Diocese of Arecibo, Puerto Rico

Continent: Central America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Arecibo / Areciben(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: San Juan de Puerto Rico

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (June 27)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: September 26

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1960.04.30: Established as Diocese of Arecibo / Areciben(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Ponce and Diocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico and became suffragan of San Juan de Puerto Rico)
1968.10.21: Lost territory to Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico
1976.03.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mayagüez

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.09.14 – ...):

Bishop Alberto Arturo Figueroa Morales (63)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico

Ordinaries

Bishops of Arecibo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alberto Arturo Figueroa Morales (63)
(2022.09.14 – ...)

Bishop of Arecibo (Puerto Rico)
General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico

Adonde no hay amor, pon amor y sacarás amor

Born:	1961.08.09 (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)
Ordained Priest:	1990.06.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2019.12.27

Priest of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) (1990.06.02 – 2019.11.19)

Titular Bishop of Phelbes (2019.11.19 – 2022.09.14)

Auxiliary Bishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) (2019.11.19 – 2022.09.14)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico (2020 – ...)

Bishop of Arecibo (Puerto Rico) (2022.09.14 – ...)

Bishop Álvaro Corrada Del Río, S.J. (82)
(Apostolic Administrator 2022.03.09 – 2022.09.14)

Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres (60)
(2010.09.24 – 2022.03.09 deposed)

Bishop emeritus of Arecibo (Puerto Rico)

No hay temor en el amor

Born:	1964.04.27 (Chicago, IL, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1995.01.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.04.21

Priest of Arecibo (Puerto Rico) (1995.01.07 – 2007.02.14)

Titular Bishop of Sufes (2007.02.14 – 2010.09.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) (2007.02.14 – 2010.09.24)

Bishop of Arecibo (Puerto Rico) (2010.09.24 – 2022.03.09 deposed)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico (2012.12 – 2015)

Bishop Iñaki Mallona Txertudi, C.P.
(1991.12.14 – 2010.09.24)

Born:	1932.07.01 (Frúniz, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1956.03.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.01.06
Died:	2021.05.03 (Lares, Puerto Rico † 88)

Bishop of Arecibo (Puerto Rico) (1991.12.14 – 2010.09.24)

President of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico (1994 – 1997)

Bishop Miguel Rodriguez Rodriguez, C.SS.R.
(1974.01.21 – 1990.03.20)

Born:	1931.04.18 (Puerto Rico)
Ordained Priest:	1958.06.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.03.23
Died:	2001.08.13 († 70)

Bishop of Arecibo (Puerto Rico) (1974.01.21 – 1990.03.20)

Bishop Alfredo José Isaac Cecilio Francesco Méndez-Gonzalez, C.S.C.
(1960.07.23 – 1974.01.21)

Born:	1907.06.03 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1935.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.10.28
Died:	1995.01.29 († 87)

Bishop of Arecibo (Puerto Rico) (1960.07.23 – 1974.01.21)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol, Arecibo
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (63)

Mayagüez (←), San Juan de Puerto Rico (→), Caguas (↘), Ponce (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,157 km²

Population: 307,903 Catholics (56.0% of 549,827 total)

Pastoral Centres: 58 parishes

Personnel: 80 priests (51 diocesan, 29 religious), 54 deacons, 156 religious (35 brothers, 121 sisters), 3 seminarians