obispado, Ave. Dr. Vetilio Alfau Durán 12, Higüey, República Dominicana
Telephone: (809)554-2431; 554-4120
Fax: 554-2827

Past and Present Ordinaries

Juan Félix Pepén y Soliman † (1 Apr 1959 Appointed - 10 May 1975 Resigned)
Hugo Eduardo Polanco Brito † (10 May 1975 Appointed - 25 Mar 1995 Retired)
Ramón Benito de La Rosa y Carpio (25 Mar 1995 Appointed - 16 Jul 2003 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de los Caballeros)
Gregorio Nicanor Peña Rodríguez (24 Jun 2004 Appointed - 30 May 2020 Retired)
Jesús Castro Marte (30 May 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
1 April 1959	Erected	Archdiocese of Santo Domingo (La Altagracia and El Seibo)	Diocese of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (erected)
1 February 1997	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Hato Mayor) Archdiocese of Santo Domingo (San Pedro de Macoris)	Diocese of San Pedro de Macorís (erected)

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

1966 9,610 240,000 4.0% 9 5 14 686 6 30 9 ap1967

1970 274,000 .0% 10 6 16 0 6 44 13 ap1971

1976 302,562 316,562 95.6% 13 11 24 12,606 14 49 14 ap1977

1980 338,000 362,000 93.4% 11 7 18 18,777 11 72 14 ap1981

1990 394,000 410,000 96.1% 13 11 24 16,416 1 16 69 18 ap1991

1999 304,052 357,709 85.0% 18 13 31 9,808 3 20 57 18 ap2000

2000 435,029 483,366 90.0% 25 12 37 11,757 2 16 85 19 ap2001

2001 436,758 487,958 89.5% 23 11 34 12,845 6 17 82 19 ap2002

2002 441,063 493,263 89.4% 19 13 32 13,783 8 17 82 21 ap2003

2003 442,100 495,300 89.3% 21 15 36 12,280 8 19 88 22 ap2004

2004 457,100 535,400 85.4% 23 13 36 12,697 14 15 36 22 ap2005

2013 509,000 613,000 83.0% 23 17 40 12,725 15 22 68 36 ap2014

2016 513,996 619,420 83.0% 25 20 45 11,422 2 25 60 36 ap2017

2019 528,430 636,790 83.0% 25 14 39 13,549 27 20 56 36 ap2020

2021 509,000 613,428 83.0% 25 20 45 11,311 27 24 60 36 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	9,610	240,000	4.0%	9	5	14	686		6	30	9	ap1967
1970		274,000	.0%	10	6	16	0		6	44	13	ap1971
1976	302,562	316,562	95.6%	13	11	24	12,606		14	49	14	ap1977
1980	338,000	362,000	93.4%	11	7	18	18,777		11	72	14	ap1981
1990	394,000	410,000	96.1%	13	11	24	16,416	1	16	69	18	ap1991
1999	304,052	357,709	85.0%	18	13	31	9,808	3	20	57	18	ap2000
2000	435,029	483,366	90.0%	25	12	37	11,757	2	16	85	19	ap2001
2001	436,758	487,958	89.5%	23	11	34	12,845	6	17	82	19	ap2002
2002	441,063	493,263	89.4%	19	13	32	13,783	8	17	82	21	ap2003
2003	442,100	495,300	89.3%	21	15	36	12,280	8	19	88	22	ap2004
2004	457,100	535,400	85.4%	23	13	36	12,697	14	15	36	22	ap2005
2013	509,000	613,000	83.0%	23	17	40	12,725	15	22	68	36	ap2014
2016	513,996	619,420	83.0%	25	20	45	11,422	2	25	60	36	ap2017
2019	528,430	636,790	83.0%	25	14	39	13,549	27	20	56	36	ap2020
2021	509,000	613,428	83.0%	25	20	45	11,311	27	24	60	36	ap2022