Apostolic Vicariate of Caroní, Venezuela

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Caroní / Caronen(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: San Francisco de Asís (October 4)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: November 7

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1922.03.04: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Caroní / Caronen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Santo Tomás de Guayana)
1954.07.30: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Tucupita

Contact Info

Address: Casa Misión, Municipio Autónomo Sifontes, Parroquia Urdaneta Santa Elena de Uairén, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2021.04.27 – ...):

Bishop Gonzalo Alfredo Ontiveros Vivas (55)

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Caroní (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gonzalo Alfredo Ontiveros Vivas (55)
(2021.04.27 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Caroní (Venezuela)

En tu nombre Señor

Born:	1968.12.05 (El Valle Capacho, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1993.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2021.06.26

Priest of San Cristóbal de Venezuela (Venezuela) (1993.08.14 – 2021.04.27)

Vicar Apostolic of Caroní (Venezuela) (2021.04.27 – ...)

Bishop Felipe González González, O.F.M. Cap. (79)
(2014.05.26 – 2021.04.27)

Titular Bishop of Sinnuara
Vicar Apostolic emeritus of Caroní (Venezuela)

Born:	1944.12.14 (Madrid, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1970.03.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.01.06

Vicar Apostolic of Tucupita (Venezuela) (1985.11.25 – 2014.05.26)

Titular Bishop of Sinnuara (1985.11.25 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Caroní (Venezuela) (2014.05.26 – 2021.04.27)

Bishop Jesús Alfonso Guerrero Contreras, O.F.M. Cap. (73)
(1995.12.06 – 2011.04.09)

Bishop of Barinas (Venezuela)

Born:	1951.01.13 (La Pedregoza, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1977.12.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.01.20

Titular Bishop of Leptiminus (1995.12.06 – 2011.04.09)

Vicar Apostolic of Caroní (Venezuela) (1995.12.06 – 2011.04.09)

Bishop of Machiques (Venezuela) (2011.04.09 – 2018.12.21)

Bishop of Barinas (Venezuela) (2018.12.21 – ...)

Bishop Santiago Pérez Sánchez
(1993.05.28 – 1994.07.02)

Born:	1942.03.03 (Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1967.02.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1993.09.17
Died:	1994.07.02 († 52)

Titular Bishop of Castellum medianum (1993.05.28 – 1994.07.02)

Vicar Apostolic of Caroní (Venezuela) (1993.05.28 – 1994.07.02)

Bishop Mariano Gutiérrez Salazar, O.F.M. Cap.
(1968.03.11 – 1993.05.28)

Born:	1913.06.14 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1936.06.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.07.28
Died:	1995.10.23 († 82)

Vicar Apostolic of Caroní (Venezuela) (1968.03.11 – 1993.05.28)

Titular Bishop of Bamaccora (1968.03.11 – 1995.10.23)

Bishop Constantino Gómez Villa, O.F.M. Cap.
(1938.07.14 – 1967.10.11)

Born:	1891.04.11 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1916.04.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1938.12.18
Died:	1981.03.22 († 89)

Vicar Apostolic of Caroní (Venezuela) (1938.07.14 – 1967.10.11)

Titular Bishop of Cucusus (1938.07.14 – 1981.03.22)

Bishop Benvenuto Diego Alonso y Nistal, O.F.M. Cap.
(Apostolic Administrator 1937.06 – 1938.03.24)

Bishop Benvenuto Diego Alonso y Nistal, O.F.M. Cap.
(1923.11.27 – 1937.06)

Born:	1871.06.02 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1895.06.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1924.05.01
Died:	1938.05.23 († 66)

Vicar Apostolic of Caroní (Venezuela) (1923.11.27 – 1937.06)

Titular Bishop of Dorylaëum (1923.11.27 – 1938.05.23)

Apostolic Administrator of Caroní (Venezuela) (1937.06 – 1938.03.24)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de Santa Elena, Santa Elena de Uairén, Bolívar

Ciudad Bolívar (↖), Ciudad Guayana (↑), Georgetown (↗), Roraima (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 88,000 km²

Population: 60,350 Catholics (55.6% of 108,550 total)

Pastoral Centres: 6 parishes, 3 missions

Personnel: 9 priests (7 diocesan, 2 religious), 4 religious (3 brothers, 1 sister), 8 seminarians