Diocese of Rafaela, Argentina 🇦🇷

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Name: Rafaela / Raphaëlien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz

Neighbouring Dioceses: San Francisco (↙), Deán Funes (←), Santiago del Estero (↖), Añatuya (↖), San Roque de Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña (↑), Reconquista (↗), Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (December 12), San José Obrero (May 1)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1961.04.10: Established as Diocese of Rafaela / Raphaëlien(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe and Diocese of Reconquista and became suffragan of Santa Fe)

Contact Info

Address: Necochea 150, S2300IED, Rafaela, Argentina

Phone: (03492) 501819

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.11.11 – ...):

Bishop Pedro Javier Torres Aliaga (65)

Monsignors (1)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Rafaela (Roman Rite)

Bishop Pedro Javier Torres Aliaga (65)
(2022.11.11 – ...)

Bishop of Rafaela (Argentina)

Servir

Born:	1960.12.31 (Córdoba, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1984.12.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.12.27

Priest of Córdoba (Argentina) (1984.12.06 – 2013.11.16)

Titular Bishop of Castellum in Numidia (2013.11.16 – 2022.11.11)

Auxiliary Bishop of Córdoba (Argentina) (2013.11.16 – 2022.11.11)

Bishop of Rafaela (Argentina) (2022.11.11 – ...)

Bishop Luis Alberto Fernández Alara (79)
(2013.09.10 – 2022.11.11)

Bishop emeritus of Rafaela (Argentina)

Amigo de dios para servir a los hombres

Born:	1946.10.26 (Lomas di Zamora, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1975.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.03.27

Priest of Lomas de Zamora (Argentina) (1975.06.29 – 2009.01.24)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (1999.03.28 – 2009.01.24)

Titular Bishop of Carpi (2009.01.24 – 2013.09.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (2009.01.24 – 2013.09.10)

Bishop of Rafaela (Argentina) (2013.09.10 – 2022.11.11)

Bishop Carlos María Franzini (later Archbishop)
(2000.04.29 – 2012.11.10)

Servidor y testigo

Born:	1951.09.06 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1977.08.13
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.06.19
Died:	2017.12.08 (Mendoza, Argentina † 66)

Priest of San Isidro (Argentina) (1977.08.13 – 2000.04.29)

Bishop of Rafaela (Argentina) (2000.04.29 – 2012.11.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mendoza (Argentina) (2012.11.10 – 2017.12.08)

Bishop Héctor Gabino Romero
(1984.01.07 – 1999.05.23)

Born:	1924.08.04 (Bahía Blanca, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1947.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.08.15
Died:	1999.05.23 († 74)

Titular Bishop of Tagarata (1978.05.26 – 1984.01.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Lomas de Zamora (Argentina) (1978.05.26 – 1984.01.07)

Bishop of Rafaela (Argentina) (1984.01.07 – 1999.05.23)

Bishop Alcides Jorge Pedro Casaretto (89)
(1976.12.28 – 1983.03.14)

Bishop emeritus of San Isidro (Argentina)

Born:	1936.12.27 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1964.09.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.03.19

Bishop of Rafaela (Argentina) (1976.12.28 – 1983.03.14)

Coadjutor Bishop of San Isidro (Argentina) (1983.03.14 – 1985.05.13)

Bishop of San Isidro (Argentina) (1985.05.13 – 2011.12.30)

Apostolic Administrator of Merlo–Moreno (Argentina) (2012.06.26 – 2013.05.06)

Bishop Antonio Alfredo Brasca
(1968.12.30 – 1976.06.26)

Born:	1919.08.17 (Cañada de Gomez, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1943.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.03.16
Died:	1976.06.26 († 56)

Bishop of Rafaela (Argentina) (1968.12.30 – 1976.06.26)

Bishop Vicente Faustino Zazpe (later Archbishop)
(1961.06.12 – 1968.08.03)

Christus rex

Born:	1920.02.15 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1948.11.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.09.03
Died:	1984.01.24 († 63)

Priest of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1948.11.28 – 1961.06.12)

Bishop of Rafaela (Argentina) (1961.06.12 – 1968.08.03)

Titular Archbishop of Aquaviva (1968.08.03 – 1969.08.13)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Santa Fe (Argentina) (1968.08.03 – 1969.08.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santa Fe (Argentina) (1969.08.13 – 1984.01.24)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral San Rafael, Rafaela, Santa Fe
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (46)

San Francisco (↙), Deán Funes (←), Santiago del Estero (↖), Añatuya (↖), San Roque de Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña (↑), Reconquista (↗), Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 38,320 km²

Population: 264,804 Catholics (88.9% of 297,826 total)

Pastoral Centres: 36 parishes, 120 missions

Personnel: 42 priests (diocesan), 22 deacons, 27 religious (2 brothers, 25 sisters), 7 seminarians