Diocese of

Tarahumara

Mexico

Continent: North America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Tarahumara / Tarahumaren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Chihuahua

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1950.05.06: Established as Mission sui juris of Tarahumara / Tarahumaren(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Chihuahua and became suffragan of Durango)
1958.06.23: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Tarahumara / Tarahumaren(sis) (Latin)
1958.11.22: Became suffragan of Chihuahua
1992.05.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Parral
1993.12.20: Promoted as Diocese of Tarahumara / Tarahumaren(sis) (Latin)

Contact Info

Address: Cascada s/n, Col. Altavista, 33180 - Guachochi, Chih., Mexico

Phone: (649) 5-43-02-23

Present Prelates

Bishop (2017.02.04 – ...):

Bishop Juan Manuel González Sandoval, M.N.M. (61)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Tarahumara (Roman Rite)

Bishop Juan Manuel González Sandoval, M.N.M. (61)
(2017.02.04 – ...)

Bishop of Tarahumara (Mexico)

Born:	1964.02.20 (Guáscuaro, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1991.07.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.04.01

Bishop of Tarahumara (Mexico) (2017.02.04 – ...)

Bishop Rafael Sandoval Sandoval, M.N.M. (78)
(2005.01.04 – 2015.11.23)

Bishop emeritus of Autlán (Mexico)

Se anonadó á sí mismo

Born:	1947.04.10 (Guáscaro Michoacán, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1974.07.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.03.09

Superior General of Missionaries of the Nativity of Mary (1993 – 1999)

Bishop of Tarahumara (Mexico) (2005.01.04 – 2015.11.23)

Bishop of Autlán (Mexico) (2015.11.23 – 2024.02.07)

Bishop José Luis Dibildox Martínez
(1993.12.20 – 2003.12.27)

Born:	1943.07.20 (Matehuala, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1968.10.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.01.25
Died:	2018.08.31 (Tampico, Mexico † 75)

Bishop of Tarahumara (Mexico) (1993.12.20 – 2003.12.27)

Bishop of Tampico (Mexico) (2003.12.27 – 2018.07.20)

Vicars Apostolic of Tarahumara (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Alberto Llaguno Farias, S.J.
(1975.02.28 – 1992.02.26)

Born:	1925.08.07 (Monterrey, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1956.10.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.04.13
Died:	1992.02.26 († 66)

Apostolic Administrator of Tarahumara (Mexico) (1973.05.25 – 1975.02.28)

Titular Bishop of Mozotcori (1975.02.28 – 1992.02.26)

Vicar Apostolic of Tarahumara (Mexico) (1975.02.28 – 1992.02.26)

Fr. José Alberto Llaguno Farias, S.J. (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1973.05.25 – 1975.02.28)

Bishop Salvador Martinez Aguirre, S.J.
(1958.07.04 – 1973)

Born:	1897.11.25 (Arandas, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1929.07.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.09.09
Died:	1987.12.03 (Chinipas, Mexico † 90)

Vicar Apostolic of Tarahumara (Mexico) (1958.07.04 – 1973)

Titular Bishop of Arca in Armenia (1958.07.04 – 1987.12.03)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Guachochi, Chihuahua
Co-Cathedral: Concatedral del Dulce Nombre de María, Sisoguichi, Chihuahua

Ciudad Obregón (←), Cuauhtémoc–Madera (↑), Chihuahua (↗), Parral (→), Culiacán (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 31,354 km²

Population: 174,400 Catholics (84.0% of 207,600 total)

Pastoral Centres: 17 parishes

Personnel: 30 priests (14 diocesan, 16 religious), 3 deacons, 134 religious (20 brothers, 114 sisters), 14 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.12.12

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