Diocese of Rio do Sul, Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Rio do Sul / Rivi Australis (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Florianópolis

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint John the Baptist (June 24)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: December 28 (1957)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1968.11.23: Established as Diocese of Rio do Sul / Rivi Australis (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Florianópolis and Diocese of Joinville and became suffragan of Florianópolis)
2000.04.19: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Blumenau

Present Prelates

Bishop:

vacant

Ordinaries

Bishops of Rio do Sul (Roman Rite)

Bishop Onécimo Alberton (59)
(2014.12.17 – 2023.11.01)

Titular Bishop of Dagnum
Auxiliary Bishop of Florianópolis (Brazil)

Estou no meio de vós como aquele que serve

Born:	1965.02.16 (Orleans, SC, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1992.09.27
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.02.22

Priest of Tubarão (Brazil) (1992.09.27 – 1998.05.27)

Priest of Criciúma (Brazil) (1998.05.27 – 2014.12.17)

Bishop of Rio do Sul (Brazil) (2014.12.17 – 2023.11.01)

Titular Bishop of Dagnum (2023.11.01 – ...)

Auxiliary Bishop of Florianópolis (Brazil) (2023.11.01 – ...)

Bishop Augustinho Petry (85)
(2008.03.19 – 2014.12.17)

Bishop emeritus of Rio do Sul (Brazil)

Paz na terra

Born:	1938.08.29 (São José, SC, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1965.07.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.03.18

Priest of Florianópolis (Brazil) (1965.07.04 – 2000.12.27)

Titular Bishop of Gabi (2000.12.27 – 2007.11.14)

Auxiliary Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Brazil (Brazil) (2000.12.27 – 2007.11.14)

Coadjutor Bishop of Rio do Sul (Brazil) (2007.11.14 – 2008.03.19)

Bishop of Rio do Sul (Brazil) (2008.03.19 – 2014.12.17)

Bishop José Jovêncio Balestieri, S.D.B.
(2000.08.30 – 2008.03.19)

Eis-me aqui! Eu vou!

Born:	1939.05.18 (Massaranduba, SC, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1968.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.05.19
Died:	2023.04.02 (Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil † 83)

Bishop of Humaitá (Brazil) (1991.03.06 – 1998.07.29)

Coadjutor Bishop of Rio do Sul (Brazil) (1998.07.29 – 2000.08.30)

Bishop of Rio do Sul (Brazil) (2000.08.30 – 2008.03.19)

Bishop Tito Buss
(1969.03.12 – 2000.08.30)

Loquere sanam doctrinam

Born:	1925.09.01 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1951.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.08.03
Died:	2013.04.30 († 87)

Bishop of Rio do Sul (Brazil) (1969.03.12 – 2000.08.30)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Augustinho Petry (85) (2007.11.14 – 2008.03.19)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop José Jovêncio Balestieri, S.D.B. (1998.07.29 – 2000.08.30)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral São João Batista, Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina

Churches by City (33)

Lages (↙), Caçador (↖), Joinville (↑), Blumenau (↗), Florianópolis (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 8,909 km²

Population: 272,000 Catholics (79.1% of 344,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 31 parishes, 5 missions

Personnel: 52 priests (25 diocesan, 27 religious), 8 deacons, 175 religious (55 brothers, 120 sisters), 4 seminarians