Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mercedes

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Mercedes–Luján / Merceden(sis)–Luianen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Merlo–Moreno, Nueve de Julio, Zárate–Campana

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (September 24), Nuestra Señora de Lujan (May 8)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: April 19 (1921)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1934.04.20: Established as Diocese of Mercedes / Merceden(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of La Plata and became suffragan of Buenos Aires)
1947.03.03: Lost territory to establish Diocese of San Nicolás de los Arroyos
1957.02.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Nueve de Julio and Diocese of Santa Rosa
1967.05.05: Became suffragan of La Plata
1989.05.10: Renamed as Diocese of Mercedes–Luján / Merceden(sis)–Luianen(sis) (Latin)
1997.11.21: Promoted as Archdiocese of Mercedes–Luján / Merceden(sis)–Luianen(sis) (Latin) (without ecclesiastical province)
2019.10.04: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mercedes–Luján / Merceden(sis)–Luianen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Merlo–Moreno, Nueve de Julio and Zárate–Campana)

Contact Info

Address: Calle 22, N° 745, B66OOHDU, Mercedes, Argentina

Phone: (02324) 432412

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1982.06)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2019.10.04 – ...):	Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig (65)
Auxiliary Bishop (2023.08.09 – ...):	Bishop Mauricio Alberto Landra (52) Titular Bishop of Trisipa

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mercedes–Luján (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig (65)
(2019.10.04 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina)

Soy de la Virgen nomás

Born:	1959.06.05 (Carapachay, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1983.12.09
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.07.15

Priest of San Isidro (Argentina) (1983.12.09 – 2017.05.18)

Titular Bishop of Ita (2017.05.18 – 2019.10.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (2017.05.18 – 2019.10.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (2019.10.04 – ...)

Archbishops of Mercedes–Luján (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Agustín Roberto Radrizzani, S.D.B.
(2007.12.27 – 2019.10.04)

Hemos creido en el amor

Born:	1944.09.22 (Avellaneda, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1972.03.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.06.20
Died:	2020.09.02 (Junín, Argentina † 75)

Bishop of Neuquén (Argentina) (1991.05.14 – 2001.04.24)

Bishop of Lomas de Zamora (Argentina) (2001.04.24 – 2007.12.27)

Second Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Argentina (2005 – 2008)

Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (2007.12.27 – 2019.10.04)

Archbishop Rubén Héctor di Monte
(2000.03.07 – 2007.12.27)

Con María su madre

Born:	1932.04.12 (Luján, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1954.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1980.08.16
Died:	2016.04.18 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Iomnium (1980.06.13 – 1986.03.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Avellaneda (Argentina) (1980.06.13 – 1986.03.24)

Bishop of Avellaneda (Argentina) (1986.03.24 – 2000.03.07)

Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (2000.03.07 – 2007.12.27)

Archbishop Emilio Ogñénovich
(1997.11.21 – 2000.03.07)

In nomine tuo

Born:	1923.01.25 (Olavarría, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1949.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.11.18
Died:	2011.01.29 († 88)

Titular Bishop of Mibiarca (1979.10.01 – 1982.06.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bahía Blanca (Argentina) (1979.10.01 – 1982.06.08)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1982.06.08 – 1989.05.10)

Bishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (1989.05.10 – 1997.11.21)

Archbishop of Mercedes–Luján (Argentina) (1997.11.21 – 2000.03.07)

Bishops of Mercedes–Luján (Roman Rite)

Bishop Emilio Ogñénovich (later Archbishop)
(1989.05.10 – 1997.11.21)

(see above)

Bishops of Mercedes (Roman Rite)

Bishop Emilio Ogñénovich (later Archbishop)
(1982.06.08 – 1989.05.10)

(see above)

Bishop Luis Juan Tomé
(1963.07.26 – 1981.09.25)

Born:	1914.07.19 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1938.04.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.09.15
Died:	1981.09.25 († 67)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1963.07.26 – 1981.09.25)

Bishop Anunciado Serafini
(1939.06.20 – 1963.02.18)

Born:	1898.11.16 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1924.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.07.25
Died:	1963.02.18 († 64)

Titular Bishop of Arycanda (1935.05.11 – 1939.06.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1935.05.11 – 1939.06.20)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1939.06.20 – 1963.02.18)

Bishop Juan Pascual Chimento (later Archbishop)
(1934.09.13 – 1938.10.16)

Born:	1887.06.26 (Florencio Varela, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1911.04.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1928.12.21
Died:	1946.12.25 († 59)

Priest of La Plata (Argentina) (1911.04.17 – 1928.09.29)

Titular Bishop of Sela (1928.09.29 – 1934.09.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1928.09.29 – 1934.09.13)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1934.09.13 – 1938.10.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1938.10.16 – 1946.12.25)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig (65) (later Archbishop) (2017.05.18 – 2019.10.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Oscar Domingo Sarlinga (61) (2003.04.12 – 2006.02.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Herberto Celso Angelo (1990.10.31 – 1993.01.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Vicente Alfredo Aducci (1960.05.28 – 1962.05.03)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Catedral Basílica Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Mercedes, Buenos Aires
Minor Basilica, National Shrine: Basílica Nacional Nuestra Señora de Luján, Luján, Buenos Aires
Shrines in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

Churches by City (52)

Nueve de Julio (←), Venado Tuerto (↖), San Nicolás de los Arroyos (↖), Zárate–Campana (↗), Merlo–Moreno (→), Gregorio de Laferrere (→), Chascomús (↘), Azul (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 19,330 km²

Population: 803,700 Catholics (96.3% of 835,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 58 parishes, 70 missions

Personnel: 101 priests (80 diocesan, 21 religious), 11 deacons, 137 religious (26 brothers, 111 sisters), 14 seminarians