Apostolic Vicariate of Izabal, Guatemala

Continent: Central America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Izabal / Izabalen(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Inmaculada Concepción de María

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1968.04.30: Established as Apostolic Administration of Izabal / Izabalen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Zacapa)
1988.03.12: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Izabal / Izabalen(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2022.12.23 – ...):

Bishop Miguel Ángel Martínez Méndez (65)

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Izabal (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel Ángel Martínez Méndez (65)
(2022.12.23 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Izabal (Guatemala)

A donde yo te envíe irás

Born:	1959.05.05 (Yupiltepeque, Jutiapa, Guatemala)
Ordained Priest:	1986.01.18
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.03.18

Priest of Jalapa (Guatemala) (1986.01.18 – 2016.01.25)

Priest of San Francisco de Asís de Jutiapa (Guatemala) (2016.01.25 – 2022.12.23)

Vicar Apostolic of Izabal (Guatemala) (2022.12.23 – ...)

Bishop Raúl Antonio Martínez Paredes (81)
(Apostolic Administrator 2021.09.21 – 2022.12.23)

Bishop Domingo Buezo Leiva (62)
(2013.02.09 – 2021.07.16)

Bishop of Sololá–Chimaltenango (Guatemala)

Born:	1962.12.12 (Aldea Los Horcones, Chiquimula, Guatemala)
Ordained Priest:	1988.11.25
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.05.04

Priest of Zacapa (Guatemala) (1988.11.25 – 2013.02.09)

Titular Bishop of Dardanus (2013.02.09 – 2021.07.16)

Vicar Apostolic of Izabal (Guatemala) (2013.02.09 – 2021.07.16)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Guatemala (2014 – 2020)

Bishop of Sololá–Chimaltenango (Guatemala) (2021.07.16 – ...)

Bishop Mario Enrique Ríos Montt, C.M. (92)
(Apostolic Administrator 2011.07.26 – 2013.02.09)

Bishop Gabriel Peñate Rodríguez (67)
(2004.05.21 – 2011.07.26)

Titular Bishop of Succuba
Vicar Apostolic emeritus of Izabal (Guatemala)

Born:	1957.09.27 (Aldea La Esmeralda, Jutiapa, Guatemala)
Ordained Priest:	1984.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.08.14

Priest of Jalapa (Guatemala) (1984.12.18 – 2004.05.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Izabal (Guatemala) (2004.05.21 – 2011.07.26)

Titular Bishop of Succuba (2004.05.21 – ...)

Bishop Luis María Estrada Paetau, O.P.
(1988.03.12 – 2004.05.21)

Born:	1935.05.26 (Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala)
Ordained Priest:	1961.03.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.12.12
Died:	2011.03.25 (Izabal, Guatemala † 75)

Apostolic Administrator of El Petén (Guatemala) (1970.11.30 – 1977.10.27)

Apostolic Administrator of Izabal (Guatemala) (1977.10.27 – 1988.03.12)

Titular Bishop of Regiæ (1977.10.27 – 2011.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Izabal (Guatemala) (1988.03.12 – 2004.05.21)

Apostolic Administrators of Izabal (Roman Rite)

Bishop Luis María Estrada Paetau, O.P.
(1977.10.27 – 1988.03.12)

(see above)

Bishop Gerardo Humberto Flores Reyes
(1969.05.09 – 1977.10.07)

Born:	1925.12.09 (Quezaltenango, Guatemala)
Ordained Priest:	1949.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1966.10.07
Died:	2022.02.17 (Coban, Guatemala † 96)

Auxiliary Bishop of Quetzaltenango, Los Altos (Guatemala) (1966.07.26 – 1969.05.09)

Titular Bishop of Nova Cæsaris (1966.07.26 – 1977.10.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Izabal (Guatemala) (1969.05.09 – 1977.10.07)

Bishop of Vera Paz (Guatemala) (1977.10.07 – 2001.02.22)

President of Episcopal Conference of Guatemala (1992 – 1994)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Inmaculada Concepción de María, Puerto Barrios, Izabal
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)

Zacapa (↙), Vera Paz (←), Belize City–Belmopan (↑), San Pedro Sula (→), Santa Rosa de Copán (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 9,038 km²

Population: 245,390 Catholics (47.9% of 512,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 19 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 28 priests (24 diocesan, 4 religious), 61 religious (7 brothers, 54 sisters), 14 seminarians