Diocese of

Carolina

Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Carolina / Carolinen(sis) in Brasilia (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: São Luís do Maranhão

Neighbouring Dioceses: Araguaína (←), Tocantinópolis (↖), Imperatriz (↑), Grajaú (↗), Balsas (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Pedro de Alcántara de Garavito y Vilela de Sanabria

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1958.01.14: Established as Territorial Prelature of Carolina / Carolinen(sis) in Brasilia (Latin) (from Territorial Prelature of São José do Grajaú and became suffragan of São Luís do Maranhão)
1979.10.16: Promoted as Diocese of Carolina / Carolinen(sis) in Brasilia (Latin)
1987.06.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Imperatriz

Present Prelates

Bishop (2018.09.19 – ...):

Bishop Francisco Lima Soares (61)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Carolina (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco Lima Soares (61)
(2018.09.19 – ...)

Bishop of Carolina (Brazil)

Servite Domino in lætitia

Born:	1964.11.21 (Araguatins, TO, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1990.07.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.11.21

Priest of Imperatriz (Brazil) (1990.07.15 – 2018.09.19)

Bishop of Carolina (Brazil) (2018.09.19 – ...)

Bishop José Soares Filho, O.F.M. Cap. (69)
(2003.10.15 – 2017.07.05)

Bishop emeritus of Carolina (Brazil)

Born:	1956.07.29 (Itapetim, PE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1991.04.28
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.04.26

Coadjutor Bishop of Carolina (Brazil) (2003.01.15 – 2003.10.15)

Bishop of Carolina (Brazil) (2003.10.15 – 2017.07.05)

Apostolic Administrator of Tocantinópolis (Brazil) (2008.01 – 2009.03.04)

Bishop Marcelino Correr, O.F.M. Cap.
(1991.03.13 – 2003.10.15)

Caridade e bondade

Born:	1932.01.11 (Piracicaba, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1957.06.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.04.21
Died:	2006.04.18 (Carolina, MA, Brazil † 74)

Bishop of Carolina (Brazil) (1991.03.13 – 2003.10.15)

Bishop Evangelista Alcimar Caldas Magalhães, O.F.M. Cap.
(1981.09.03 – 1990.09.12)

Habes me Socium

Born:	1940.02.02 (Benjamin Constant, AM, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1967.07.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.10.25
Died:	2021.06.20 (Manaus, AM, Brazil † 81)

Bishop of Carolina (Brazil) (1981.09.03 – 1990.09.12)

Bishop of Alto Solimões (Brazil) (1990.09.12 – 2015.05.20)

Bishop Marcelino Sérgio Bicego, O.F.M. Cap.
(1979.10.16 – 1980.01.22)

Born:	1920.06.18 (Cusano Milanino, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1945.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1971.10.24
Died:	1980.01.22 († 59)

Titular Bishop of Lydda (1971.08.06 – 1978.05.26)

Bishop-Prelate of Carolina (Brazil) (1971.08.06 – 1979.10.16)

Bishop of Carolina (Brazil) (1979.10.16 – 1980.01.22)

Prelates of Carolina (Roman Rite)

Bishop Marcelino Sérgio Bicego, O.F.M. Cap.
(1971.08.06 – 1979.10.16)

(see above)

Bishop Cesário Alexandre Minali, O.F.M. Cap.
(1958.04.09 – 1969.06.13)

Born:	1897.11.08 (Colognola al Piano, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1928.06.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.06.05
Died:	1969.06.13 († 71)

Bishop-Prelate of Alto Solimões (Brazil) (1955.03.01 – 1958.04.09)

Titular Bishop of Achyraus (1955.03.01 – 1969.06.13)

Bishop-Prelate of Carolina (Brazil) (1958.04.09 – 1969.06.13)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop José Soares Filho, O.F.M. Cap. (69) (2003.01.15 – 2003.10.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral São Pedro de Alcântara, Carolina, Maranhão

Churches by City (11)

Araguaína (←), Tocantinópolis (↖), Imperatriz (↑), Grajaú (↗), Balsas (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 17,514 km²

Population: 157,284 Catholics (76.7% of 205,078 total)

Pastoral Centres: 14 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 14 priests (diocesan), 9 deacons, 7 religious (5 brothers, 2 sisters), 6 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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