Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Central South America

This blog will discuss the Catholic Church in Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Chile

What is now northern Chile was once part of the Incan Empire while the rest of Chile was controlled by the Mapuche people. Spain conquered the region in the early 16th Century and held it until Chile gained its independence in 1818. Chile did not acquire its current territory until the 1880s after a war with Peru and Bolivia. Spanish Catholic missionaries brought the Faith to Chile.

About two-thirds of Chile’s 18 million people are Catholic. Protestants account for 16 percent and about 13 percent claim no specific religion. Chile has five ecclesiastic provinces: Antofagasta, Concepcion, La Serena, Puerto Montt, and Santiago. In addition, there is a military diocese created in 1910. There is also an apostolic vicariate that is directly subject to the Pope. The Apostolic Prefecture of Aysen was created in 1940 and became an apostolic vicariate in 1955. It is located in the civil region of Aysen.

Province of Santiago

The province consists of the civil regions of Santiago Metropolitan, Valparaiso, O’Higgins, and Maule in central Chile. The Diocese of Santiago was established in 1561 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago in 1840.

The Neoclassical and Baroque Cathedral of St. James in Santiago was designed by an Italian architect and built between 1753 and 1799. It replaced a cathedral that had been destroyed by an earthquake. The masonry cathedral has two towers that were added in the 19th Century. The Cathedral has 14 side altars many decorated with gold and silver. The 18 stained glass windows were made in Germany and were installed between 1900 and 1904. Two windows under the dome depict the Risen Christ and Jesus with Latin American saints. The Cathedral also has a statue of the Virgin of Carmen, the patron saint of Chile. It was sculpted in France in 1828.

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

The Province has seven suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Valparaiso was created as a Mission sui juris in 1872 and became a diocese in 1925.
The Diocese of Linares was created in 1925.
The Diocese of Rancagua was established in 1925.
The Diocese of San Filipe was established in 1925.
The Diocese of Talca was created in 1925.
The Diocese of San Bernardo was created in 1987.
The Diocese of Melipilla was created in 1991.

Province of Concepcion

The province consists of the civil regions of Biobio, Araucania, Los Rios, and Nuble, in south central Chile. The Diocese of Concepcion was established in 1563 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Concepcion in 1939.

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Conception in Concepción was built between 1940 and 1950 to replace the previous cathedral that had been destroyed by an earthquake. The neo-Romanesque building has a 17th Century image of the Immaculate Conception, a fresco by Jose Alejandro Rubio Dalmati (who also made the stained glass windows), and a ceiling lined with crafted wood. The cathedral’s museum contains an ivory figure of Christ with silver filigree and cedar wood donated by Philip II of Spain to the old cathedral.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Temuco was established as a Mission sui juris in 1908 and became a diocese in 1925.
The Diocese of San Bartolome de Chillan was created as a Mission sui juris in 1916 and became a diocese in 1925.
The Diocese of Valdivia was created as a Mission sui juris in 1910, became an apostolic administration in 1924, and diocese in 1944.
The Diocese of Santa Maria de los Angeles was created in 1959.
The Diocese of Villarrica was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1901, became an apostolic vicariate in 1928, and a diocese in 2001.

Province of La Serena

The province consists of the civil regions of Coquimbo and Atacama in north central Chile. The Diocese of La Serena was established in 1840 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Serena in 1939. Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral in La Serena was built between 1844 and 1856 in a neoclassical style.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan jurisdictions.

The Diocese of Copiapo was established as an apostolic administration in 1946, became a territorial prelature in 1955, and a diocese in 1957.
The Territorial Prelature of Illapel was established in 1960.

Province of Puerto Montt

The province consists of the civil regions of Los Lagos and Magallanes in southern Chile. The Diocese of Puerto Montt was established in 1939 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1963.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral is in Puerto Montt. The neoclassical cathedral was built between 1872 and 1896 from native alerce wood. The façade has four Doric columns reminiscent of the Parthenon.

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

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of San Carlos de Ancud was established in 1840.
The Diocese of Punta Arenas was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1916 and became a diocese in 1947.
The Diocese of Osorno was created in 1955.

Province of Antofagasta

The province consists of the civil regions of Antofagasta, Arica and Parinacota, and Tarapaca in northern Chile. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Antofagasta began as a Mission sui juris in 1881, became an apostolic vicariate in 1887, a diocese in 1928, before becoming a metropolitan archdiocese in 1967.

The neo-Gothic Cathedral of St. Joseph in Antofagasta was built between 1907 and 1917. It was renovated after a 1995 earthquake and is noted for its stained glass windows.

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

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Iquique was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1880 and became a diocese in 1929.
The Diocese of San Marcos de Arica was established as a territorial prelature in 1959 and became a diocese in 1986.
The Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama was created as a territorial prelature in 1965 and was promoted to a diocese in 2010.

Paraguay

Spain colonized Paraguay in 1542 and evangelization of the native people quickly followed. Paraguay gained its independence in 1811.

Paraguay has 7.2 million people and 90 percent are Catholic. Protestants and other Christians make up 7 percent of the population. There is one ecclesiastic province: Asuncion. In addition, there is a military diocese created in 1961.

There are also two apostolic vicariates, both of which are immediately subject to the Pope. Chaco Paraguayo was established in 1948 and is located in the civil department of Alto Paraguay. Pilcomayo was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1925 and became an apostolic vicariate in 1950. It is located in the civil department of Boqueron.

Province of Asuncion

The province consists of the nation of Paraguay. The Diocese of Paraguay was established in 1547 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Asuncion in 1929.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Asuncion was built between 1842 and 1845 to replace an earlier cathedral. The neoclassical cathedral has a main altar coated in silver.

The first picture is from Trover and the others from Wikipedia.

The Province has 11 suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Conception was established in 1929.
The Diocese of Villarrica was created in 1929.
The Diocese of San Juan Bautista was established in 1957.
The Diocese of Caacupe was created as a territorial prelature in 1960 and became a diocese in 1967.
The Diocese of Coronel Oviedo was created as a territorial prelature in 1961 and became a diocese in 1976.
The Diocese of Carapegua was established in 1978.
The Diocese of San Pedro was established in 1978.
The Diocese of Benjamin Aceval was created in 1980.
The Diocese of Encarnacion was created as a territorial prelature in 1957 and became a diocese in 1990.
The Diocese of Ciudad del Este was created as a territorial prelature in 1968 and became a diocese in 1993.
The Diocese of San Lorenzo was created in 2000.
The Diocese of Canindeyu was created in 2024.

Uruguay

The Spanish settled in Uruguay in 1624 and evangelization of the native people soon followed. The Spanish established Montevideo in 1726 as a military and naval fortification. Despite that, Brazil took Uruguay in 1821. The people of Uruguay fought for their independence, which they won in 1828.

Uruguay has 3.4 million people and 47 percent are Catholic. About 34 percent are Protestant and 17 percent are agnostic or atheist. Uruguay has one ecclesiastic province: Montevideo. In addition, the Armenian Apostolic Exarchate of Latin America and Mexico, which serves 12,000 Armenian Catholics in Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay, has a cathedral in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a co-cathedral in Montevideo. The Apostolic Exarchate was established in 1981 and is immediately subject to the Pope.

Province of Montevideo

The province consists of the nation of Uruguay. The Apostolic Vicariate of Montevideo was established in 1832, was promoted to a diocese in 1878, and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Montevideo in 1897.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, St. Philip and St. James in Montevideo was built between 1790 and 1804 in a neoclassical style. The Cathedral has an image of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, patroness of Uruguay. The church also has several frescoes and a 1753 baptismal font. Pope Pius IX declared the cathedral a minor basilica in 1870.

The first two pictures are from the Cathedral website, the third is from Panaramio, and the rest are from Wikipedia.

The Province has eight suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Salto was created in 1897.
The Diocese of Florida was created in 1931.
The Diocese of Melo was created in 1897, was suppressed in 1931, and restored in 1955.
The Diocese of San Jose de Mayo was established in 1955.
The Diocese of Tacuarembo was created in 1960.
The Diocese of Mercedes was established in 1960.
The Diocese of Canelones was created in 1961.
The Diocese of Maldonado-Punta del Este-Minas was established in 1966.

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 archdioceses that are not part of a province that are directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope. There are also missionary territories below the level of a diocese, including apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, apostolic administrations, territorial prelatures, and missions sui juris.

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. Eastern rite churches sometimes use different terminologies. For example, a diocese might be called an eparchy and is led by an eparch. A vicariate apostolic is called an exarchy and is led by an exarch.

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.

Friday, January 1, 2021

Venezuela

Spain’s first permanent settlement in South America was established in what is now Cumana, Venezuela, in 1522. A nation known as Gran Columbia declared its independence from Spain in 1819. In 1830, Gran Columbia split into smaller nations including Columbia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Spanish missionaries brought the Faith to Venezuela and today over 95 percent of Venezuela’s 31 million people are Catholic and only 2 percent are Protestant. Venezuela has nine ecclesiastic provinces: Barquisimeto, Calabozo, Caracas, Ciudad Bolivar, Coro, Cumana, Maracaibo, Merida, and Valencia. In addition, there is a military diocese created in 1995.

There are also two Eastern-rite Catholic jurisdictions. The Melkite Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela was established in 1990 to serve 28,000 Greek Melkite Catholics. The Cathedral of St. George is in Caracas. The Syriac Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela was established in 2001 to serve 15,000 Syriac Catholics. The Cathedral of the Assumption is in Maracay. Both exarchates are immediately subject to the Pope.

Finally, there are also three apostolic vicariates, all of which are directly subject to the Pope. Caroni was established in 1922 and serves part of the State of Bolivar in southeastern Venezuela. Puerto Ayacucho was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1932 before becoming an apostolic vicariate in 1953. It serves the State of Amazonas in southern Venezuela. Tucupita was established in 1954 and serves Catholics in the State of Delta Amacuro in northeastern Venezuela.

Province of Caracas

The province consists of the civil states of La Guaira, Miranda, and the Federal District in north central Venezuela. The Diocese of Caracas was created in 1637 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1803.

The Cathedral of Saint Anne in Caracas is a Romanesque church made of stone with a tile roof. It has a combination bell and clock tower. Construction began in 1666 and was completed in 1674. The cathedral has been damaged several times by earthquakes and has been restored and enlarged over the last three and a half centuries. The Cathedral has gilded altars and works of art, including paintings by Peter Paul Rubens and Bartolome Murillo. The Cathedral has several chapels and a pipe organ that dates to 1711. Simon Bolivar’s wife and parents are buried in the Cathedral.

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

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Los Teques was established in 1965.
The Diocese of La Guaira was established in 1970.
The Diocese of Guarenas was established in 1996.
The Diocese of Petare was established in 2021.

Province of Merida

The province consists of the civil states of Barinas, Tachira, and Trujillo, and part of Merida and Apure, in western Venezuela. The Diocese of Merida was established in 1778 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1923.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Merida was built between 1805 and 1960 and has several stained glass windows. Pope John Paul II declared it a minor basilica in 1991.

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

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of San Cristobal de Venezuela was created in 1922.
The Diocese of Trujillo was created in 1957.
The Diocese of Barinas was created in 1965.
The Diocese of Guasdualito was created in 2015.

Province of Ciudad Bolivar

The province consists of the civil state of Monagas and part of Bolivar in eastern Venezuela. The Diocese of Ciudad Bolivar was created in 1790, received its current name in 1953, and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1958.

The Cathedral of St. Thomas in Ciudad Bolivar was completed in 1841 after 75 years of construction. It has one 144-foot clock and bell tower and a statue of St. Thomas made in Europe prior to 1790.

From Flickr and Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Maturin was created in 1958.
The Diocese of Ciudad Guayana was created in 1979.

Province of Barquisimeto

The province consists of the civil states of Lara, Portuguesa, and Yaracuy, in western Venezuela. The Diocese of Barquisimeto was established in 1863, suppressed in 1867, restored in 1869, and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Barquisimeto in 1966.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Barquisimeto was built between 1953 and 1968 in a modern style. The building is a hyperbolic paraboloid with two wings connected by a central tower—some say it looks like an upside down flower with four petals. The ceiling consists of acrylic panels supported by steel wires. There are several stained glass windows depicting saints and there is a separate bell tower.

The top picture is from Flickr and the rest are from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Guanare was established in 1954.
The Diocese of San Felipe was created in 1966.
The Diocese of Carora was created in 1992.
The Diocese of Acarigua-Araure was created in 2002.

Province of Maracaibo

The province consists of the civil state Zulia and part of Merida in western Venezuela. The Diocese of Zulia was created in 1897, renamed Maracaibo in 1953, and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1966.

The neoclassical colonial St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral in Maracaibo was built between 1585 and 1650. The Cathedral is made of stone with a wooden roof. The façade shows a Baroque influence and the cathedral has a bell/clock tower and a dome. The Cathedral’s floor is made of white marble and red mosaic brick. The floor of the sanctuary is made of white marble and red granite. The sanctuary if flanked by statues of Saints Peter and Paul. The cathedral contains a statue referred to as the Black Christ, which survived a 17th Century church fire and was brought to the Cathedral.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Cabimas was established in 1965.
The Diocese of El Vigia-San Carlos del Zulia was established in 1994.
The Diocese of Machiques was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1943 and became a diocese in 2011.

Province of Valencia

The province consists of the civil states of Aragua, Carabobo, and Cojedes, in central Venezuela. The Diocese of Valencia was established in 1922 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1974.

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Help in Valencia was built in colonial and Baroque styles between 1580 and the late 18th Century, although portions were not completed until the 19th Century. The Cathedral has two domed towers and works of art by Antonio Herrera del Toro and Arturo Michelena. The Cathedral draws thousands of pilgrims to venerate Our Lady of Sorrows. Pope John XXIII designated the cathedral as a minor basilica in 1960.

The top picture is from a tourist website and the bottom picture is from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Maracay was created in 1958.
The Diocese of San Carlos de Venezuela was created in 1972.
The Diocese of Puerto Cabello was created in 1994.

Province of Cumana

The province consists of the civil states of Sucre, Anzoátegui, and Nueva Esparta, in eastern Venezuela. The Diocese of Cumana was established in 1922 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1992.

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cumana was built in the 18th Century. An earthquake in 1929 partially destroyed the cathedral, but it was restored by 1936.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of Barcelona was established in 1954.
The Diocese of Margarita was established in 1969.
The Diocese of Carupano was established in 2000.
The Diocese of El Tigre was established in 2018.

Province of Calabozo

The province consists of the civil states of Guarico and part of Apure in central Venezuela. The Diocese of Calabozo was established in 1863 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1995.

All Saints Cathedral in Calabozo was built in a Baroque style in the late 18th Century, although the dome was not completed until the 20th Century.

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

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

The Diocese of San Fernando de Apure began as territorial prelature in 1954 and became a diocese in 1974.
The Diocese of Valle de la Pascua was established in 1992.

Province of Coro

The province consists of the civil state of Falcon in western Venezuela. The Diocese of Coro was established in 1531, suppressed in 1637, restored in 1867, suppressed again in 1869, restored again in 1922, and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Coro in 1998.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Ann in Coro was built between 1583 and 1634 in a Renaissance style. It replaced a cathedral destroyed by Sir Francis Drake. The Cathedral has a gabled wood roof and a square bell tower. Pope Paul VI designated the cathedral as a minor basilica in 1977.

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

The Province has one suffragan diocese.

The Diocese of Punto Fijo was created in 1997.

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 missionary territories below the level of a diocese, including apostolic vicariates and territorial prelatures.