Diocese of

San Felipe

Chile Chile

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: San Felipe / Sancti Philippi (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Santiago

Neighbouring Dioceses: Valparaíso (↙), Illapel (↑), San Juan de Cuyo (↗), Mendoza (→), Santiago (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Philip

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: May 4

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

Contact Info

Address: Merced 196, San Felipe, Chile

Phone: 34-510121

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.05.26 – ...):Bishop Gonzalo Arturo Bravo Álvarez (63)Bishop Gonzalo Arturo Bravo Álvarez (63)

Monsignors (4)

Ordinaries

Bishops of San Felipe (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gonzalo Arturo Bravo Álvarez (63)Bishop Gonzalo Arturo Bravo Álvarez (63)
(2020.05.26 – ...)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile)

Mi refugio es el Señor

Born:1962.12.30 (Valparaíso, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1997.10.12
Consecrated Bishop:2020.08.15

Priest of Valparaíso (Chile) (1997.10.12 – 2020.05.26)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (2020.05.26 – ...)

Fr. Jaime Ortiz de Lazcano Piquer
(Apostolic Administrator 2018.09.21 – 2020.05.26)

Bishop Cristián Enrique Contreras Molina, O. de M. (79)Bishop Cristián Enrique Contreras Molina, O. de M. (79)
(2002.07.19 – 2018.09.21)

Bishop emeritus of San Felipe (Chile)

El Señor me envió

Born:1946.11.08 (Santiago, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1974.10.12
Consecrated Bishop:1992.07.05

Bishop-Prelate of Calama (Chile) (1992.06.11 – 2002.07.19)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (2002.07.19 – 2018.09.21)

Bishop Manuel Camilo Vial Risopatrón, I.Sch. (91)Bishop Manuel Camilo Vial Risopatrón, I.Sch. (91)
(1983.12.20 – 2001.09.21)

Bishop emeritus of Temuco (Chile)

Buen Pastor, Padre de los pobres

Born:1935.05.20 (Santiago, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1961.07.16
Consecrated Bishop:1980.05.18

Titular Bishop of Pauzera (1980.03.21 – 1983.12.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago (Chile) (1980.03.21 – 1983.12.20)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (1983.12.20 – 2001.09.21)

Bishop of Temuco (Chile) (2001.09.21 – 2013.05.14)

Archbishop Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos
(1974.03.25 – 1983.05.03)

Scio cui credidi

Born:1917.10.10 (Buin, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1943.09.18
Consecrated Bishop:1956.07.15
Died:1998.02.20 († 80)

Priest of Rancagua (Chile) (1943.09.18 – 1955.06.27)

Bishop-Prelate of Copiapó (Chile) (1955.06.27 – 1956.05.24)

Titular Bishop of Ægeæ (1956.05.24 – 1957.08.20)

Bishop-Prelate of Copiapó (Chile) (1956.05.24 – 1957.08.20)

Bishop of Antofagasta (Chile) (1957.08.20 – 1967.06.28)

Apostolic Administrator of Calama (Chile) (1965.07.21 – 1968.05.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Antofagasta (Chile) (1967.06.28 – 1974.03.25)

Apostolic Administrator of Calama (Chile) (1970.04 – 1970.06.02)

Archbishop-Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (1974.03.25 – 1983.05.03)

President of Episcopal Conference of Chile (1977 – 1980)

Archbishop-Bishop of Valparaíso (Chile) (1983.05.03 – 1993.04.16)

Bishop Enrique Alvear Urrutia
(1965.06.07 – 1974.02.09)

El Señor me envió a evangelizar a los pobres

Born:1916.01.31 (Cauquenes, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1941.09.20
Consecrated Bishop:1963.04.21
Died:1982.04.29 (Santiago, Chile † 66)

Priest of Santiago (Chile) (1941.09.20 – 1963.03.04)

Titular Bishop of Columnata (1963.03.04 – 1965.06.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Talca (Chile) (1963.03.04 – 1965.06.07)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (1965.06.07 – 1974.02.09)

Titular Bishop of Sita (1974.02.09 – 1982.04.29)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago (Chile) (1974.02.09 – 1982.04.29)

Bishop José Luis Castro Cabrera
(1963.05.10 – 1965.01.26)

Born:1902.06.13 (Valparaíso, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1923.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:1963.07.14
Died:1965.01.26 (Santiago, Chile † 62)

Priest of Santiago (Chile) (1923.12.22 – 1963.05.10)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (1963.05.10 – 1965.01.26)

Bishop Ramón Munita Eyzaguirre
(1957.11.23 – 1963.04.23)

In nomine tuo laxabo rete

Born:1901.08.18 (Santiago, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1924.04.05
Consecrated Bishop:1934.04.01
Died:1992.06.18 († 90)

Priest of Santiago (Chile) (1924.04.05 – 1934.01.22)

Bishop of San Carlos de Ancud (Chile) (1934.01.22 – 1939.04.29)

Bishop of Puerto Montt (Chile) (1939.04.29 – 1957.11.23)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (1957.11.23 – 1963.04.23)

Titular Bishop of Maximiana in Numidia (1963.04.23 – 1970.12.22)

Bishop Roberto Benardino Berríos Gaínza, O.F.M.
(1938.03.19 – 1957.11.23)

Born:1885.01.07 (Navidad, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1911.06.10
Consecrated Bishop:1938.07.17
Died:1975.07.22 († 90)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (1938.03.19 – 1957.11.23)

Titular Bishop of Anastasiopolis (1957.11.23 – 1970.12.20)

Bishop Melquisedec del Canto Terán
(1925.12.14 – 1938.03.19)

Born:1866.12.04 (Requinoa, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1890.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:1925.12.27
Died:1940.06.15 († 73)

Priest of Santiago (Chile) (1890.12.20 – 1925.12.14)

Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (1925.12.14 – 1938.03.19)

Titular Bishop of Adrasus (1938.03.19 – 1940.06.15)

Special Churches

Churches by City (31)

Valparaíso (↙), Illapel (↑), San Juan de Cuyo (↗), Mendoza (→), Santiago (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 10,302 km²

Population: 221,000 Catholics (63.1% of 350,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 25 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 32 priests (25 diocesan, 7 religious), 18 deacons, 95 religious (13 brothers, 82 sisters), 1 seminarian

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.07.02

© 2026 GCatholic.org

Up