Metropolitan Archdiocese of Aracaju, Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Aracaju / Aracaiuen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Estância, Propriá

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Conceição (December 8), Saint Pius X (August 21)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: November 19 (1912)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1910.01.03: Established as Diocese of Aracaju / Aracaiuen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia and became suffragan of São Salvador da Bahia)
1920.02.13: Became suffragan of Maceió
1960.04.30: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Aracaju / Aracaiuen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Estância and Propriá and lost territory to establish Diocese of Estância and Diocese of Propriá)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.03.13 – ...):

Archbishop Josafá Menezes da Silva (65)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Aracaju (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Josafá Menezes da Silva (65)
(2024.03.13 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil)

Prædica Verbum

Born:	1959.01.02 (Salinas da Margarida, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1989.05.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.03.10

Priest of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (1989.05.14 – 2005.01.12)

Titular Bishop of Gummi in Byzacena (2005.01.12 – 2010.12.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (2005.01.12 – 2010.12.15)

Bishop of Barreiras (Brazil) (2010.12.15 – 2019.10.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Bom Jesus da Lapa (Brazil) (2014.05.20 – 2015.06.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Vitória da Conquista (Brazil) (2019.10.09 – 2024.03.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (2024.03.13 – ...)

Bishop Vítor Agnaldo de Menezes (56)
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.07.19 – 2024.03.13)

Archbishop João José da Costa, O. Carm. (66)
(2017.01.18 – 2023.07.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Aracaju (Brazil)

Servo por amor

Born:	1958.06.24 (Lagarto, SE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1992.12.12
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.03.19

Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil) (2009.01.07 – 2014.11.05)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (2014.11.05 – 2017.01.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (2017.01.18 – 2023.07.19)

Archbishop José Palmeira Lessa (82)
(1998.08.26 – 2017.01.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Aracaju (Brazil)

Fraco com os fracos

Born:	1942.01.18 (Coruripe, AL, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1968.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.08.24

Titular Bishop of Sita (1982.06.21 – 1987.10.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (1982.06.21 – 1987.10.30)

Bishop of Propriá (Brazil) (1987.10.30 – 1996.12.06)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (1996.12.06 – 1998.08.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (1998.08.26 – 2017.01.18)

Archbishop Luciano José Cabral Duarte
(1971.02.12 – 1998.08.26)

Scio Cui Credidi

Born:	1925.01.21 (Aracajú, SE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1948.01.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1966.10.02
Died:	2018.05.29 (Aracajú, SE, Brazil † 93)

Titular Bishop of Gadiaufala (1966.07.14 – 1971.02.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (1966.07.14 – 1971.02.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (1971.02.12 – 1998.08.26)

First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1979 – 1983)

Archbishop José Vicente Távora
(1960.04.30 – 1970.04.03)

In manibus tuis sortes meæ

Born:	1910.07.19 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1934.05.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1954.07.25
Died:	1970.04.03 († 59)

Titular Bishop of Prusias ad Hypium (1954.06.23 – 1957.11.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (1954.06.23 – 1957.11.20)

Bishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (1957.11.20 – 1960.04.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (1960.04.30 – 1970.04.03)

Bishops of Aracaju (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Vicente Távora (later Archbishop)
(1957.11.20 – 1960.04.30)

(see above)

Bishop Fernando Gomes dos Santos (later Archbishop)
(1949.02.01 – 1957.03.07)

Prædica verbum

Born:	1910.04.04 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1932.11.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1943.04.04
Died:	1985.06.01 († 75)

Bishop of Penedo (Brazil) (1943.01.09 – 1949.02.01)

Bishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (1949.02.01 – 1957.03.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goiânia (Brazil) (1957.03.07 – 1985.06.01)

Bishop José Tomas Gomes da Silva
(1911.05.12 – 1948.10.31)

Per Mariam ad Jesum

Born:	1873.08.04 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1896.11.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1911.11.19
Died:	1948.10.31 († 75)

Bishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (1911.05.12 – 1948.10.31)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop João José da Costa, O. Carm. (66) (2014.11.05 – 2017.01.18)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop José Palmeira Lessa (82) (1996.12.06 – 1998.08.26)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Henrique Soares da Costa (2009.04.01 – 2014.03.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Dulcênio Fontes de Matos (66) (2001.04.18 – 2006.07.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop João Maria Messi, O.S.M. (90) (1988.06.15 – 1995.03.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Hildebrando Mendes Costa (98) (1981.03.15 – 1986.03.25)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Edvaldo Gonçalves Amaral, S.D.B. (97) (later Archbishop) (1975.02.15 – 1980.09.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Luciano José Cabral Duarte (later Archbishop) (1966.07.14 – 1971.02.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Nivaldo Monte (later Archbishop) (1963.04.25 – 1967.09.06)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao, Aracaju, Sergipe
World Heritage Site: Igreja de Santa Casa de Misericórdia, São Cristóvão, Sergipe
World Heritage Site: Igreja e Convento de São Cruz (São Francisco), São Cristóvão, Sergipe
Shrines in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

Churches by City (116)

Estância (↙), Paulo Afonso (↖), Propriá (↑)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 7,019 km²

Population: 1,004,576 Catholics (70.0% of 1,435,108 total)

Pastoral Centres: 112 parishes

Personnel: 164 priests (129 diocesan, 35 religious), 46 deacons, 248 religious (136 brothers, 112 sisters), 19 seminarians