Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mercedes–Luján, Argentina 🇦🇷

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Mercedes–Luján / Merceden(sis)–Luianen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Merlo–Moreno, Nueve de Julio, Zárate–Campana

Neighbouring Dioceses: Nueve de Julio (←), Venado Tuerto (↖), San Nicolás de los Arroyos (↖), Zárate–Campana (↗), Merlo–Moreno (→), Gregorio de Laferrere (→), Chascomús (↘), Azul (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (September 24), Nuestra Señora de Lujan (May 8)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: April 19 (1921)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1934.04.20: Established as Diocese of Mercedes / Merceden(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of La Plata and became suffragan of Buenos Aires)
1947.03.03: Lost territory to establish Diocese of San Nicolás de los Arroyos
1957.02.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Nueve de Julio and Diocese of Santa Rosa
1967.05.05: Became suffragan of La Plata
1989.05.10: Renamed as Diocese of Mercedes–Luján / Merceden(sis)–Luianen(sis) (Latin)
1997.11.21: Promoted as Archdiocese of Mercedes–Luján / Merceden(sis)–Luianen(sis) (Latin) (without ecclesiastical province)
2019.10.04: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mercedes–Luján / Merceden(sis)–Luianen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Merlo–Moreno, Nueve de Julio and Zárate–Campana)

Contact Info

Address: Calle 22, N° 745, B66OOHDU, Mercedes, Argentina

Phone: (02324) 432412

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1982.06)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2019.10.04 – ...):	Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig (67)
Auxiliary Bishop (2023.08.09 – ...):	Bishop Mauricio Alberto Landra (54) Titular Bishop of Trisipa

Monsignors (21)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mercedes–Luján (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig (67)
(2019.10.04 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina)

Soy de la Virgen nomás

Born:	1959.06.05 (Carapachay, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1983.12.09
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.07.15

Priest of San Isidro (Argentina) (1983.12.09 – 2017.05.18)

Titular Bishop of Ita (2017.05.18 – 2019.10.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (2017.05.18 – 2019.10.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (2019.10.04 – ...)

Archbishops of Mercedes–Luján (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Agustín Roberto Radrizzani, S.D.B.
(2007.12.27 – 2019.10.04)

Hemos creido en el amor

Born:	1944.09.22 (Avellaneda, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1972.03.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.07.20
Died:	2020.09.02 (Junín, Argentina † 75)

Bishop of Neuquén (Argentina) (1991.05.14 – 2001.04.24)

Bishop of Lomas de Zamora (Argentina) (2001.04.24 – 2007.12.27)

Second Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Argentina (2005 – 2008)

Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (2007.12.27 – 2019.10.04)

Archbishop Rubén Héctor di Monte
(2000.03.07 – 2007.12.27)

Con María su madre

Born:	1932.04.12 (Luján, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1954.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1980.08.16
Died:	2016.04.18 (Mercedes Partido, Argentina † 84)

Titular Bishop of Iomnium (1980.06.13 – 1986.03.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Avellaneda (Argentina) (1980.06.13 – 1986.03.24)

Bishop of Avellaneda (Argentina) (1986.03.24 – 2000.03.07)

Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (2000.03.07 – 2007.12.27)

Archbishop Emilio Ogñénovich
(1997.11.21 – 2000.03.07)

In nomine tuo

Born:	1923.01.25 (Olavarría, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1949.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.11.18
Died:	2011.01.29 (Mercedes, Argentina † 88)

Priest of Bahía Blanca (Argentina) (1949.12.17 – 1979.10.01)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (1977.05.17 – 1979.10.01)

Titular Bishop of Mibiarca (1979.10.01 – 1982.06.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bahía Blanca (Argentina) (1979.10.01 – 1982.06.08)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1982.06.08 – 1989.05.10)

Bishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (1989.05.10 – 1997.11.21)

Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (1997.11.21 – 2000.03.07)

Bishops of Mercedes–Luján (Roman Rite)

Bishop Emilio Ogñénovich (later Archbishop)
(1989.05.10 – 1997.11.21)

(see above)

Bishops of Mercedes (Roman Rite)

Bishop Emilio Ogñénovich (later Archbishop)
(1982.06.08 – 1989.05.10)

(see above)

Bishop Luis Juan Tomé
(1963.07.26 – 1981.09.25)

Born:	1914.07.19 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1938.04.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.09.15
Died:	1981.09.25 († 67)

Priest of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1938.04.16 – 1963.07.26)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1963.07.26 – 1981.09.25)

Bishop Anunciado Serafini
(1939.06.20 – 1963.02.18)

Born:	1898.11.16 (Tres Arroyos, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1924.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.07.25
Died:	1963.02.18 (Vigo, Spain † 64)

Titular Bishop of Arycanda (1935.05.11 – 1939.06.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1935.05.11 – 1939.06.20)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1939.06.20 – 1963.02.18)

Bishop Juan Pascual Chimento (later Archbishop)
(1934.09.13 – 1938.10.16)

Born:	1887.06.26 (Florencio Varela, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1911.04.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1928.12.21
Died:	1946.12.25 (Temperley, Argentina † 59)

Priest of La Plata (Argentina) (1911.04.17 – 1928.09.29)

Titular Bishop of Sela (1928.09.29 – 1934.09.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1928.09.29 – 1934.09.13)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1934.09.13 – 1938.10.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1938.10.16 – 1946.12.25)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig (67) (later Archbishop) (2017.05.18 – 2019.10.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Oscar Domingo Sarlinga (63) (2003.04.12 – 2006.02.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Herberto Celso Angelo (1990.10.31 – 1993.01.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Vicente Alfredo Aducci (1960.05.28 – 1962.05.03)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Catedral Basílica Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Mercedes, Buenos Aires
Minor Basilica, National Shrine: Basílica Nacional Nuestra Señora de Luján, Luján, Buenos Aires
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (53)

Nueve de Julio (←), Venado Tuerto (↖), San Nicolás de los Arroyos (↖), Zárate–Campana (↗), Merlo–Moreno (→), Gregorio de Laferrere (→), Chascomús (↘), Azul (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 19,330 km²

Population: 803,700 Catholics (96.3% of 835,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 58 parishes, 70 missions

Personnel: 101 priests (80 diocesan, 21 religious), 11 deacons, 137 religious (26 brothers, 111 sisters), 14 seminarians