Diocese of Bluefields, Nicaragua

Continent: Central America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Bluefields / Bluefielden(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Managua

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1913.12.02: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Bluefields / Bluefielden(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of León and became suffragan of Managua)
2017.11.30: Promoted as Diocese of Bluefields / Bluefielden(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Diocese of Siuna)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.11.12 – ...):

Bishop Francisco José Tigerino Dávila (61)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Bluefields (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco José Tigerino Dávila (61)
(2020.11.12 – ...)

Bishop of Bluefields (Nicaragua)

Born:	1963.10.18 (Chinandega, Nicaragua)
Ordained Priest:	2002.01.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2021.01.23

Priest of León (Nicaragua) (2002.01.05 – 2020.11.12)

Bishop of Bluefields (Nicaragua) (2020.11.12 – ...)

Bishop Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap. (80)
(2017.11.30 – 2020.11.12)

Bishop emeritus of Bluefields (Nicaragua)

Born:	1943.12.04 (Fond du Lac, WI, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1970.09.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.09.17

Auxiliary Bishop of Bluefields (Nicaragua) (1984.06.22 – 1994.07.28)

Titular Bishop of Elepla (1984.06.22 – 2017.11.30)

Vicar Apostolic of Bluefields (Nicaragua) (1994.07.28 – 2017.11.30)

Bishop of Bluefields (Nicaragua) (2017.11.30 – 2020.11.12)

Apostolic Administrator of Siuna (Nicaragua) (2020.01.09 – 2021.04.08)

Vicars Apostolic of Bluefields (Roman Rite)

Bishop Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap. (80)
(1994.07.28 – 2017.11.30)

(see above)

Bishop Salvador Albert Schlaefer Berg, O.F.M. Cap.
(1970.06.25 – 1993.10.22)

Born:	1920.07.27 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1946.06.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.08.12
Died:	1993.10.22 († 73)

Titular Bishop of Flumenpiscense (1970.06.25 – 1993.10.22)

Vicar Apostolic of Bluefields (Nicaragua) (1970.06.25 – 1993.10.22)

President of Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (1989 – 1991)

Bishop Matteo Aloisio Niedhammer y Yaeckle, O.F.M. Cap.
(1943.05.11 – 1970.06.25)

Born:	1901.09.11 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1927.06.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1943.06.29
Died:	1970.06.26 († 68)

Vicar Apostolic of Bluefields (Nicaragua) (1943.05.11 – 1970.06.25)

Titular Bishop of Calœ (1943.05.11 – 1970.06.26)

Bishop Juan Solá y Farrell, O.F.M. Cap.
(1931.02.24 – 1942)

Born:	1884.08.11 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1909.03.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1931.04.22
Died:	1973.08.27 († 89)

Vicar Apostolic of Bluefields (Nicaragua) (1931.02.24 – 1942)

Titular Bishop of Colophon (1931.02.24 – 1973.08.27)

Bishop Agustín José Bernaus y Serra, O.F.M. Cap.
(1913.12.10 – 1930.01.18)

Born:	1863.08.16 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1889.04.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1913.09.08
Died:	1930.01.18 († 66)

Vicar Apostolic of Guam (Guam) (1913.05.09 – 1913.12.10)

Titular Bishop of Eleutherna (1913.05.09 – 1930.01.18)

Vicar Apostolic of Bluefields (Nicaragua) (1913.12.10 – 1930.01.18)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop David Albin Zywiec Sidor, O.F.M. Cap. (2002.06.24 – 2017.11.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap. (80) (1984.06.22 – 1994.07.28)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Bluefields, Atlántico Sur

Juigalpa (←), Granada (←), Matagalpa (↖), Siuna (↑), San Andrés y Providencia (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 19,965 km²

Population: 663,500 Catholics (59.0% of 1,124,800 total)

Pastoral Centres: 14 parishes

Personnel: 12 priests (diocesan), 3 deacons, 17 religious (17 sisters), 21 seminarians