San Felipe (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gonzalo Arturo Bravo Álvarez, Bishop
Cristián Enrique Contreras Molina, O. de M., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 18 October 1925
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Chile
Square Kilometers: 10,302 (3,979 Square Miles)
Description: Los Andes, Petorca, and San Felipe de Aconcagua
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisdesanfelipe.cl
Mailing Address: Merced 812, Casilla 197, San Felipe, Chile
Telephone: 994.562.210

Past and Present Ordinaries

Melquisedec del Canto Terán † (14 Dec 1925 Appointed - 18 Mar 1938 Resigned)
Roberto Bernardino Berríos Gaínza, O.F.M. † (19 Mar 1938 Appointed - 23 Nov 1957 Resigned)
Ramón Munita Eyzaguirre † (23 Nov 1957 Appointed - 23 Apr 1963 Resigned)
José Luis Castro Cabrera † (10 May 1963 Appointed - 26 Jan 1965 Died)
Enrique Alvear Urrutia † (7 Jun 1965 Appointed - 9 Feb 1974 Resigned)
Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (25 Mar 1974 Appointed - 3 May 1983 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Valparaíso)
Manuel Camilo Vial Risopatrón, P. Schönstatt (20 Dec 1983 Appointed - 21 Sep 2001 Appointed, Bishop of Temuco)
Cristián Enrique Contreras Molina, O. de M. (19 Jul 2002 Appointed - 21 Sep 2018 Resigned)
Gonzalo Arturo Bravo Álvarez (26 May 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
18 October 1925	Erected	Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile (San Felipe (except Llay Llay), Los Andes, and Petorca along with Los Vilos)	Diocese of San Felipe (erected)
30 April 1960	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Serena Diocese of San Felipe	Territorial Prelature of Illapel (erected)
16 November 1964	Territory Added	Diocese of Valparaíso (Chagres in Aconcagua)	Diocese of San Felipe
28 October 1981	Territory Added	Diocese of Valparaíso (Llay Llay)	Diocese of San Felipe

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

1949 125,000 130,000 96.2% 38 22 60 2,083 34 129 24 ap1951

1966 151,844 162,600 93.4% 32 19 51 2,977 22 169 26 ap1967

1968 155,071 167,340 92.7% 34 19 53 2,925 43 131 26 ap1971

1976 156,000 160,000 97.5% 20 34 54 2,888 2 45 165 27 ap1977

1980 180,392 196,630 91.7% 23 20 43 4,195 2 34 171 27 ap1981

1990 221,104 276,381 80.0% 36 17 53 4,171 2 32 167 29 ap1991

1999 242,000 302,000 80.1% 31 20 51 4,745 4 33 127 29 ap2000

2000 245,000 306,000 80.1% 31 20 51 4,803 2 32 126 29 ap2001

2001 248,000 310,000 80.0% 35 20 55 4,509 7 31 123 29 ap2002

2002 250,000 313,000 79.9% 34 20 54 4,629 6 30 125 29 ap2003

2003 247,224 309,028 80.0% 34 19 53 4,664 6 29 125 29 ap2004

2004 247,224 309,028 80.0% 30 21 51 4,847 12 31 120 29 ap2005

2010 269,000 337,000 79.8% 37 19 56 4,803 10 28 96 29 ap2011

2014 279,000 349,000 79.9% 31 19 50 5,580 10 28 106 29 ap2015

2017 191,233 325,000 58.8% 30 20 50 3,824 9 23 95 29 ap2018

2020 213,043 337,720 63.1% 27 13 40 5,326 20 20 77 29 ap2021

2022 219,285 347,780 63.1% 25 7 32 6,852 18 13 82 29 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	125,000	130,000	96.2%	38	22	60	2,083		34	129	24	ap1951
1966	151,844	162,600	93.4%	32	19	51	2,977		22	169	26	ap1967
1968	155,071	167,340	92.7%	34	19	53	2,925		43	131	26	ap1971
1976	156,000	160,000	97.5%	20	34	54	2,888	2	45	165	27	ap1977
1980	180,392	196,630	91.7%	23	20	43	4,195	2	34	171	27	ap1981
1990	221,104	276,381	80.0%	36	17	53	4,171	2	32	167	29	ap1991
1999	242,000	302,000	80.1%	31	20	51	4,745	4	33	127	29	ap2000
2000	245,000	306,000	80.1%	31	20	51	4,803	2	32	126	29	ap2001
2001	248,000	310,000	80.0%	35	20	55	4,509	7	31	123	29	ap2002
2002	250,000	313,000	79.9%	34	20	54	4,629	6	30	125	29	ap2003
2003	247,224	309,028	80.0%	34	19	53	4,664	6	29	125	29	ap2004
2004	247,224	309,028	80.0%	30	21	51	4,847	12	31	120	29	ap2005
2010	269,000	337,000	79.8%	37	19	56	4,803	10	28	96	29	ap2011
2014	279,000	349,000	79.9%	31	19	50	5,580	10	28	106	29	ap2015
2017	191,233	325,000	58.8%	30	20	50	3,824	9	23	95	29	ap2018
2020	213,043	337,720	63.1%	27	13	40	5,326	20	20	77	29	ap2021
2022	219,285	347,780	63.1%	25	7	32	6,852	18	13	82	29	ap2023