Brazil—5

This blog will discuss seven Catholic provinces in Brazil’s civil state of Minas Gerais in east central 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
• Brazil 4 published on September 8, 2020

Province of Mariana

The province consists of east central portion of the civil state of Minas Gerais.  The Diocese of Mariana was created in 1745 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1906.  

The stone Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption in Mariana was built in the 18th Century.  It was designated a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1963.  The Cathedral’s architectural style is described as Portuguese mannerism with much of the rich décor employing Baroque or Rococo stylings.  There are a number of paintings, including on the ceiling and behind the main altar, as well as many wood carvings.  The pipe organ was donated by King Jose I of Portugal in 1753 and is either German or Portuguese in origin.  There are two bell towers.

Pictures are from Wikipedia and Pinterest.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Caratinga was created in 1915.
• The Diocese of Governador Valadares was created in 1956.
• The Diocese of Itabira-Fabriciano was created in 1965.

Province of Diamantina

The province consists of northeastern portion of the civil state of Minas Gerais.  The Diocese of Diamantina was created in 1854 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1917.  

The Cathedral of St. Anthony in Diamantina was built between 1930 and 1940 to replace an 18th Century cathedral.

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

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Aracuai was created in 1913.
• The Diocese of Teofilo Otoni was created in 1960.
• The Diocese of Almenara was created in 1981.
• The Diocese of Guanhaes was created in 1985.

Province of Belo Horizonte

The province consists of central portion of the civil state of Minas Gerais.  The Diocese of Belo Horizonte was created in 1921 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1924.  

Our Lady of Good Voyage Cathedral in Belo Horizonte was built between 1913 and 1932 in a Neo-gothic style.  The Cathedral has a statue of Our Lady of Good Voyage near the main altar.

Pictures are from Wikipedia and Pinterest.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Luz was created as the Diocese of Aterrado in 1918 and acquired its current name in 1960.
• The Diocese of Oliveira was created in 1941.
• The Diocese of Sete Lagoas was created in 1955.
• The Diocese of Divinopolis was created in 1958.

Province of Pouso Alegre

The province consists of southern portion of the civil state of Minas Gerais.  The Diocese of Pouso Alegro was created in 1900 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1962.  

The Cathedral of the Good Jesus in Pouso Alegre was built between 1850 and 1857.

The first picture is from Wikipedia, the next two are from local blogs, and the last is from Panaramio.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Campanha was created in 1907.
• The Diocese of Guaxupe was created in 1916.

Province of Uberaba

The province consists of western portion of the civil state of Minas Gerais.  The Diocese of Uberaba was established in 1907 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1962.  

Construction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Uberaba began in 1827, but it would not be completed until 1905.  Major renovations were done during the 1930s through the 1960s.  Two chapels were added and stained glass windows were installed, among other additions.  Originally there were two bell towers, but they were demolished and replaced by a single bell tower in 1899.  The bell tower has a Swiss clock. 

The first picture is from the Cathedral website and the others are from Pinterest.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Patos de Minas was created in 1955.
• The Diocese of Uberlandia was created in 1961.
• The Diocese of Ituiutaba was created in 1982.

Province of Juiz de Fora

The province consists of southeastern portion of the civil state of Minas Gerais.  The Diocese of Juiz de Fora was created in 1924 and was promoted to metropolitan archdiocese in 1962.  

St. Anthony’s Cathedral is in Juiz de Fora.  The Cathedral started as an 18th Century chapel and became a parish in 1850.  A new church was built in 1866, which forms the nucleus of the current cathedral.  The building received a major renovation in 1924 and in the 1950s and 1960s, the Cathedral was given a dome and a Gothic look.  Other modifications have taken place subsequently.

The top picture is from Wikipedia, the next three from the archdiocesan website, and the last from Pinterest.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Leopoldina was created in 1942.
• The Diocese of Sao Joao del Rei was created in 1960.

Province of Montes Claros

The province consists of northwestern portion of the civil state of Minas Gerais.  The Diocese of Montes Claros was established in 1910 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 2001.  

Our Lady of Apparition Cathedral in Montes Claros was built between 1926 and 1950 in a Neo-Gothic style.  The cathedral has three steeples—the highest reaching 215 feet—and can hold 3,000 people.

Pictures are from Flickr, Panaramio, and Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Januaria was created in 1957.
• The Diocese of Paracatu was created as a territorial prelature in 1929 and was promoted to a diocese in 1962.
• The Diocese of Janauba was created in 2000.

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 jurisdictions below the level of a diocese such as a territorial prelature.

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.