Diocese of

Balsas

Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Balsas / Balsen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: São Luís do Maranhão

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Sagrado Coração de Jesus

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1954.12.20: Established as Territorial Prelature of Santo Antônio de Balsas / Sancti Antonii de Balsas (Latin) (from Diocese of Caxias do Maranhão and became suffragan of São Luís do Maranhão)
1968.06.22: Gained territory from Diocese of Caxias do Maranhão
1981.10.03: Promoted as Diocese of Balsas / Balsen(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.07.29 – ...):

Bishop Valentim Fagundes de Meneses, M.S.C. (71)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Balsas (Roman Rite)

Bishop Valentim Fagundes de Meneses, M.S.C. (71)
(2020.07.29 – ...)

Bishop of Balsas (Brazil)

Alegrai-vos sempre no Senhor

Born:	1953.07.22 (Agualva, Açores, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1982.07.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2020.09.26

Bishop of Balsas (Brazil) (2020.07.29 – ...)

Bishop Enemésio Ângelo Lazzaris, F.D.P.
(2007.12.12 – 2020.02.02)

Born:	1948.12.19 (Siderópolis, SC, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1975.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.03.29
Died:	2020.02.02 (Araguaína, TO, Brazil † 71)

Bishop of Balsas (Brazil) (2007.12.12 – 2020.02.02)

Bishop Gianfranco Masserdotti, M.C.C.J.
(1998.04.15 – 2006.09.17)

Ut vitam habeant

Born:	1941.09.13 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1966.03.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.03.02
Died:	2006.09.17 († 65)

Coadjutor Bishop of Balsas (Brazil) (1995.11.22 – 1998.04.15)

Bishop of Balsas (Brazil) (1998.04.15 – 2006.09.17)

Bishop Rino Carlesi, M.C.C.J.
(1981.10.03 – 1998.04.15)

Born:	1922.08.11 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1947.05.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.04.02
Died:	1999.08.25 († 77)

Titular Bishop of Africa (1967.01.12 – 1978.05.26)

Bishop-Prelate of Santo Antônio de Balsas (Brazil) (1967.01.12 – 1981.10.03)

Bishop of Balsas (Brazil) (1981.10.03 – 1998.04.15)

Prelates of Santo Antônio de Balsas (Roman Rite)

Bishop Rino Carlesi, M.C.C.J.
(1967.01.12 – 1981.10.03)

(see above)

Bishop Diego Parodi, M.C.C.J.
(1959.05.09 – 1966)

Born:	1916.10.08 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1940.07.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.06.21
Died:	1983.01.09 († 66)

Bishop-Prelate of Santo Antônio de Balsas (Brazil) (1959.05.09 – 1966)

Titular Bishop of Centenaria (1959.05.09 – 1980.02.11)

Auxiliary Bishop of Perugia (Italy) (1966 – 1969)

Auxiliary Bishop of Gubbio (Italy) (1969 – 1972)

Auxiliary Bishop of Napoli (Italy) (1972 – 1980.02.11)

Bishop of Ischia (Italy) (1980.02.11 – 1983.01.09)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Gianfranco Masserdotti, M.C.C.J. (1995.11.22 – 1998.04.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Sagrado Coração de Jesus, Balsas, Maranhão
Former Cathedral: Igreja Santo Antônio de Pádua, Balsas, Maranhão

Churches by City (18)

Palmas (↙), Miracema do Tocantins (↙), Araguaína (↙), Carolina (←), Grajaú (↑), Caxias do Maranhão (↗), Floriano (→), Bom Jesus do Gurguéia (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 66,025 km²

Population: 193,890 Catholics (69.7% of 278,025 total)

Pastoral Centres: 17 parishes

Personnel: 20 priests (diocesan), 1 deacon, 23 religious (9 brothers, 14 sisters), 6 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.01.27

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