Diocese of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey, Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Name: Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (español) / Higüey (español) / Higueyen(sis) (Latin) / a Domina Nostra vulgo de la Altagracia in Higüey (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Santo Domingo

Neighbouring Dioceses: San Pedro de Macorís (←), Mayagüez (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1959.04.01: Established as Diocese of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (español) / Higüey (español) / Higueyen(sis) (Latin) / a Domina Nostra vulgo de la Altagracia in Higüey (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santo Domingo and became suffragan of Santo Domingo)
1997.02.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of San Pedro de Macorís

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1992.10)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.05.30 – ...):

Bishop Jesús Castro Marte (60)

Monsignors (1)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jesús Castro Marte (60)
(2020.05.30 – ...)

Bishop of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic)

Væ mihi si non evangelizavero

Born:	1966.03.18 (Guerra, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
Ordained Priest:	1995.06.13
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.08.26

Priest of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (1995.06.13 – 2017.07.01)

Titular Bishop of Giufi (2017.07.01 – 2020.05.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (2017.07.01 – 2020.05.30)

Bishop of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic) (2020.05.30 – ...)

Vice-President of Dominican Episcopal Conference (2023.07.04 – 2026.08.02)

Bishop Gregorio Nicanor Peña Rodríguez (84)
(2004.06.24 – 2020.05.30)

Bishop emeritus of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic)

In unitate diversitas

Born:	1942.03.12 (Baitoa, Santiago, Dominican Republic)
Ordained Priest:	1968.06.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.01.25

Priest of Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic) (1968.06.22 – 1996.12.16)

Bishop of Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) (1996.12.16 – 2004.06.24)

Bishop of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic) (2004.06.24 – 2020.05.30)

Vice-President of Dominican Episcopal Conference (2008 – 2014.07.04)

President of Dominican Episcopal Conference (2014.07.04 – 2017.07.07)

Bishop Ramón Benito de La Rosa y Carpio (86) (later Archbishop)
(1995.03.25 – 2003.07.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic)

Ecce mater tua

Born:	1939.09.19 (Higüey, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic)
Ordained Priest:	1965.01.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1989.01.06

Priest of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic) (1965.01.23 – 1988.12.02)

Titular Bishop of Cerbali (1988.12.02 – 1995.03.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (1988.12.02 – 1995.03.25)

Bishop of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic) (1995.03.25 – 2003.07.16)

President of Dominican Episcopal Conference (2002 – 2009)

General Secretary of Latin American Episcopal Council (2003 – 2004)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic) (2003.07.16 – 2015.02.23)

Archbishop Hugo Eduardo Polanco Brito
(1975.05.10 – 1995.03.25)

Non recuso laborem

Born:	1918.10.13 (San Juan Evangelista de Salcedo, Dominican Republic)
Ordained Priest:	1944.06.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1954.01.31
Died:	1996.04.13 (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic † 77)

Priest of Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic) (1944.06.25 – 1953.09.25)

Titular Bishop of Centenaria (1953.09.25 – 1956.07.22)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic) (1953.09.25 – 1956.07.22)

Bishop of Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic) (1956.07.22 – 1966.03.14)

Titular Bishop of Nova Germania (1966.03.14 – 1970.01.20)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (1966.03.14 – 1970.01.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic) (1966.03.14 – 1970.01.20)

Titular Archbishop of Mentesa (1970.01.20 – 1975.05.10)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (1970.01.20 – 1975.05.10)

Archbishop-Bishop of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic) (1975.05.10 – 1995.03.25)

President of Dominican Episcopal Conference (1981 – 1984)

Bishop Juan Félix Pepén y Soliman
(1959.04.01 – 1975.05.10)

Veritas et justitia

Born:	1920.01.27 (Higüey, Dominican Republic)
Ordained Priest:	1947.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.05.31
Died:	2007.07.21 (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic † 87)

Priest of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (1947.06.29 – 1959.04.01)

Bishop of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey (Dominican Republic) (1959.04.01 – 1975.05.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (1975.05.10 – 1995.02.11)

Titular Bishop of Arpi (1975.05.10 – 2007.07.21)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Hugo Eduardo Polanco Brito (later Archbishop) (1966.03.14 – 1970.01.20)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica, National Shrine: Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, Higüey, La Altagracia, Yuma
Former Cathedral: Santuario San Dionisio, Higüey, La Altagracia, Yuma

San Pedro de Macorís (←), Mayagüez (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 5,451 km²

Population: 517,100 Catholics (82.9% of 623,500 total)

Pastoral Centres: 36 parishes

Personnel: 40 priests (25 diocesan, 15 religious), 31 deacons, 272 religious (212 brothers, 60 sisters), 9 seminarians