Diocese of Buenaventura, Colombia 🇨🇴

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Buenaventura / Bonaventuren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Cali

Neighbouring Dioceses: Istmina–Tadó (↑), Palmira (↗), Cali (→), Guapi (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1952.11.14: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Buenaventura / Bonaventuren(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Cali and Apostolic Prefecture of Tumaco)
1996.11.30: Promoted as Diocese of Buenaventura / Bonaventuren(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Cali)

Present Prelates

Bishop:	vacant
Apostolic Administrator (2026.04.04 – ...):	Bishop Alexander Matiz Atencio (65) Bishop of Buga (Colombia)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Buenaventura (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alexander Matiz Atencio (65)
(Apostolic Administrator 2026.04.04 – ...)

Bishop Rubén Darío Jaramillo Montoya (59)
(2017.06.30 – 2026.02.14)

Bishop of Montería (Colombia)

Born:	1966.08.15 (Santa Rosa de Cabal, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1992.10.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.07.29

Priest of Pereira (Colombia) (1992.10.04 – 2017.06.30)

Bishop of Buenaventura (Colombia) (2017.06.30 – 2026.02.14)

Bishop of Montería (Colombia) (2026.02.14 – ...)

Bishop Héctor Epalza Quintero, P.S.S.
(2004.04.29 – 2017.06.30)

Born:	1940.06.14 (Convención, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1965.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.07.16
Died:	2021.02.02 (Pereira, Colombia † 80)

Bishop of Buenaventura (Colombia) (2004.04.29 – 2017.06.30)

Archbishop Juan Francisco Sarasti Jaramillo, C.I.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 2004.02.21 – 2004.04.29)

Bishop Rigoberto Corredor Bermúdez (77)
(1996.11.30 – 2003.12.19)

Bishop emeritus of Pereira (Colombia)

Humilde siervo del Señor

Born:	1948.08.05 (Arabia, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1973.11.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.03.26

Priest of Pereira (Colombia) (1973.11.18 – 1988.02.26)

Titular Bishop of Rusguniæ (1988.02.26 – 1996.11.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of Pereira (Colombia) (1988.02.26 – 1996.11.30)

Bishop of Buenaventura (Colombia) (1996.11.30 – 2003.12.19)

Bishop of Garzón (Colombia) (2003.12.19 – 2011.07.15)

Bishop of Pereira (Colombia) (2011.07.15 – 2024.10.04)

Vicars Apostolic of Buenaventura (Roman Rite)

Bishop Heriberto Correa Yepes, M.X.Y.
(1973.01.29 – 1996.11.30)

Born:	1916.08.06 (Cedeño, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1939.11.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.03.27
Died:	2010.09.09 (Medellín, Colombia † 94)

Prefect Apostolic of Mitú (Colombia) (1953.03.27 – 1967)

Vicar Apostolic of Buenaventura (Colombia) (1973.01.29 – 1996.11.30)

Titular Bishop of Casæ nigræ (1973.01.29 – 2010.09.09)

Fr. Antonio Jesús Ruiz, M.X.Y.
(Apostolic Administrator 1972.03.03 – 1973.01.29)

Bishop Gerardo Valencia Cano, M.X.Y.
(1953.03.24 – 1972.01.21)

Born:	1917.08.26 (Santo Domingo, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1942.11.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.05.24
Died:	1972.01.21 (Ciudad Bolívar, Colombia † 54)

Prefect Apostolic of Mitú (Colombia) (1949.07.19 – 1953.03.24)

Titular Bishop of Rhesaina (1953.03.24 – 1972.01.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Buenaventura (Colombia) (1953.03.24 – 1972.01.21)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de San Buenaventura, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Istmina–Tadó (↑), Palmira (↗), Cali (→), Guapi (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 6,078 km²

Population: 229,003 Catholics (72.6% of 315,403 total)

Pastoral Centres: 24 parishes, 10 missions

Personnel: 37 priests (31 diocesan, 6 religious), 2 deacons, 41 religious (9 brothers, 32 sisters), 6 seminarians