Diocese of Margarita, Venezuela

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Margarita / Margariten(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Cumaná

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (August 15)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: July 18

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1969.07.18: Established as Diocese of Margarita / Margariten(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Cumaná and became suffragan of Ciudad Bolívar)
1992.05.16: Became suffragan of Cumaná

Contact Info

Address: Calle Unión 11.20, Apartado 1486311, La Asunción, Estado Nueva Esparta, Venezuela

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.08.04 – ...):

Bishop Fernando José Castro Aguayo, Opus Dei (73)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Margarita (Roman Rite)

Bishop Fernando José Castro Aguayo, Opus Dei (73)
(2015.08.04 – ...)

Bishop of Margarita (Venezuela)

Born:	1951.07.29 (Caracas, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1984.05.31
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.09.26

Priest of Opus Dei (Italy) (1984.05.31 – 2009.06.27)

Titular Bishop of Ampora (2009.06.27 – 2015.08.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (2009.06.27 – 2015.08.04)

Bishop of Margarita (Venezuela) (2015.08.04 – ...)

Bishop Jorge Anibal Quintero Chacón (68)
(2008.12.19 – 2014.07.11)

Bishop of Barcelona (Venezuela)

Pastor y navegante

Born:	1956.07.23 (Queniquea, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1981.06.27
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.03.07

Priest of San Cristóbal de Venezuela (Venezuela) (1981.06.27 – 2008.12.19)

Bishop of Margarita (Venezuela) (2008.12.19 – 2014.07.11)

Bishop of Barcelona (Venezuela) (2014.07.11 – ...)

Bishop Rafael Ramón Conde Alfonzo
(1999.03.18 – 2008.02.12)

Born:	1943.07.13 (Caracas, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1968.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.01.06
Died:	2020.12.10 (Maracay, Venezuela † 77)

Titular Bishop of Bapara (1995.12.02 – 1997.08.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1995.12.02 – 1997.08.21)

Coadjutor Bishop of La Guaira (Venezuela) (1997.08.21 – 1999.03.18)

Bishop of Margarita (Venezuela) (1999.03.18 – 2008.02.12)

Bishop of Maracay (Venezuela) (2008.02.12 – 2019.07.19)

Bishop César Ramón Ortega Herrera
(1983.08.25 – 1998.07.15)

Born:	1938.07.16 (Salom, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1963.06.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1983.10.28
Died:	2021.04.09 (Valencia, Venezuela † 82)

Bishop of Margarita (Venezuela) (1983.08.25 – 1998.07.15)

Apostolic Administrator of Barcelona (Venezuela) (1997.06.21 – 1998.07.15)

Bishop of Barcelona (Venezuela) (1998.07.15 – 2014.01.20)

Bishop Tulio Manuel Chirivella Varela (later Archbishop)
(1974.04.05 – 1982.10.18)

Me gastaré y desgastaré para la gloria de Dios

Born:	1932.11.14 (Aguirre, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1956.11.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.06.09
Died:	2021.04.10 (Miami, FL, USA † 88)

Bishop of Margarita (Venezuela) (1974.04.05 – 1982.10.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Barquisimeto (Venezuela) (1982.10.18 – 2007.12.22)

Second Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1991 – 1995)

President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (1996 – 1999)

Bishop Francisco de Guruceaga Iturriza, Opus Dei
(1969.06.18 – 1973.10.02)

Born:	1928.01.28 (Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1960.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.05.21
Died:	2012.02.10 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Villa regis (1967.03.31 – 1969.06.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Ciudad Bolívar (Venezuela) (1967.03.31 – 1969.06.18)

Bishop of Margarita (Venezuela) (1969.06.18 – 1973.10.02)

Bishop of La Guaira (Venezuela) (1973.10.02 – 2001.10.18)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Nuestra Señora de La Asunción, Isla de Margarita, Nueva Esparta
Minor Basilica: Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora del Valle, Isla de Margarita, Nueva Esparta

Cumaná (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 1,150 km²

Population: 459,000 Catholics (75.0% of 612,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 29 parishes, 50 missions

Personnel: 28 priests (27 diocesan, 1 religious), 13 deacons, 24 religious (2 brothers, 22 sisters), 7 seminarians

Diocese of

Margarita 𝐖