Vicariate Apostolic of Pilcomayo

---

Bishop(s) Vacant Miguel Fritz, O.M.I., Apostolic Administrator Lucio Alfert, O.M.I., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic Elevated: 14 July 1950 Vicariate Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Paraguay Square Kilometers: 125,000 (48,281 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.vicpilcomayo.org.py/ Mailing Address: Mariscal Estigarribia, C.C. 455, Asuncion, Paraguay Telephone: 99.17.08.519

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Pilcomayo
  • Latin Name: Pilcomayoënsis
  • Erected: 12 February 1925
  • Country: Paraguay

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Josephus Rose, O.M.I. † (2 May 1925 Appointed - 1927 Resigned)
• Heinrich Breuer, O.M.I. † ( 1927 Appointed - 1932 Resigned)
• Karl Walter Vervoort, O.M.I. † (27 Feb 1932 Appointed - 24 Aug 1962 Resigned)
• Sinforiano Lucas Rojo, O.M.I. † (24 Aug 1962 Appointed - 24 Jan 1981 Retired)
• Pedro Shaw, O.M.I. † (22 Apr 1981 Appointed - 21 Jun 1984 Died)
• José (Joseph) Bulber, O.M.I. † ( 1984 Appointed - 1986 Ceased)
• Lucio Alfert, O.M.I. (24 Jan 1986 Appointed - 18 Nov 2022 Retired)

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Pilcomayo
12 February 1925	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Chaco (South of the twenty-second parallel)	Prefecture Apostolic of Pilcomayo (erected)
1 May 1929	Territory Lost	Diocese of Paraguay (o Ssma Assunzione) Prefecture Apostolic of Pilcomayo	Diocese of Concepción y Chaco (erected)
12 May 1944	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Chaco (Boundaries adjusted) Prefecture Apostolic of Pilcomayo (Boundaries adjusted)
Vicariate Apostolic of Pilcomayo
14 July 1950	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Pilcomayo	Vicariate Apostolic of Pilcomayo
28 June 1980	Territory Lost	Diocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione) en Paraguay Vicariate Apostolic of Pilcomayo	Diocese of Benjamín Aceval (erected)

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Pilcomayo
1950	26,000	50,000	52.0%		12	12	2,166		23	6	1	ap1951
1964	40,000	60,000	66.7%		16	16	2,500		25	7	8	ap1967
1970					18	18	0		32	20		ap1971
1976	50,000	77,679	64.4%		16	16	3,125		35	20	10	ap1977
1980	50,000	80,000	62.5%	2	15	17	2,941	2	31	28	11	ap1981
1990	15,300	49,400	31.0%		9	9	1,700		19	22	3	ap1991
1999	33,000	61,500	53.7%	1	9	10	3,300		17	28	4	ap2000
2000	34,000	75,000	45.3%	1	8	9	3,777		15	29	4	ap2001
2001	34,300	75,000	45.7%	1	9	10	3,430		16	29	5	ap2002
2002	34,300	75,000	45.7%	1	7	8	4,287		14	30	5	ap2003
2004	35,000	75,000	46.7%	1	9	10	3,500		16	29	5	ap2005
2010	38,700	83,000	46.6%	2	8	10	3,870		12	28	5	ap2011
2014	41,400	89,000	46.5%	3	8	11	3,763		12	20	6	ap2015
2017	40,000	75,000	53.3%	5	6	11	3,636		10	14	6	ap2018
2020	42,600	81,140	52.5%	4	7	11	3,872		11	8	6	ap2021
2022	44,000	83,000	53.0%	6	6	12	3,666		12	12	6	ap2023

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

---

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Lucio Alfert, O.M.I. (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Jan 1986 to 18 Nov 2022)
• Miguel Fritz, O.M.I. (Apostolic Administrator: 18 Nov 2022)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Heinrich Breuer, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 1927 to 1932)
• José (Joseph) Bulber, O.M.I. † (Administrator: 1984 to 1986)
• Sinforiano Lucas Rojo, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Aug 1962 to 24 Jan 1981)
• Josephus Rose, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 2 May 1925 to 1927)
• Pedro Shaw, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 22 Apr 1981 to 21 Jun 1984)
• Karl Walter Vervoort, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 27 Feb 1932; Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jul 1950 to 24 Aug 1962)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Pilcomayo Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 17, Page 228 Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 36, Page 178 Vicariate Apostolic of Pilcomayo Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 103, and Page 104

Home | Countries | Religious Orders | Popes | Holy See | Roman Curia | Cardinals by Rank Bishops: All | Living | Deceased | Youngest | Oldest | Cardinal Electors Dioceses: All | Current Only | Titular | Vacant | Structured View Events: Overview | Recent | by Date | by Year | Necrology Ad Limina | Conclaves | Consistories | Councils Eastern Catholic Churches
About Catholic-Hierarchy		Terminology/Site Help
		Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024 Code: web_d, v3.4.6, 4 Feb 2024; Data: 14 Apr 2024

✠