Diocese of Iguatu, Brazil 🇧🇷

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Iguatu / Iguatuvin(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Fortaleza

Neighbouring Dioceses: Crateús (↖), Quixadá (↑), Limoeiro do Norte (↗), Cajazeiras (↘), Crato (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Joseph (March 19)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: October 14 (2006)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1961.01.28: Established as Diocese of Iguatu / Iguatuvin(us) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fortaleza and Diocese of Crato and became suffragan of Fortaleza)
1963.09.28: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Crateús

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.05.04 – ...):

Bishop Geraldo Freire Soares, C.SS.R. (59)

Monsignors (1)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Iguatu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Geraldo Freire Soares, C.SS.R. (59)
(2022.05.04 – ...)

Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil)

O pão nosso de cada dia

Born:	1967.01.06 (Sertânia, PE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	2000.07.01
Consecrated Bishop:	2022.07.01

Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil) (2022.05.04 – ...)

Bishop Edson de Castro Homem (77)
(2015.05.06 – 2021.02.24)

Bishop emeritus of Iguatu (Brazil)

Sufficit tibi gratia

Born:	1949.04.17 (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1977.10.18
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.03.12

Priest of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (1977.10.18 – 2005.02.16)

Titular Bishop of Mutia (2005.02.16 – 2015.05.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (2005.02.16 – 2015.05.06)

Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil) (2015.05.06 – 2021.02.24)

Bishop João José da Costa, O. Carm. (68) (later Archbishop)
(2009.01.07 – 2014.11.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Aracaju (Brazil)

Servo por amor

Born:	1958.06.24 (Lagarto, SE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1992.12.12
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.03.19

Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil) (2009.01.07 – 2014.11.05)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (2014.11.05 – 2017.01.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aracaju (Brazil) (2017.01.18 – 2023.07.19)

Bishop José Doth de Oliveira
(2000.07.26 – 2009.01.07)

Cum Maria Matre Jesu

Born:	1938.03.01 (Pedra Branca, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1964.12.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.05.13
Died:	2017.11.26 (Pedra Branca, CE, Brazil † 79)

Priest of Iguatu (Brazil) (1964.12.13 – 1989.12.23)

Coadjutor Bishop of Palmares (Brazil) (1989.12.23 – 1991.12.18)

Coadjutor Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil) (1991.12.18 – 2000.07.26)

Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil) (2000.07.26 – 2009.01.07)

Bishop José Mauro Ramalho de Alarcón Santiago
(1961.10.13 – 2000.07.26)

Reple Cordis intima

Born:	1925.05.14 (Russas, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1948.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.01.06
Died:	2019.12.09 (Iguatu, CE, Brazil † 94)

Priest of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1948.12.05 – 1961.10.13)

Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil) (1961.10.13 – 2000.07.26)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop José Doth de Oliveira (1991.12.18 – 2000.07.26)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral São José, Iguatu, Ceará
Former Cathedral: Igreja Senhora Sant’Ana, Iguatu, Ceará
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (42)

Crateús (↖), Quixadá (↑), Limoeiro do Norte (↗), Cajazeiras (↘), Crato (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 21,904 km²

Population: 508,000 Catholics (82.5% of 616,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 29 parishes

Personnel: 47 priests (43 diocesan, 4 religious), 60 religious (8 brothers, 52 sisters), 23 seminarians