Diocese of

Concepción

Paraguay

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Concepción (español) / Santísima Concepción (español) / Santissima Concezione (Italiano) / Sanctissimæ Conceptionis in Paraguay (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Asunción

Neighbouring Dioceses: Benjamín Aceval (↙), Chaco Paraguayo (↖), Jardim (↑), Dourados (↗), Canindeyú (↘), San Pedro (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1929.05.01: Established as Diocese of Concepción y Chaco (from Diocese of Paraguay and Apostolic Prefecture of Pilcomayo and became suffragan of Asunción)
1948.03.11: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Chaco Paraguayo
1949.07.16: Renamed as Diocese of Concepción (español) / Santísima Concepción (español) / Santissima Concezione (Italiano) / Sanctissimæ Conceptionis in Paraguay (Latin)
1957.01.21: Lost territory to establish Territorial Prelature of Encarnación y Alto Paraná
1960.08.02: Lost territory to establish Territorial Prelature of Caacupé
1961.09.10: Lost territory to establish Territorial Prelature of Coronel Oviedo
1978.06.05: Lost territory to establish Diocese of San Pedro
1980.06.28: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Benjamín Aceval

Present Prelates

Bishop:

vacant

Ordinaries

Bishops of Concepción (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel Ángel Cabello Almada (60)
(2013.07.11 – 2024.12.05)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay)

Amor en la verdad

Born:	1965.09.04 (Piribebuy, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:	1991.09.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.09.15

Priest of Caacupé (Paraguay) (1991.09.15 – 2013.07.11)

Bishop of Concepción (Paraguay) (2013.07.11 – 2024.12.05)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2024.11.06 – 2024.12.05)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay) (2024.12.05 – ...)

Bishop Zacarías Ortiz Rolón, S.D.B.
(2003.07.12 – 2013.07.11)

Born:	1934.09.06 (Arroyos y Esteros, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:	1965.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.06.26
Died:	2020.01.06 (Asunción, Paraguay † 85)

Titular Bishop of Minori (1988.03.12 – 2003.07.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Chaco Paraguayo (Paraguay) (1988.03.12 – 2003.07.12)

Bishop of Concepción (Paraguay) (2003.07.12 – 2013.07.11)

Bishop Juan Bautista Gavilán Velázquez (74)
(1994.03.05 – 2001.12.18)

Bishop of Coronel Oviedo (Paraguay)

Born:	1951.06.24 (Eusebio Ayala, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:	1977.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.05.08

Priest of Caacupé (Paraguay) (1977.12.18 – 1994.03.05)

Bishop of Concepción (Paraguay) (1994.03.05 – 2001.12.18)

Bishop of Coronel Oviedo (Paraguay) (2001.12.18 – ...)

Bishop Aníbal Maricevich Fleitas
(1965.12.04 – 1994)

Born:	1917.12.16 (Yparacarai, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:	1943.11.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.05.19
Died:	1996.08.02 (Asunción, Paraguay † 78)

Titular Bishop of Diocletianopolis in Palæstina (1957.02.05 – 1965.12.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (1957.02.05 – 1965.12.04)

Bishop of Concepción (Paraguay) (1965.12.04 – 1994)

Bishop Emilio Sosa Gaona, S.D.B.
(1931.04.30 – 1963.05.14)

Born:	1884.09.28 (Asunción, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:	1912.01.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1932.05.15
Died:	1970.03.24 († 85)

Bishop of Concepción (Paraguay) (1931.04.30 – 1963.05.14)

Titular Bishop of Sergentza (1963.05.14 – 1970.03.24)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Julio Benigno Laschi González (1955.03.23 – 1963)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Inmaculada Concepción de María, Concepción, Concepción
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Benjamín Aceval (↙), Chaco Paraguayo (↖), Jardim (↑), Dourados (↗), Canindeyú (↘), San Pedro (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 30,084 km²

Population: 470,000 Catholics (98.1% of 479,105 total)

Pastoral Centres: 19 parishes, 6 missions

Personnel: 49 priests (35 diocesan, 14 religious), 49 religious (18 brothers, 31 sisters), 10 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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