Diocese of Guarabira, Brazil 🇧🇷

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Guarabira / Guarabiren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Paraíba

Neighbouring Dioceses: Campina Grande (↙), Natal (↑), Paraíba (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Luz (February 2)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: October 11 (2020)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1980.10.11: Established as Diocese of Guarabira / Guarabiren(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Paraíba and became suffragan of Paraíba)
1999.11.20: Gained territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Paraíba

Present Prelates

Bishop:

vacant

Ordinaries

Bishops of Guarabira (Roman Rite)

Bishop Aldemiro Sena dos Santos (61)
(2017.10.04 – 2026.02.04)

Bishop of Teixeira de Freitas–Caravelas (Brazil)

Servite in lætitia

Born:	1964.06.26 (Ibirataia, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1992.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.12.17

Priest of Ilhéus (Brazil) (1992.12.20 – 2017.10.04)

Bishop of Guarabira (Brazil) (2017.10.04 – 2026.02.04)

Bishop of Teixeira de Freitas–Caravelas (Brazil) (2026.02.04 – ...)

Bishop Francisco de Assis Dantas de Lucena (62)
(2008.05.28 – 2016.07.13)

Bishop of Nazaré (Brazil)

Lux vestra luceat

Born:	1963.10.19 (Jardim do Seridó, RN, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1991.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.08.17

Priest of Caicó (Brazil) (1991.07.21 – 2008.05.28)

Bishop of Guarabira (Brazil) (2008.05.28 – 2016.07.13)

Bishop of Nazaré (Brazil) (2016.07.13 – ...)

Bishop Antônio Muniz Fernandes, O. Carm. (73) (later Archbishop)
(1998.02.04 – 2006.11.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Maceió (Brazil)

Erit vester servus

Born:	1952.08.11 (Princesa Isabel, PB, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1980.05.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.05.24

Bishop of Guarabira (Brazil) (1998.02.04 – 2006.11.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maceió (Brazil) (2006.11.22 – 2024.04.03)

Bishop Marcelo Pinto Carvalheira (later Archbishop)
(1981.11.09 – 1995.11.29)

Evangelizare

Born:	1928.05.01 (Recife, PE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1953.02.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.12.27
Died:	2017.03.25 (Recife, PE, Brazil † 88)

Titular Bishop of Bitylius (1975.10.29 – 1981.11.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Paraíba (Brazil) (1975.10.29 – 1981.11.09)

Bishop of Guarabira (Brazil) (1981.11.09 – 1995.11.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Paraíba (Brazil) (1995.11.29 – 2004.05.05)

Vice-President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1998 – 2003)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Nossa Senhora da Luz, Guarabira, Paraíba

Churches by City (32)

Campina Grande (↙), Natal (↑), Paraíba (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 4,391 km²

Population: 435,000 Catholics (88.4% of 492,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 38 parishes

Personnel: 59 priests (52 diocesan, 7 religious), 19 deacons, 64 religious (9 brothers, 55 sisters), 29 seminarians