Diocese of Ponce, Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

Continent: Central America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Ponce / Poncen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: San Juan de Puerto Rico

Neighbouring Dioceses: Mayagüez (←), Arecibo (↖), Caguas (↗)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (December 12)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: April 11 (1950)

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1924.11.21: Established as Diocese of Ponce / Poncen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Puerto Rico and without ecclesiastical province)
1960.04.30: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Arecibo and became suffragan of San Juan de Puerto Rico
1964.11.04: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Caguas
1976.03.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mayagüez

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.12.22 – ...):

Bishop Rubén Antonio González Medina, C.M.F. (77)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Ponce (Roman Rite)

Bishop Rubén Antonio González Medina, C.M.F. (77)
(2015.12.22 – ...)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico)

Fijos los ojos en Jesús

Born:	1949.02.09 (Santurce, Puerto Rico)
Ordained Priest:	1975.02.09
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.02.04

Bishop of Caguas (Puerto Rico) (2000.12.12 – 2015.12.22)

President of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico (2007.12 – 2012.12)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (2015.12.22 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico (2018.11.29 – 2025.12.09)

Bishop Félix Lázaro Martínez, Sch. P. (90)
(2003.06.11 – 2015.12.22)

Bishop emeritus of Ponce (Puerto Rico)

Bonitas justitia veritas

Born:	1936.03.02 (Logroño, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1961.04.09
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.04.25

Coadjutor Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (2002.03.20 – 2003.06.11)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (2003.06.11 – 2015.12.22)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico (2012.12 – 2015)

Bishop Ricardo Antonio Suriñach Carreras
(2000.11.10 – 2003.06.11)

Born:	1928.04.01 (Mayagüez, Puerto Rico)
Ordained Priest:	1957.04.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.07.25
Died:	2005.01.19 († 76)

Titular Bishop of Aquæ Albæ in Mauretania (1975.05.26 – 2000.11.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1975.05.26 – 2000.11.10)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (2000.11.10 – 2003.06.11)

Bishop Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver
(1964.11.04 – 2000.11.10)

Born:	1925.10.28 (San Germán, Puerto Rico)
Ordained Priest:	1950.04.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1964.12.21
Died:	2012.01.26 († 86)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1964.11.04 – 2000.11.10)

President of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico (1983 – 1994)

Bishop Luis Aponte Martínez (later Cardinal)
(1963.11.18 – 1964.11.04)

In virtute Dei

Born:	1922.08.04 (Lajas, Puerto Rico)
Ordained Priest:	1950.04.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.10.12
Created Cardinal:	1973.03.05
Died:	2012.04.10 (San Juan, Puerto Rico † 89)

Priest of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1950.04.10 – 1960.07.23)

Titular Bishop of Lares (1960.07.23 – 1963.04.16)

Auxiliary Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1960.07.23 – 1963.04.16)

Coadjutor Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1963.04.16 – 1963.11.18)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1963.11.18 – 1964.11.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) (1964.11.04 – 1999.03.26)

President of Episcopal Conference of Puerto Rico (1966 – 1983)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Madre della Provvidenza a Monte Verde (1973.03.05 – 2012.04.10)

Bishop James Edward McManus, C.SS.R.
(1947.05.10 – 1963.11.18)

Born:	1900.10.10 (Brooklyn, NY, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1927.06.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.07.01
Died:	1976.07.03 (Long Branch, NJ, USA † 75)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1947.05.10 – 1963.11.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of New York (USA) (1963.11.18 – 1970)

Titular Bishop of Benda (1963.11.18 – 1976.07.03)

Bishop Aloysius Joseph Willinger, C.SS.R.
(1929.03.08 – 1946.12.12)

Born:	1886.04.19 (Baltimore, MD, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1911.07.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1929.10.28
Died:	1973.07.25 (CA, USA † 87)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1929.03.08 – 1946.12.12)

Titular Bishop of Bida (1946.12.12 – 1953.01.03)

Coadjutor Bishop of Monterey–Fresno (USA) (1946.12.12 – 1953.01.03)

Bishop of Monterey–Fresno (USA) (1953.01.03 – 1967.10.06)

Titular Bishop of Tiguala (1967.10.06 – 1973.07.25)

Bishop Edwin Vincent Byrne (later Archbishop)
(1925.06.23 – 1929.03.08)

Mihi vivere Christus est

Born:	1891.08.09 (Philadelphia, PA, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1915.05.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1925.11.30
Died:	1963.07.26 (Santa Fe, NM, USA † 71)

Bishop of Ponce (Puerto Rico) (1925.06.23 – 1929.03.08)

Bishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) (1929.03.08 – 1943.06.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santa Fe (USA) (1943.06.12 – 1963.07.26)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Félix Lázaro Martínez, Sch. P. (90) (2002.03.20 – 2003.06.11)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Luis Aponte Martínez (later Cardinal) (1963.04.16 – 1963.11.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ricardo Antonio Suriñach Carreras (1975.05.26 – 2000.11.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Luis Aponte Martínez (later Cardinal) (1960.07.23 – 1963.04.16)

Diocese of

Ponce

Puerto Rico

Celebrations

History

Present Prelates

Ordinaries

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Churches by City (47)

Statistics (2022.12.31)