Brazil—2

This blog will discuss the six Catholic provinces in Brazil’s civil state of Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil.

Province of Sao Paulo

The province consists of that part of the civil state of Sao Paulo including and surrounding the City of Sao Paulo.  The Diocese of Sao Paulo was created in 1745 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1908.  

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Paul in Sao Paulo was built in a Neo-Gothic style between 1913 and 1954, although the towers were not completed until 1967.  The east tower has a carillon of 61 bells that was made in the Netherlands.  More than 800 tons of marble were used in the construction of the cathedral which can hold 8,000 people.  The Renaissance dome was modeled after the Cathedral in Florence, Italy.  The pipe organ was made in Italy and has 12,000 pipes, 329 stops, and five keyboards.  

The top picture is from pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has ten suffragan dioceses. 

• The Diocese of Santos was created in 1924.
• The Diocese of Santo Andre was created in 1954.
• The Diocese of Mogi das Cruzes was created in 1962.
• The Diocese of Nossa Senhora do Libano em Sao Paulo for the Maronite Rite was created in 1971.
• The Diocese of Nossa Senhora do Paraiso em Sao Paulo for the Greek-Melkite Rite was created in 1971.
• The Diocese of Guarulhos was created in 1981.
• The Diocese of Campo Limpo was created in 1989.
• The Diocese of Osasco was created in 1989.
• The Diocese of Santa Amaro was created in 1989.
• The Diocese of Sao Miguel Paulista was created in 1989. 

Province of Aparecida

The province consists of that part of the civil state of Sao Paulo northeast of the City of Sao Paulo.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Aparecida was established in 1958.  The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady in Aparecida.  The Romanesque Revival church was constructed between 1955 and 1980 and can hold 45,000 people.  The dome rises 230 feet above the floor.  Pope John Paul II gave the church the title of a minor basilica in 1980.  The Cathedral Basilica gets its name from a statue of the Virgin Mary that was found by two fishermen in 1717.

The top picture is from Flickr and the other two are from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses. 

• The Diocese of Taubate was created in 1908.
• The Diocese of Lorena was created in 1937.
• The Diocese of Sao Jose dos Campos was created in 1981.
• The Diocese of Caraguatatuba was created in 1999.

Province of Botucatu

The province consists of the western part of the civil state of Sao Paulo.  The Diocese of Botucatu was established in 1908 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1958.  The Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral of St. Ann in Botucatu was built between 1929 and 1943.  Pope Paul VI declared it a minor basilica in 1965.  The cathedral’s website is catedraldebotucatu.org.br.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has seven suffragan dioceses. 

• The Diocese of Lins was created in 1926.
• The Diocese of Assis was created in 1928.
• The Diocese of Marilia was created in 1952.
• The Diocese of Presidente Prudente was created in 1960.
• The Diocese of Bauru was created in 1964.
• The Diocese of Aracatuba was created in 1994.
• The Diocese of Ourinhos was created in 1998.

Province of Campinas

The province consists of the central part of the civil state of Sao Paulo.  The Diocese of Campinas was created in 1908 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Campinas in 1958.  The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception in Campinas was built with slave labor between 1807 and 1883 and is made of gravel and clay.  It features a wood-carved Baroque interior with a neoclassical façade.  The Cathedral’s website is catedralcampinas.com.br.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses. 

• The Diocese of Sao Carlos was created in 1908.
• The Diocese of Braganca Paulista was created in 1925.
• The Diocese of Piracicaba was created in 1944.
• The Diocese of Limeira was created in 1976.
• The Diocese of Amparo was created in 1997.

Province of Ribeirao Preto

The province consists of the northern portion of the civil state of Sao Paulo.  The Diocese of Ribeirao Preto was created in 1908 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1958.  The Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Ribeirao Preto was built in a neo-Gothic style between 1904 and 1918.  Paulista Benedito Calixto made six paintings depicting the life of San Sebastian and also painted a picture of the Holy Family.  The Cathedral has side altars dedicated to Christ crucified, the child Jesus of Prague, Saint Joseph, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Aparecida, St. Anthony, Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The website is catedralrp.com.br.

Both are from Wikipedia.

The Province has eight suffragan dioceses. 

• The Diocese of Jaboticabal was created in 1929.
• The Diocese of Sao Jose do Rio Preto was created in 1929.
• The Diocese of Jales was created in 1959.
• The Diocese of Sao Joao da Boa Vista was created in 1960.
• The Diocese of Franca was created in 1971.
• The Diocese of Barretos was created in 1973.
• The Diocese of Catanduva was created in 2000.
• The Diocese of Votuporanga was created in 2016.

Province of Sorocaba

The province consists of the southern part of the civil state of Sao Paulo.  The Diocese of Sorocaba was created in 1924 and it was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1992.  The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Bridge in Sorocaba was built in a Baroque style in the late 1700s.  The Cathedral has 20^th Century interior paintings by Ernesto Tomazzini and Bruno Giusti.  The bell in the bell tower has 50 kilograms of gold for sound quality.  See catedraldesorocaba.org.br. 

From Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses. 

• The Diocese of Jundiai was created in 1966.
• The Diocese of Itapeva was created in 1968.
• The Diocese of Registro was created in 1974.
• The Diocese of Itapetininga was created in 1998. 

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Latin or Roman rite.  Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage.  Many Catholics belong to one of two dozen Eastern rite churches.  Eastern rite churches trace their heritage to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell.  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.