Diocese of Luz, Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Luz / Aterraden(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Belo Horizonte

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: São Rafael (September 29)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1918.07.18: Established as Diocese of Aterrado / Aterraden(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mariana and Diocese of Uberaba and became suffragan of Mariana)
1924.02.01: Became suffragan of Belo Horizonte
1958.07.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Divinópolis
1959.11.21: Exchanged territory with Diocese of Patos de Minas
1960.12.05: Renamed as Diocese of Luz / Aterraden(sis) (Latin)
1982.11.10: Lost territory to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Uberaba
2008.08.19: Lost territory to Diocese of Guaxupé

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.02.25 – ...):

Bishop José Aristeu Vieira (72)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Luz (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Aristeu Vieira (72)
(2015.02.25 – ...)

Bishop of Luz (Brazil)

Ungido para Evangelizar os pobres

Born:	1952.07.14 (Rio Vermelho, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1979.10.13
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.05.02

Priest of Diamantina (Brazil) (1979.10.13 – 2015.02.25)

Bishop of Luz (Brazil) (2015.02.25 – ...)

Bishop Antônio Carlos Félix (67)
(2003.02.05 – 2014.03.06)

Bishop of Governador Valadares (Brazil)

Sirvamos sem temor

Born:	1957.12.05 (Caldas, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1986.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.05.04

Priest of Pouso Alegre (Brazil) (1986.12.20 – 2003.02.05)

Bishop of Luz (Brazil) (2003.02.05 – 2014.03.06)

Bishop of Governador Valadares (Brazil) (2014.03.06 – ...)

Bishop Eurico dos Santos Veloso (later Archbishop)
(1994.05.18 – 2001.11.28)

In gentibus evangelizare

Born:	1933.04.13 (Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1962.09.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.07.05
Died:	2023.09.30 (Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil † 90)

Priest of Juiz de Fora (Brazil) (1962.09.22 – 1987.03.12)

Titular Bishop of Selia (1987.03.12 – 1991.05.22)

Auxiliary Bishop of Juiz de Fora (Brazil) (1987.03.12 – 1991.05.22)

Coadjutor Bishop of Luz (Brazil) (1991.05.22 – 1994.05.18)

Bishop of Luz (Brazil) (1994.05.18 – 2001.11.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Juiz de Fora (Brazil) (2001.11.28 – 2009.01.28)

Bishop Belchior Joaquim da Silva Neto, C.M.
(1967.07.09 – 1994.05.18)

Caritas Christi urget

Born:	1918.11.07 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1945.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.04.24
Died:	2000.05.24 († 81)

Titular Bishop of Cremna (1960.02.13 – 1967.07.09)

Coadjutor Bishop of Luz (Brazil) (1960.02.13 – 1967.07.09)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Luz (Brazil) (1960.02.13 – 1967.07.09)

Bishop of Luz (Brazil) (1967.07.09 – 1994.05.18)

Bishop Manoel Nunes Coelho
(1960.12.05 – 1967.07.08)

Born:	1884.02.12
Ordained Priest:	1907.04.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1920.11.14
Died:	1967.07.08 († 83)

Bishop of Aterrado (Brazil) (1920.06.10 – 1960.12.05)

Bishop of Luz (Brazil) (1960.12.05 – 1967.07.08)

Bishops of Aterrado (Roman Rite)

Bishop Belchior Joaquim da Silva Neto, C.M.
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1960.02.13 – 1967.07.09)

Bishop Manoel Nunes Coelho
(1920.06.10 – 1960.12.05)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Eurico dos Santos Veloso (later Archbishop) (1991.05.22 – 1994.05.18)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Belchior Joaquim da Silva Neto, C.M. (1960.02.13 – 1967.07.09)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Nossa Senhora da Luz, Luz, Minas Gerais

Churches by City (58)

Guaxupé (↙), Uberaba (←), Patos de Minas (↖), Sete Lagoas (↗), Divinópolis (↘), Oliveira (↘), Campanha (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 24,990 km²

Population: 442,320 Catholics (92.5% of 478,104 total)

Pastoral Centres: 52 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 81 priests (66 diocesan, 15 religious), 1 deacon, 40 religious (16 brothers, 24 sisters), 11 seminarians