Diocese of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: São José do Rio Preto / Riopreten(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Ribeirão Preto

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Joseph (March 19), Imaculado Coração de Maria

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1929.01.25: Established as Diocese of Rio Preto / Riopreten(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of São Carlos do Pinhal and became suffragan of São Paulo)
1958.04.19: Became suffragan of Ribeirão Preto
1959.12.12: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Jales
2000.02.09: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Catanduva
2002.12.11: Renamed as Diocese of São José do Rio Preto / Riopreten(sis) (Latin)
2016.07.20: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Votuporanga

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.01.19 – ...):

Bishop Antônio Emídio Vilar, S.D.B. (67)

Ordinaries

Bishops of São José do Rio Preto (Roman Rite)

Bishop Antônio Emídio Vilar, S.D.B. (67)
(2022.01.19 – ...)

Bishop of São José do Rio Preto (Brazil)

A vida pelas ovelhas

Born:	1957.11.14 (Guardinha, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1986.08.09
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.09.27

Bishop of São Luiz de Cáceres (Brazil) (2008.07.23 – 2016.09.28)

Bishop of São João da Boa Vista (Brazil) (2016.09.28 – 2022.01.19)

Bishop of São José do Rio Preto (Brazil) (2022.01.19 – ...)

Archbishop Moacir Silva (70)
(Apostolic Administrator 2021.08.18 – 2022.01.19)

Bishop Tomé Ferreira da Silva (63)
(2012.09.26 – 2021.08.18)

Bishop emeritus of São José do Rio Preto (Brazil)

Santidade verdade caridade

Born:	1961.05.17 (Cristina, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1987.01.01
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.05.13

Priest of Campanha (Brazil) (1987.01.01 – 2005.03.09)

Titular Bishop of Giufi (2005.03.09 – 2012.09.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo (Brazil) (2005.03.09 – 2012.09.26)

Bishop of São José do Rio Preto (Brazil) (2012.09.26 – 2021.08.18)

Bishop Paulo Mendes Peixoto (74) (later Archbishop)
(2005.12.07 – 2012.03.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Uberaba (Brazil)

Para o serviço à vida

Born:	1951.02.25 (Imbé, RS, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1979.12.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.02.25

Priest of Caratinga (Brazil) (1979.12.07 – 2005.12.07)

Bishop of São José do Rio Preto (Brazil) (2005.12.07 – 2012.03.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Uberaba (Brazil) (2012.03.07 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Formosa (Brazil) (2018.03.21 – 2019.02.27)

Bishop Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist. (74) (later Cardinal)
(2002.12.11 – 2004.10.13)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Madre della Provvidenza a Monte Verde
Metropolitan Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Ut omnes unum sint

Born:	1950.06.23 (São José do Rio Pardo, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1974.12.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.04.25
Created Cardinal:	2014.02.22

Bishop of Rio Preto (Brazil) (1997.02.26 – 2002.12.11)

Apostolic Administrator of Claraval (Brazil) (1999.03.24 – 2002.12.11)

Bishop of São José do Rio Preto (Brazil) (2002.12.11 – 2004.10.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (2004.10.13 – 2009.02.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (2009.02.27 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Madre della Provvidenza a Monte Verde (2014.02.22 [2014.04.12] – ...)

Bishops of Rio Preto (Roman Rite)

Bishop Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist. (74) (later Cardinal)
(1997.02.26 – 2002.12.11)

(see above)

Bishop José de Aquino Pereira
(1968.05.06 – 1997.02.26)

Oportet illum regnare

Born:	1920.04.22 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1944.12.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.04.13
Died:	2011.11.17 († 91)

Bishop of Dourados (Brazil) (1958.01.23 – 1960.03.26)

Bishop of Presidente Prudente (Brazil) (1960.03.26 – 1968.05.06)

Bishop of Rio Preto (Brazil) (1968.05.06 – 1997.02.26)

Bishop Lafayette Libânio
(1930.08.08 – 1966.11.03)

Oportet me evangelizare

Born:	1886.10.01 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1909.12.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1930.12.27
Died:	1979.07.28 († 92)

Bishop of Rio Preto (Brazil) (1930.08.08 – 1966.11.03)

Titular Bishop of Girus Tarasii (1966.11.03 – 1970.12.14)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Joaquim Gonçalves (1957.03.14 – 1973.06.14)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral São José, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo
Minor Basilica: Basílica Nossa Senhora Aparecida, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo

Churches by City (71)

Araçatuba (↙), Votuporanga (←), Uberaba (↗), Barretos (→), Catanduva (↘), Lins (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 7,784 km²

Population: 586,000 Catholics (75.0% of 781,039 total)

Pastoral Centres: 71 parishes

Personnel: 119 priests (94 diocesan, 25 religious), 16 deacons, 101 religious (31 brothers, 70 sisters), 22 seminarians