Diocese of

Amargosa

Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Amargosa / Amargosen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: São Salvador da Bahia

Neighbouring Dioceses: Jequié (↙), Ruy Barbosa (↖), Feira de Santana (↑), Cruz das Almas (↗), São Salvador da Bahia (→), Ilhéus (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora do Bom Conselho (April 26)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1941.05.10: Established as Diocese of Amargosa / Amargosen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia and became suffragan of São Salvador da Bahia)
1957.07.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Vitória da Conquista
1959.11.14: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Ruy Barbosa
1978.11.07: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Jequié

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.05.31 – ...):

Bishop Juraci Gomes de Oliveira (69)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Amargosa (Roman Rite)

Bishop Juraci Gomes de Oliveira (69)
(2023.05.31 – ...)

Bishop of Amargosa (Brazil)

Ecce ego mitte me

Born:	1956.08.19 (Catolé do Rocha, PB, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1990.11.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.07.29

Priest of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (1990.11.03 – 2023.05.31)

Bishop of Amargosa (Brazil) (2023.05.31 – ...)

Bishop Valdemir Ferreira dos Santos (65)
(2016.05.04 – 2021.08.18)

Bishop of Penedo (Brazil)

Pasce oves meas

Born:	1960.06.30 (Itajaí de Nova Canaã, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1987.09.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2010.05.30

Priest of Vitória da Conquista (Brazil) (1987.09.06 – 2010.03.17)

Bishop of Floriano (Brazil) (2010.03.17 – 2016.05.04)

Bishop of Amargosa (Brazil) (2016.05.04 – 2021.08.18)

Bishop of Penedo (Brazil) (2021.08.18 – ...)

Bishop João Nílton dos Santos Souza (82)
(1988.08.31 – 2015.06.10)

Bishop emeritus of Amargosa (Brazil)

Fiat voluntas tua

Born:	1943.09.02 (Amargosa, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1969.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.11.09

Priest of Amargosa (Brazil) (1969.12.20 – 1986.08.04)

Coadjutor Bishop of Bom Jesus da Lapa (Brazil) (1986.08.04 – 1988.08.31)

Bishop of Amargosa (Brazil) (1988.08.31 – 2015.06.10)

Bishop Alair Vilar Fernandes de Melo (later Archbishop)
(1970.03.17 – 1988.04.06)

Evangelisare misit me

Born:	1916.06.05 (Natal, RN, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1939.11.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.05.17
Died:	1999.08.20 (Natal, RN, Brazil † 83)

Bishop of Amargosa (Brazil) (1970.03.17 – 1988.04.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Natal (Brazil) (1988.04.06 – 1993.10.27)

Bishop Florêncio Sisínio Vieira
(1942.04.11 – 1969.01.11)

Fortiter et suaviter

Born:	1901.05.11 (Jiquiriçá, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1923.11.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1942.08.02
Died:	1994.10.02 (Salvador, BA, Brazil † 93)

Bishop of Amargosa (Brazil) (1942.04.11 – 1969.01.11)

Titular Bishop of Macomades rusticiana (1969.01.11 – 1971.03.16)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Nossa Senhora do Bom Conselho, Amargosa, Bahia
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (38)

Jequié (↙), Ruy Barbosa (↖), Feira de Santana (↑), Cruz das Almas (↗), São Salvador da Bahia (→), Ilhéus (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 13,972 km²

Population: 624,640 Catholics (96.7% of 646,094 total)

Pastoral Centres: 38 parishes

Personnel: 43 priests (35 diocesan, 8 religious), 3 deacons, 35 religious (11 brothers, 24 sisters), 16 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

© 2026 GCatholic.org