Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Brazil—4

This blog will discuss seven Catholic provinces in Brazil’s civil states of Alagoas, Ceara, Maranhao, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Piaui, and Rio Grande do Norte. All are located in northeastern Brazil.

Please see my previous blogs on Brazil:

Brazil-1 published on September 6, 2019
Brazil-2 published on September 9, 2019
Brazil-3 published on September 1, 2020

Province of Olinda e Recife

The province consists of the civil state of Pernambuco. The Territorial Prelature of Pernambuco was created in 1611. It was promoted to a diocese in 1676 and to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1910.

The Cathedral of the Holy Savior of the World was built in 1584 on top of the highest hill in Olinda. The columns in the church are made with rock from local reefs. The Cathedral has several paintings adorning its walls.

Pictures are by cruisebe, Flickr, and Wikipedia

The Baroque Co-Cathedral of St. Peter of Clerics in Recife was constructed by the Brotherhood of St. Peter of Clerics between 1728 and 1759. The church’s interior combines the Baroque, Neo-Classical, and Rococo styles. The ceiling paintings feature St. Peter with the other Apostles along with the Evangelists. The main altar is made of rosewood and the pulpit is engraved in gold.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has nine suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Garanhuns was created in 1918.
The Diocese of Nazare was created in 1918.
The Diocese of Pesqueira was created in 1918.
The Diocese of Petrolina was created in 1923.
The Diocese of Caruaru was created in 1948.
The Diocese of Afogados da Ingazeira was created in 1956.
The Diocese of Palmares was created in 1962.
The Diocese of Floresta was created in 1910, suppressed in 1918, and restored in 1964.
The Diocese of Salgueiro was created in 2010.

Province of Paraiba

The province consists of the civil state of Paraiba. The Diocese of Paraiba was created in 1892 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1914.

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows in Joao Pessoa was built in stages over the 17th and 18th Centuries. A 19th Century renovation was done in an eclectic style. The Cathedral was designated a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Cajazeiras was created in 1914.
The Diocese of Campina Grande was created in 1949.
The Diocese of Patos was created in 1959.
The Diocese of Guarabira was created in 1980.

Province of Fortaleza

The province consists of the civil state of Ceara. The Diocese of Ceara was created in 1854 and was promoted to metropolitan archdiocese in 1915.

The St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Fortaleza was built between 1938 and 1978. It was designed in a neo-Gothic style by a French architect influenced by the cathedrals in Cologne and Chartres. The towers are over 240 feet high and the church can hold 5,000 worshipers.

The first picture is from TripAdvisor and the other two are from Wikipedia.

The Province has eight suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Crato was created in 1914.
The Diocese of Sobral was created in 1915.
The Diocese of Limoerio do Norte was created in 1938.
The Diocese of Iguatu was created in 1961.
The Diocese of Crateus was created in 1963.
The Diocese of Itapipoca was created in 1971.
The Diocese of Quixada was created in 1971.
The Diocese of Tiangua was created in 1971.

Province of Maceio

The province consists of the civil state of Alagoas. The Diocese of Alagoas was created in 1900 and renamed Maceio in 1917. It was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1920.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Prazeres in Maceio was built mostly in a Neo-Classical style between 1840 and 1859. A winding staircase leads to a white façade flanked by twin towers. The interior features silver chandeliers, frescoes of saints, and stained-glass windows with biblical themes.

The top picture is from Expedia and the bottom picture is from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Penedo was created in 1916.
The Diocese of Palmeira dos Indios was created in 1962.

Province of Sao Luis do Maranhao

The province consists of the civil state of Maranhao. The Diocese of Sao Luis do Maranhao was established in 1677 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1921.

Our Lady of Victory Cathedral in Sao Luis do Maranhao was constructed between 1690 and 1699 initially as a Jesuit church and became the Cathedral in 1761. The Cathedral was made more decorative in the 19th Century and the façade and two towers were added in the early 20th Century. The 17th Century gilded altar is considered a masterpiece of Brazilian Baroque art.

The first picture is from Dreamstime and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has eleven suffragan jurisdictions.

The Diocese of Caxias do Maranhao was created in 1939.
The Diocese of Viana was created in 1962.
The Diocese of Bacabal was created in 1968.
The Diocese of Brejo was created in 1971.
The Diocese of Coroata in 1977.
The Diocese of Carolina was created as a territorial prelature in 1958 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Pinheiro was created as a territorial prelature in 1939 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Balsas was created as a territorial prelature in 1954 and became a diocese in 1981.
The Diocese of Grajau was created as a territorial prelature in 1922 and became a diocese in 1981.
The Diocese of Imperatriz was created in 1987.
The Diocese of Ze-Doca was created as a territorial prelature in 1961 and became a diocese in 1983.

Province of Natal

The province consists of the civil state of Rio Grande do Norte. The Diocese of Natal was created in 1909 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1952. Our Lady of the Presentation Cathedral in Natal was completed in 1988 in a modern trapezoidal style.

From Inspirock and Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Mossoro was created in 1934.
The Diocese of Caico was created in 1939.

Province of Teresina

The province consists of the civil state of Piaui. The Diocese of Piaui was established in 1902, was renamed Teresina in 1944 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1952. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows is in Teresina. Construction of the cathedral began in 1865.

The first two pictures are from Inspirock and the other two are from Wikipedia.

The Province has seven suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Oeiras was created in 1944.
The Diocese of Parnaiba was created in 1944.
The Diocese of Picos was created in 1974.
The Diocese of Campo Maior was created in 1975.
The Diocese of Bom Jesus do Gurgueia was created as a territorial prelature in 1920 and became a diocese in 1981.
The Diocese of Sao Raimundo Nonato was created as a territorial prelature in 1960 and became a diocese in 1981.
The Diocese of Floriano was created in 2008.

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. There are also territories below the level of a diocese, which include territorial prelatures.

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.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Brazil—3

This blog will discuss nine Catholic provinces in Brazil’s civil states of Acre, Amapa, Amazonas, Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Para, Rondonia, Roraima, Tocantins, and the Federal District. All are located in western Brazil.

Please see my previous blogs on Brazil:

Brazil-1 was published on September 6, 2019
Brazil-2 was published on September 9, 2019

Province of Belem do Para

The province consists of the civil state of Amapa and part of Para. The Diocese of Belem do Para was created in 1720 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1906.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace in Belem was built between 1748 and 1782. It was designed by an Italian architect who was inspired by churches in his native Bologna. The Baroque-Rococo façade has a niche with a statue of Our Lady. The façade is flanked by two towers with neoclassical pyramidal spires. The interior was redone in 1882 and features paintings by Italian artists. The French pipe organ is said to be the largest in Latin America. The Cathedral has ten side altars, 28 bronze chandeliers, and several stained glass windows.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has nine suffragan jurisdictions.

The Diocese of Santissima Conceicao do Araguaia was created as a territorial prelature in 1911 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Braganca do Para was created as a territorial prelature in 1928 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Ponta de Pedras was created as a territorial prelature in 1963 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Maraba was created as a territorial prelature in 1969 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Macapa was created as a territorial prelature in 1949 and became a diocese in 1980.
The Diocese of Abaetetuba was created as a territorial prelature in 1961 and became a diocese in 1981.
The Diocese of Castanhal was created in 2004.
The Diocese of Cameta was created as a territorial prelature in 1952 and became a diocese in 2013.
The Territorial Prelature of Marajo was created in 1928.

Province of Cuiaba

The province consists of the civil state of Mato Grosso. The Territorial Prelature of Cuiaba was created in 1745. This became a diocese in 1826 and the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cuiaba in 1910.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Good Lord Jesus is in Cuiaba. The first church was built in the mid-1740s, but was demolished in 1968. It was replaced with the current concrete structure in 1973. Pope Paul VI named this a minor basilica in 1974.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has eight suffragan jurisdictions.

The Diocese of Sao Luiz de Caceres was created in 1910.
The Diocese of Diamantino was created as a territorial prelature in 1929 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Sinop was created in 1982.
The Diocese of Barra do Garcas was created in 1982.
The Diocese of Rondonopolis-Guiratinga was created as a territorial prelature in 1940 and became a diocese in 1986.
The Diocese of Juina was created in 1997.
The Diocese of Primavera do Leste-Paranatinga was created as a territorial prelature in 1997 and became a diocese in 2014.
The Territorial Prelature of Sao Felix was created in 1969.

Province of Manaus

The province consists of the civil state of Roraima and part of Amazonas. The Diocese of Amazonas was created in 1892 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manaus in 1952.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception parish in Manaus dates to 1695 and the current church to 1878. The Cathedral is built in a Greek revival style. Its six bells and limestone baptistery and altars all came from Portugal.

The top picture is from Dreamstime and the bottom is from Wikipedia.

The Province has eight suffragan jurisdictions.

The Diocese of Roraima was created as an apostolic administration in 1934, became a territorial prelature in 1944, and a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Parintins was created as a territorial prelature in 1955 and became a diocese in 1980.
The Diocese of Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira was created as a territorial prelature in 1925 and became a diocese in 1981.
The Diocese of Alto Solimoes was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1910, became a territorial prelature in 1950, and a diocese in 1991.
The Diocese of Coari was created as a territorial prelature in 1963 and became a diocese in 2013.
The Territorial Prelature of Borba was created in 1963 and became a diocese in 2022.
The Territorial Prelature of Tefe was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1910 and became a territorial prelature in 1950.
The Territorial Prelature of Itacoatiara was created in 1963.

Province of Goiania

The province consists of part of the civil state of Goias. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Goiania was established in 1956.

Our Lady Help of Christians Cathedral in Goiania opened in 1956. The cathedral is built in a modern-eclectic style with elements of neo-Renaissance, neo-Gothic, and art deco. It has one tower.

The top picture is from the Cathedral website and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has seven suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Goias was created in 1745 as a territorial prelature. It became a diocese in 1826 and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1932. It was demoted back to a diocese in 1956.
The Diocese of Jatai was created as a territorial prelature in 1929 and became a diocese in 1956.
The Diocese of Anapolis was created in 1966.
The Diocese of Ipameri was created in 1966.
The Diocese of Itumbiara was created in 1966.
The Diocese of Rubiataba-Mozarlandia was created as a territorial prelature in 1966 and was promoted to a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Sao Luis de Montes Belos was created as a territorial prelature in 1961 and became a diocese in 1981.

Province of Brasilia

The province consists of the Federal District and part of the civil state of Goias. The Diocese of Brasilia was established in 1960 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1966.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Apparition in Brasilia was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and built between 1958 and 1970. It is a modern hyperboloid structure with 16 concrete columns each weighing 90 tons. The columns support a glass roof. Most of the Cathedral, which can hold 4,000 people, is underground. Worshipers and visitors, who number one million a year, enter through a dark tunnel and come to the bright worship space. The interior has a 22,000 square foot stained glass work and three sculpted angels. The main altar was donated by Pope Paul VI. Outside the Cathedral is a 66-foot tall bell tower with four bells.

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

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Uruacu was created in 1956.
The Diocese of Formosa was created as a territorial prelature in 1956 and was promoted to a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Luziania was created in 1989.

Province of Campo Grande

The province consists of the civil state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The Diocese of Campo Grande was established in 1957 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1978. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Abbey and St. Anthony is in Campo Grande. The modern Cathedral was built in the 1980s and has several stained glass windows.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Corumba was created in 1910.
The Diocese of Dourados was created in 1957.
The Diocese of Tres Lagoas was created in 1978.
The Diocese of Jardim was created in 1981.
The Diocese of Coxim was created as a territorial prelature in 1978 and became a diocese in 2002.
The Diocese of Navirai was created in 2011.

Province of Porto Velho

The province consists of the civil states of Acre, Rondonia, and part of Amazonas. The Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho was created in 1925, became a diocese in 1979, and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1982. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Porto Velho was built in the early 20th Century employing Romanesque and Gothic styles.

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

The Province has six suffragan jurisdictions.

The Diocese of Guajara-Mirim was created as a territorial prelature in 1929 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Humaita was created as a territorial prelature in 1961 and became a diocese in 1979.
The Diocese of Ji-Parana was created as a territorial prelature in 1978 and became a diocese in 1983.
The Diocese of Rio Branco was created as a territorial prelature in 1919 and became a diocese in 1986.
The Diocese of Cruzeiro do Sul was created as a territorial prelature in 1931 and became a diocese in 1987.
The Territorial Prelature of Labrea was created in 1925.

Province of Palmas

The province consists of the civil state of Tocantins. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Palmas was created in 1996. Construction of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmas began in 2015. The modern cathedral can seat 800 people.

Architectural drawing from the Cathedral website.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Porto Nacional was created in 1915.
The Diocese of Tocantinopolis was created as a territorial prelature in 1954 and became a diocese in 1980.
The Diocese of Miracema do Tocantins was created as a territorial prelature in 1966 and became a diocese in 1981.
The Diocese of Cristalandia began as a territorial prelature in 1956 and became a diocese in 2019.

Province of Santarem

The province consists of part of the civil state of Para. The Territorial Prelature of Santarem was created in 1903. It was promoted to a diocese in 1979 and to a metropolitan archdiocese in 2019.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral is in Santarem. The Cathedral was built between 1761 and 1819. However, one tower collapsed in 1851 and the other was taken down shortly thereafter. Both towers were rebuilt and the main altar completed in the 1880s. The Cathedral’s stained glass windows depict Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and Paul.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan jurisdictions.

The Diocese of Obidos was created as a territorial prelature in 1957 and became a diocese in 2011.
The Diocese of Xingu-Altamira was created as a territorial prelature in 1934 and became a diocese in 2019.
The Territorial Prelature of Itaituba was created in 1988.
The Territorial Prelature of Alto Xingu-Tucuma was created in 2019.

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. There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese. These include apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures, and territorial prefectures. All are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.